Red Sox closer Uehara expects to start season on DL

Boston Red Sox closer Koji Uehara says he anticipates he'll begin the season on the disabled list after experiencing soreness in his hamstring for a second straight day.

Uehara, who's only pitched three innings since suffering the strain more than two weeks ago, has been slow to recover from the injury, prompting manager John Farrell on Sunday to say the team was preparing to play its April 6 opener without its closer.

After a second consecutive bullpen session in which Uehara reported discomfort, the Red Sox are now facing the prospect of being without the All-Star reliever until at least April 11, which is the earliest he'd be eligible to come off the 15-day DL.

"I think I'm going to start on the DL just because I haven't had the games," said Uehara through interpreter C.J. Matsumoto, according to the Boston Globe's Alex Speier. "I don't know when I'll be back. It's a day-to-day process. I have to do what I have to do to get ready."

Uehara, 39, has been a staple at the back of the Red Sox bullpen since arriving in Boston two years ago, pitching to the lowest walk-per-nine rate among qualified relievers and posting the sixth-most wins above replacement over that stretch.

Farrell said Sunday that veteran reliever Edward Mujica will inherit ninth-inning duties in Uehara's absence, though Boston's manager also suggested he's open to deploying a closer-by-committee approach depending on the matchup.