JUPITER, Fla. -- Red Sox reliever Carson Smith is all but certain to start the season on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained flexor mass in his right forearm.
The side-winding right-hander sustained the injury in Monday's relief appearance against the Cardinals.
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"We have to let it calm down," said Red Sox manager John Farrell. "There's no throwing schedule in place yet. We have to get a few days of treatment just to see how he comes through that. But there's no timeline on putting a ball back in his hand."
The injury is not believed to be a long-term concern. The Red Sox are hoping Smith can still be a key part of their bullpen's setup crew.
"It is a little bit of a setback, given the time of camp we're in, and that's why it's likely he begins the year on the DL," said Farrell. "We want to make sure when we build him back up we're taking it at an appropriate pace."
In other injury news, non-roster invitee Brennan Boesch underwent surgery on his fractured right wrist on Tuesday and will be out eight to 12 weeks. The outfielder sustained the injury last week.