There is something wrong with Royals closer Joakim Soria after all.

Manager Trey Hillman said on Friday that Soria is expected to miss at least the next three to five days because of tightness behind his right shoulder.

“There is a problem but it’s not a DL situation,” Hillman said. “He doesn’t have any structural damage but he does have a tight right shoulder on the back side. We’re looking at a minimum of three to five days.”

Both Hillman and Soria insisted earlier this week that he was fine despite not appearing in a game for eight straight days. He returned on Wednesday night to post a save at Cleveland but apparently felt stiffness on Thursday.

General manager Dayton Moore said the stiffness came to the Royals’ attention last Saturday at Texas while he was warming up as a potential replacement for Zack Greinke who finished the game.

Hillman said he’d kept Soria’s situation under wraps until now to avoid tipping off opposing teams.

The closing role now will be handled by a “committee” until Soria returns, he said

— Dick Kaegel