ST. PETERSBURG — Closer Alex Colome will be activated from the disabled list today and rejoin a team that could use his high-powered arm at the back of the bullpen.
Colome missed 16 games with tendinitis in his right biceps. He was 19-for-19 in save opportunities before his injury. The rest of the bullpen was 0-for-10 until Sunday, when rookie RHP Ryan Garton earned his first big-league save.
With Colome out, manager Kevin Cash tried to mix and match in the later innings to close out a win. It hasn't always worked, though the Rays haven't had many save opportunities in the past 19 games.
"We've lost some ballgames here many different ways," Cash said. "It hasn't been all on the bullpen. Sometimes when you lose games late, it shows up more and it's more talked about. If you're not playing good one through six, you can lose a ballgame then, too."
JENNINGS TO DL: OF Desmond Jennings was placed on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 1, due to a left hamstring strain. RHP Tyler Sturdevant was recalled.
MOORE CONTINUES HIS ROLL: LHP Matt Moore won consecutive starts for the first time since Sept. 24-29, 2013, after he allowed two runs in 62/3 innings during Monday's 4-2 victory against the Angels.
Moore is 3-1 since June 12 with a 2.43 ERA. Since then, the rest of the pitching staff has combined for three wins.
"If you go back to Matt's last three or four ballgames, he's just been outstanding," Cash said. "You take away one inning in Baltimore that got away from us a little bit, other than that he's given us every opportunity to keep games within reach and also to win ballgames. He's on a really good run. That's great to see."
COBB HEADING TO PORT CHARLOTTE: RHP Alex Cobb (Tommy John surgery) is scheduled to begin his minor-league rehab assignment Wednesday with advanced Class A Charlotte.
Cobb is scheduled to pitch no more than two innings during his first start then build his arm strength as he would during a normal spring training. If all goes well, he should rejoin the rotation in early August.
"It's got to be an exciting day for him, because I know it is for all of us, to get him out in a ballgame," Cash said.
MILLER TIME: SS Brad Miller set a career high Monday with his 12th home run of the season. He has seven in his past 21 games and is three shy of tying Julio Lugo and Asdrubal Cabrera for the team record for homers in a season by a shortstop. Three of his 12 have come against the Angels.
MORRISON TIME: 1B Logan Morrison drove in a pair of runs, including one on his ninth home run of the season. He has six RBIs through the first eight games of this homestand. Morrison didn't drive in his first run this season until May 17. Since then he leads the team with 30. 3B Evan Longoria is next with 26.
YOUR RAYS ALL-STAR IS: The 2016 All-Stars will be announced at 7 tonight on ESPN. The Ray with the best chance is Longoria, who is batting .278 with 23 doubles, 18 home runs and 45 RBIs. Colome has a chance, depending on how the American League roster is constructed.
NOTEWORTHY: The Rays are 4-0 against the Angels this season, holding them to seven total runs. … The Rays need one more home run to tie the team record for homers before the All-Star break at 113.