The depth the Rays talked so much about is about to be tested as they headed out to the West Coast hurting a bit, as backup C Shawn Riggans was on the disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis, CF B.J. Upton was "day to day" after leaving Sunday's game with tightness in his right quad, and 3B Evan Longoria, who missed two games following a death in his family, had to be switched from third base to DH on Sunday after "tweaking his foot" making a play the night before.
PLAYER NEWS: --CF B.J. Upton is hopeful of returning to the lineup Wednesday after sitting out Tuesday's game because of tightness in his right leg. Upton left Sunday's game after the second inning. He is confident it is a short-term problem and said there is "no chance" he will need to go on the disabled list.
--1B Carlos Pena's hitting streak ended at 12 games, two shy of his career high.
--3B Evan Longoria picked up his 98th RBI in his 134th big-league game. If he gets to 100 on Wednesday, he would be the third-quickest player to that mark. Ryan Braun did it in 118 games, Albert Pujols in 131.
MEDICAL WATCH:
CF B.J. Upton (right quadriceps) left the April 19 game, and he sat out April 21. He is day-to-day.
C Shawn Riggans (right shoulder tendinitis) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 10. He is expected to miss two to three weeks.
RHP Chad Bradford (right elbow surgery in February 2009) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He is making a good recovery and hopes to be back in late May or June.
RHP Jason Isringhausen (right elbow surgery in September 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 31. He began a rehab assignment with Class AA Montgomery on April 20. He will make two more appearances there before moving to Class AAA Durham.
OF Fernando Perez (dislocated left wrist) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He is projected to miss four or five months because further exams showed ligament damage as part of the injury he suffered March 10. The Rays hope he will return in time to play regular-season games.
ROTATION:
RHP James Shields
LHP Scott Kazmir
RHP Matt Garza
RHP Andy Sonnanstine
RHP Jeff Niemann
BULLPEN:
RHP Troy Percival (closer)
RHP Dan Wheeler
RHP Grant Balfour
LHP J.P. Howell
LHP Brian Shouse
RHP Joe Nelson
RHP Lance Cormier
CATCHERS:
Dioner Navarro
Michel Hernandez
INFIELDERS:
1B Carlos Pena
2B Akinori Iwamura
SS Jason Bartlett
3B Evan Longoria
INF Ben Zobrist
INF Willy Aybar
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Carl Crawford
CF B.J. Upton
RF Gabe Gross
DH Pat Burrell
OF Gabe Kapler
