Andrew Bailey injury: Red Sox to activate reliever Monday

The Red Sox are set to activate closer Andrew Bailey on Monday. He has been on the disabled list since May 6 with inflammation in his right biceps.

He will pitch in Pawtucket on Saturday before joining the team in Chicago on Sunday, reports Jenny Dell of NESN. The team will finish up a series against the Twins that afternoon and begin a series against the White Sox on Monday. Bailey should be active for that game.

Bailey had taken the closer job from Joel Hanrahan early in the season as injury and ineffectiveness plagued Hanrahan. Soon after Hanrahan returned from an injury of his own, Bailey went on the disabled list. Now, Hanrahan is out for the season with tendon damage. Junichi Tazawa was named interim closer with both men on the DL but has not had any save opportunities.

Bailey, 28, has been spectacular this season with just a 1.46 ERA and a dominant 14.6 K/9 combined with a 2.9 BB/9. The Red Sox traded for Bailey two off seasons ago, but a thumb injury kept him out for much of 2012. When he did pitch, he was ineffective.

With Hanrahan out, it appears that Bailey will remain the closer for the rest of the season barring any unforeseen circumstances.