Andrew Bailey misses game with sore biceps

When Joel Hanrahan entered the ninth inning of Thursday night's game against the Blue Jays with the Red Sox up 3-1, there was a fair bit of panic. Was Hanrahan the closer again? Was there a controversy brewing? Was he going to blow this game and the Red Sox' hopes for a series win?

The answer to all three, thankfully, is "no." Andrew Bailey remains the closer, just as John Farrell said he would. The only reason he missed out against the Jays? A sore biceps, felt in both his last game and bullpen session. Hanrahan was told he would take the mound tonight in case of a close game, and sure enough, he got the call and the save.

The good news is that it sounds like this soreness is no big deal, at least for now. There's every likelihood that it will go away with a little bit of rest, and that Andrew Bailey will be back in the closing role come tomorrow or the day after. Any flag is worrisome, particularly for a guy with Bailey's career injury history. But for the time being there's no need for panic.