The Red Sox’s bullpen was able to help lead Boston to a win without Koji Uehara on Wednesday night.
Which is good, because they might need to do that a lot going forward.
Uehara, who had been serving as the team’s interim closer in the absence of Craig Kimbrel, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a torn pectoral he suffered in Boston’s game Tuesday.
After Wednesday night’s 11-7 win over the San Francisco Giants, manager John Farrell said the team still had yet to determine a timetable for Uehara’s return. But later that night, Uehara provided his own update on Twitter.
We realize this probably doesn’t mean much to you, but notice the “1” in Uehara’s tweet: The 41-year-old right-hander expects to sit out one month. (The literal translation, per Google: “To say that light, I think that one month will take (^^;;”)
Koji sent another tweet earlier in the evening saying the results of his MRI revealed a “mild muscle strain,” but he’s hoping for “an early return” and “will do my best (in) rehabilitation.”
If Uehara does indeed sit out a month, Red Sox fans likely will see more of Brad Ziegler, whom Farrell tabbed as the team’s closer until Uehara and Kimbrel return. But Farrell also didn’t rule out using a left-handed option like Tommy Layne, and Matt Barnes also could be called upon after his encouraging showing Wednesday.
Thumbnail photo via Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports Images
