GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Indians manager Manny Acta and Kerry Wood kept saying that the closer’s right arm ailment was nothing to worry about.

That was wishful thinking.

The Indians announced Saturday that Wood would miss 6-8 weeks with what Cleveland’s head trainer Lonnie Soloff called a moderate strain of the right lat muscle – a muscle located in the upper back. Soloff said the injury would not require surgery.

“It’s disappointing, but you don’t usually go through spring training without some challenging news,” said Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro. “It’s the first challenging news we’ve had and we’ll get through it.”

“It’s unfortunate,” said Indians manager Manny Acta. “No team is better without Kerry Wood.”

The Indians expect Wood to return at some point during the regular season, but in the meantime, right-hander Chris Perez will begin the year as the team’s closer.