The Boston Red Sox aren’t taking any chances with Joe Kelly.
The right-hander, who left Monday’s spring training start early because of right biceps soreness, will not make his scheduled start Sunday against the Philadelphia Phillies, Red Sox manager John Farrell said.
Kelly threw a bullpen session Thursday and pronounced himself good to go, but this isn’t the time of year to push things.
“No, (it’s) not a setback whatsoever,” Farrell said Saturday, via RedSox.com. “Just really a change of plans and maybe somewhat of an intermediary step toward regular game speed. Instead of putting him right back in a game, he’s going to have an extended bullpen (on Sunday) that will include a couple of ups and downs.
“Maybe a little precautionary, but it’s something … I just feel like he walked off the mound in the middle of a start. We’ll take that extended bullpen … which will put him on line for his normal start next Friday.”
Farrell also said first baseman Mike Napoli, who’s dealing with ankle inflammation, should return Sunday or Monday, and slugger David Ortiz, who has been battling the flu and dehydration, likely will sit out until Thursday, according to ESPNBoston.com. Red Sox closer Koji Uehara lightly ran and threw some long toss Saturday, and could have a bullpen session by midweek, Farrell said, via ESPNBoston.com.
Thumbnail photo via Tommy Gilligan/USA TODAY Sports Images
