Edward Mujica: 'I'm going to be ready for' closer role if needed

With Opening Day up in the air for Koji Uehara due to a strained left hamstring, Red Sox reliever Edward Mujica told reporters he's ready to assume the closer role while Uehara is down, according to the Boston Herald.

"For me, confidence is an important thing," Mujica said. "If they gave me that confidence and told me, 'Mujica, you're going to be in the ninth tonight,' I'm going to be ready for it."

Manager John Farrell indicated that either Mujica or Alexi Ogando stepping up for Uehara, if needed, per WEEI.

"It depends on matchups, history, who has pitched recently," Farrell said. "There could be a number of things that come into play. I can't say just always ride the hot hand. Those guys are going to find themselves in the highest leverage and that could be in the seventh inning as well, depending where we are in the lineup."

Mujica converted 37 saves for the Cardinals in 2013 before joining Boston in 2014. He went 2-4 with a 3.90 ERA and eight saves in his first season with Boston in 2014.