Rays place Kyle Farnsworth on DL

The Tampa Bay Rays have placed closer Kyle Farnsworth on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained right elbow.

The expected move was announced Thursday, one day before Tampa Bay's opener against the New York Yankees.

An MRI this week revealed a strain of a muscle that's causing soreness in the elbow. Farnsworth said Wednesday it is the same problem that bothered him last September.

The right-hander went 5-1 with 25 saves and a 2.18 ERA over 63 appearances last season.

To take Farnsworth's place on the roster, the Rays recalled right-hander Josh Lueke from Triple-A Durham.