Struggling Yomiuri Giants right-hander Koji Uehara was removed from the active roster Sunday and will have to spend time on the club's farm team.
Uehara, who is 0-4 with a 6.75 ERA in five games, has gotten off to a nightmare start since returning to the starting rotation after notching a club-record 32 saves in the closer's role last year.
His latest loss came when he allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings in a 6-2 defeat to the Hanshin Tigers on Saturday. Yomiuri manager Tatsunori Hara said Uehara needs time to work on his mechanics but did not specify when the 33-year-old will be ready to return to the top team.