Beliveau out for Japan Series with mild left lat strain

TOKYO -- Rays reliever Jeff Beliveau is likely out for the remainder of the Japan All-Star Series after leaving Saturday's game early due to left lat soreness. Beliveau does not consider his condition anything out of the ordinary, but he said the Rays and Major League Baseball wanted to be extra cautious, given the nature of these exhibition games.

"It's nothing to be worried about," Beliveau said. "It's a lat. It's a big muscle group. It's a common thing. It's not a shoulder or an elbow. But I'm just here hanging out, I guess, the rest of the games."

After Beliveau threw his 22nd pitch in Saturday's game, he stretched his arm in a way that prompted concern from manager John Farrell and the All-Star training staff, who recommended he leave the game. Beliveau chalked it up to the routine treatment he received on his arm earlier in the day, saying he felt fine after a night of sleep. But he doesn't see any reason to take chances in a November exhibition.

"It's pretty normal soreness," Beliveau said. "They just wanted to make sure."

Beliveau, 27, posted a 2.63 ERA this season in 30 appearances for the Rays.

Because the Tokyo Dome bullpens are situated in a tunnel deep within the stadium, relievers from have been spending most of their time watching the games on television. So the silver lining of Beliveau's lat tightness is that he can at least catch some of the action from the dugout.

"Maybe now I'll actually be able to see the game," Beliveau said, laughing.