John Farrell: Koji Uehara 'not game ready yet'

Rick Weber

Mar 29, 2015, 12:33 PM ET

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Red Sox manager John Farrell said closer Koji Uehara (hamstring) is “not likely” to be on the roster on Opening Day. Uehara, sidelined since March 14, will not throw in the bullpen Monday.

“He’s going to need some additional increase in intensity and rehab to the hamstring,” Farrell said. “He felt it a little bit yesterday in the bullpen. He’s still able to do throwing to the point of keeping his arm in shape to a certain extent, but we’re not game ready yet.”

Farrell said Edward Mujica will be the primary closer, but the team could use others, depending on the situation.

“I will also say that we’ll look to matchups in the ninth inning as well,” he said. “We’ll look to exploit the best matchups, and that can be any one of three or four guys -- Taz (Junichi Tazawa, [Alexi] Ogando, and against tough lefties [it] could be Tommy Layne. We’re not limiting any of our options.

“I’m not saying this is strictly a closer by committee, but we would look to close games out with Eddie. But if there were certain situations that we feel like the better matchup is with a left-hander, I’m not opposed to doing it.”

Here are the lineups for today's Red Sox-Rays game:

RED SOX

1. Mookie Betts, CF

2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B

3. David Ortiz, DH

4. Hanley Ramirez, LF

5. Pablo Sandoval, 3B

6. Mike Napoli, 1B

7. Shane Victorino, RF

8. Xander Bogaerts, SS

9. Blake Swihart, C

Brian Johnson, LHP