Tampa Bay Rays closer Troy Percival is expected to throw a bullpen session sometime earlier this week as he looks to return from a pulled left hamstring.

If all goes well, the Rays hope he can come off the disabled list by the end of the week and begin closing out games.

The team’s bullpen was so solid to start the season thanks to the veteran presence of Percival at the end of it.

Manager Joe Maddon said he is not concerned about the absence and its effects on Percival’s command, saying the closer is the one guy who can throw a strike without a problem.