#KojiTime could see DL time

It may be a while before he see Koji
pumped up following another save.
Ben Whitehead
Contributing Writer

After sitting out a potential close situation Friday due to what the team has called shoulder stiffness, Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara could now possibly hit the 15-day DL.

Prior to Friday's game against the Yankees in Yankee Stadium, Uehara was long-tossing and afterward told team officials that he experienced discomfort, or stiffness, in his throwing shoulder. When the Sox had a two-run lead in the ninth inning, Uehara could be seen sitting with a jacket on in the bullpen.

Edward Mujica was called on for the ninth and pitched a 1-2-3 inning for his first save in a Boston uniform. Mujica saved 37 games for the Cardinals last season, so he's not in unfamiliar territory.

Manager John Farrell said postgame that Uehara would likely be day-to-day, but a development this morning could land Uehara on the DL. The closer is unavailable for today's game and likely Sunday's series finale too. Uehara is expected to long toss Sunday and Farrell hinted that with an off day Monday, Uehara could have an MRI taken back in Boston, depending on how he feels after the session.

"Before the game today Koji felt a little stiffness in his throwing program, so we felt it best to stay away from him," Farrell said. "Precautionary. This will be a day-to-day type of thing. We'll check with him tomorrow. Based on what Koji's expressed, as far as the stiffness, this doesn't seem to be a one-pitch injury type thing. He just felt some stiffness, so we wanted to stay away from him."

The seriousness of the injury is still TBD, but the fact that the Red Sox are wanting him to get an MRI means there's a possible injury that could shutdown Uehara and potentially affect the Sox 'pen situation.

Of note, in 2012 with the Rangers, Uehara had a similar injury - a right lat muscle strain that landed him on the 15-day DL and limited his appearances and innings with Texas. He did return for the final five weeks of the season to strike out 19 batters and post a 0.00 ERA in 14 apperances.

Stay tuned to Red Sox Life as more information becomes available.

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