Tampabay.com

AUGUST 16, 2010

Rays vs. Rangers, with Pena back, Kapler on DL and lots going on

UPDATE, 5:55: Pena said his right foot feels very good and he doesn't expect to be limited in any way (in terms of needed days off or DHing rather than playing first) going forward. Manager Joe Maddon said they will monitor him and it's possible Dan Johnson could play first some days with Pena at DH.

"Can't wait to get out there,'' Pena said. "I feel good, we're just going to keep on progressing, being smart with all of the treatment, all the necessary exercises I need to keep myself ready. I should just keep on progressing and shouldn't have any type of difficulty doing that. I don't expect anything to go wrong; on the other hand I expect everything to go very smoothly.''

UPDATE, 5:50: Niemann and Davis both did well in throwing 40-plus pitches in their bullpen sessions and, with another bullpen Wednesday and a sim game on Friday in Oakland, are on schedule to return. As of now, it would be Davis Aug. 24th in Anaheim and Niemann on the 25th.

UPDATE, 4:15: Kapler said he sustained mild sprain in Saturday play at plate with Orioles' Wieters, and it's best to address it now.

UPDATE, 4:05:
  Kapler goes on 15-day DL with right ankle sprain.

UPDATE, 3:52: Kapler is here in clubhouse, said he'll talk to media shortly, went back to trainers' room. DL seems likely.

UPDATE, 3:40: Carlos Pena is back from the DL and in the Rays lineup, and Gabe Kapler is off the roster, but no word yet on the details of the move.

Rays lineup:
Upton cf,
Bartlett ss,
Crawford lf,
Longoria 3b,
Pena 1b,
Rodriguez 2b,
Zobrist rf,
Aybar dh,
Shoppach c,
Price p

DEVELOPING: There's plenty going on at Tropicana Field today, starting with the potential playoff preview of the Rays hosting the Rangers, and a marquee matchup of starting pitchers Cliff Lee and David Price.

There's also the possibility of a roster move, as the Rays may reinstate 1B Carlos Pena from the DL (which might lead to the departure of OF Gabe Kapler). There's the bullpen sessions for injured RHPs Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann that will factor heavily into when they can return to the rotation. There's the looming midnight deadline to sign top draft pick Josh Sale and supplemental round pick Drew Vettleson. And there's the return of one-time top prospect Josh Hamilton (as well as ex-Ray Jorge Cantu).

 Here's the Rangers lineup:
Andrus ss
Young 3b
Hamilton cf
Guerrero dh
Cantu 1b
B. Molina c
Murphy lf
Boggs rf
Blanco 2b
Lee p

 

 

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