Seattle ? Mariners closer Kazuhiro Sasaki left the team Thursday to fly to Japan and take care of some family business, leaving the Seattle bullpen short another key member.

The Mariners were not sure when Sasaki will rejoin the team. Seattle placed Jeff Nelson, its right-handed setup man, on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday because of bone chips in his elbow. He will undergo surgery today.

Manager Lou Piniella said before Thursday night’s game against Toronto that left-hander Arthur Rhodes and right-hander Shigetoshi Hasegawa will close games until Sasaki gets back.

Piniella said he hopes to have Sasaki, who hasn’t allowed an earned run this season, back by Saturday or Sunday.

“He had to go home to Japan,” said Piniella, without saying why.

The departure of Sasaki leaves the Mariners’ bullpen short-handed with a big weekend series against Boston coming up at Safeco Field.