Red Sox reliever Smith says overwork contributed to injury; Cora disagrees

The Boston Red Sox placed right-handed reliever Carson Smith on the 10-day disabled list after he suffered a shoulder injury in Monday's loss to the Oakland Athletics - an injury that may have occurred when he threw his glove in the dugout.

Smith had appeared in seven of the team's 13 May games, and told reporters that his arm was tired from his recent workload.

“I think my shoulder’s tired in general, just from pitching,” he said, according to Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald. “I’ve thrown a lot lately and I think my arm was just tired.”

Manager Alex Cora wasn't on board with Smith's explanation.

"I don’t agree with it," Cora said Wednesday. "On a daily basis we talk to pitchers and (see) how they feel. If they don’t think they can pitch that day, we stay away from them.

"It caught me by surprise. If he felt that way he should’ve told it to us or he should’ve mentioned it."

Smith is fifth among Red Sox relievers in May innings pitched at 5 2/3.

He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2016. In 21 innings since being activated last September, Smith has a 3.00 ERA and 25 strikeouts.