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: --RHP Jeff Niemann earned his first win of the season Wednesday and the third of his career in his fifth major league start.
--CF B.J. Upton returned to the lineup Wednesday after testing his tight right groin in some pregame agility drills, but the Rays will proceed cautiously this week given the cool temperatures and two day games after night games. "I don't want to push him right now," manager Joe Maddon said.
--RHP James Shields starts Thursday, saying his arm is feeling better than it has thus far. "The first couple games, I'm not going to say I'm going though some arm issues, but it's more or less 'dead arm,'" he said. "We had a long season last year. So I think it's starting to come around. My last bullpen session was really good, and I'm starting to fix my direction a little bit toward the plate. Hopefully I can bring it into this game and start getting a roll on."
--LF Carl Crawford had four hits and scored three runs Wednesday. The four hits were his most since Sept. 15, 2007, vs. Toronto.
MEDICAL WATCH:
CF B.J. Upton (right quadriceps tightness) left the April 19 game, and he sat out April 21. He returned to action April 22.
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 was scheduled to 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
