Pedroia expects to be in Wednesday's lineup
Right shoulder doing OK, Koji could return to closing duties on Thursday
CHICAGO -- The worry that the Red Sox had in New York about two of their best players being sidelined had dissipated by the time they arrived at a frigid U.S. Cellular Field on Tuesday.
While Dustin Pedroia and Koji Uehara remained out of action for the opener of a three-game series against the White Sox, they should both be available before the series ends.
In fact, Pedroia, who has inflammation in his left wrist, fully expects to be in manager John Farrell's lineup on Wednesday.
Uehara, who was experiencing tightness in his right shoulder, will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday with the expectation of being available to close on Thursday.
Pedroia was greatly relieved to know he dodged what could have been a major injury.
"Very [relieved]. If it was broke, I would have been out a long time," said Pedroia. "It's good news. Hopefully I'll be in there tomorrow. They gave me a shot to calm everything down. Hopefully it takes. They say 24 to 48 hours to kick in and then get out there and go."
The injury occurred on April 4, when Pedroia got taken out on a slide by Carlos Gomez. The fact that it was the same hand on which he had thumb surgery created perhaps more worry by Pedroia.
"Yeah, I was a little bit worried. It was getting worse every day," Pedroia said. "It happens. I get taken out every day. It's my job. I just felt like it was part of the deal. I'm still obviously doing the rehab on my thumb stuff. Everything just got inflamed and then I keep swinging and playing, it just adds up, and so you think something is really wrong."
Uehara also was worried because the twinge he felt on Friday was similar to what he remembers in Texas two years ago with what wound up being an extended injury. But it appears he will be fine.
"It's getting better day by day, each day," said Uehara. "The fact there was no structural damage yesterday, that gave me a lot of peace of mind. I think it was more mental, the fact I had the same kind of feeling two years ago, that was sort of a sticking point."