PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald will start the season on the injured list because of a strained left oblique.
Manager Torey Lovullo said the strain was a Grade 2, meaning the right-hander could miss several weeks. The 33-year-old reliever is in his second season with the Diamondbacks after coming to the franchise in a trade-deadline deal with the Mariners last summer.
“He’s going to miss some time,” Lovullo told reporters on Monday.
Sewald had 13 saves down the stretch in the regular season and six more in the playoffs, helping the D-backs in their surprise run to the World Series, where they lost to the Texas Rangers in five games.
Right-hander Kevin Ginkel is one of the likely candidates to get save opportunities with Sewald out. Ginkel was 9-1 with a 2.48 ERA last season and has eight career saves.