Central League saves leader Oh Seung-hwan will miss the Hanshin Tigers six remaining regular season games after he was deactivated on Saturday with a muscle strain.
The 33-year-old South Korean closer is suffering a strain of the adductor muscle in his right thigh. Oh, in his second season in Japan, has a CL-high 41 saves with a 2.73 ERA over 63 games this year.
Oh is said to have felt discomfort during Wednesday's game at Tokyo Dome against the Yomiuri Giants.
"I think there is some fatigue. Right now he's not able to put all his strength into his pitches," said manager Yutaka Wada, who indicated the move was made so that the right-hander would be ready when the postseason starts on Oct. 10.
"We're doing this now so he won't be out for long."