As expected, the Rays placed ace LHP Scott Kazmir (left elbow strain) and INF Ben Zobrist (left thumb fracture)  on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday.

The DL stints will be retroactive to March 21st, and the two will come off the disabled list April 5th.

Kazmir has yet to throw off the mound since Mar. 13, when he was thought to be wrapping up the rehab of the strain suffered Feb. 26 before the Rays first intrasquad game. The Rays had initially targeted him to start that Sunday, March 16th against the Tigers, but backed off for precautionary reasons when they felt his arm strength wasn't where it should be.

Manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday that Kazmir could throw off the mound again sometime next week. Kazmir threw from 90 feet today and will work his way up to 120 feet by the end of the weekend.

Zobrist, who was being groomed to be the Rays super-utility man, fractured his left thumb March 9th. Though he got his cast off a week early, a doctor's appointment Monday showed the fracture hadn't fully recovered.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com