Smith (forearm) has been cleared medically to pick up a baseball and begin a throwing program, the Providence Journal reports. He's been sidelined with a strain in his right flexor mass.

EDGE Analysis

Manager John Farrell said Smith has responded favorably to treatment and the recovery timelines have been on the short end. Three-to-five days for the swelling to go down, it was three days. Ten-to-fourteen days shutdown period before initiating a throwing program, it's been 10 days. It's all positive for Smith, but there's still no timetable for his return. Players with his type of injury have taken as little as a month or more than two months to come back.

Smith will begin the season on the disabled list after an MRI revealed a strained flexor mass muscle in his right forearm, Mike Silverman of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

It's expected that Smith will pitch this season, but no timetable for his return was offered up by the Red Sox upon the release of the initial report of his diagnosis Tuesday. With Smith on the shelf to begin the year, the Red Sox will have to lean more heavily on Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara as the primary links in the late-inning bridge to closer Craig Kimbrel.

Smith (forearm) will have an MRI on Tuesday, Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith was removed from Monday's spring game due to cramping and tightness in his forearm. He acknowledged that he's worried about the injury, even though Red Sox manager John Farrell said Smith's removal was precautionary. Smith, Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa are all candidates to pile up holds in front of closer Craig Kimbrel.

Smith was diagnosed with cramping in his forearm and will undergo further tests, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager John Farrell said the decision to pull Smith from Monday's game was only precautionary, and as of now it appears the right-hander has avoided a serious injury. Look for a more definitive update within the next couple of days.

Smith exited Monday's spring game with an apparent arm injury, Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

The extent of Smith's setback will not be known until the Red Sox release a statement, but both he and a team trainer were spotted looking at his forearm on the TV broadcast, so it would appear his injury is located at the elbow or below.

Smith (back) pitched a scoreless inning in Tuesday's game against the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Smith had been out for a little more than a week dealing with back spasms. The right-hander will be part of a tandem of set up men, along with Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara, working anywhere between the sixth to eighth innings this season.

Smith (back) threw a bullpen session Sunday and will probably be back in a game by Tuesday, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith threw two perfect innings with two strikeouts before getting sidelined with back spasms and is progressing towards a return to the field. He remains part of a deep group for setup duties in the Red Sox bullpen.

Smith (back) is scheduled to throw Sunday in Port Charlotte against the Rays, the Boston Herald reports.

EDGE Analysis

Smith, who hasn't pitched in a game since Sunday, threw a bullpen session Thursday. He's seen as one of three relievers, along with Koji Uehara and Junichi Tazawa, that will work in a seventh- and eighth-inning set up role.

Smith has been out since last Sunday due to back spasms, Tim Britton of the Providence Journal reports.

EDGE Analysis

Britton also reports that Smith said he felt fine yesterday and has already thrown a bullpen session, but will need another before he can appear in a spring training game. The 26-year-old hasn't appeared in a game in Florida yet. If he has to miss any time to start the season, Koji Uehara will likely take a bigger share of set-up duties.

Smith credited location and movement over velocity for his success last season, WEEI.com reports. "It's tough going out there throwing four out of every five days. That's why your velocity can always vary, but as long as I keep my accuracy and movement consistent, I'm pretty positive about my chances. If I'm in the low-to-mid 90s, I'm pretty happy."

EDGE Analysis

Smith's fastball isn't overpowering at 93 mph, so he relies heavily on his slider. He dominated right-handers, who hit just .169 off him and overall, Smith held hitters to a .192 average. At this point in the offseason, Smith projects into a share of the setup role along with Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara, behind closer Craig Kimbrel.