With a playoffs berth in their sights, the Rays are getting ready to take on the Twins.

At least a half dozen players are on the field for extra early batting practice, including Evan Longoria.

Against Twins lefty Glen Perkins, the Rays are using a mostly right-handed lineup:

Update 7 p.m CF B.J. Upton took some batting practice and said he's ready to pinch-hit, if needed, with manager Joe Maddon saying Upton could return to the lineup as early as Saturday or Sunday.

*Closer Troy Percival said he felt great Thursday, two days after his first epidural injection into his lower back. Maddon said he'd like to get Percival some work tonight, if the situation came up, but RHP Dan Wheeler would likely be used in a save situation.

*Maddon said LF Carl Crawford probably won't be used as a pinch-runner or defensive replacement for the rest of the regular season, but could be used in that role for a potential first round of the playoffs.

Ex-Ray Delmon Young just took his first at-bat at the Trop since the offseason trade, and heard a smatter of boos.

Iwamura, 2b
Bartlett, ss
Pena, 1b
Longoria, 3b
Baldelli, dh
Navarro, c
Zobrist, lf
Gross, rf
Perez, cf
Shields, p

TWINS
Span, rf
Casilla, 2b
Mauer, c
Morneau, 1b
Kubel, dh
Young, lf
Tolbert, 3b
Punto, ss
Gomez, cf
Perkins, p