Longoria back in lineup

Posted Jun 26, 2009 by Tribune Sports

Updated Jun 26, 2009 at 05:03 PM

UPDATE: The Rays aren’t going to announce their roster/rotation moves until after tonight’s game. Manager Joe Maddon said during his pre-game media availability that some of the players involved haven’t been informed yet. He reiterated that Scott Kazmir will come off the DL and pitch tomorrow or Sunday, but he wouldn’t say which day.

Relief pitcher Chad Bradford is definitely rejoining the team. I just ran into him in the tunnel, and although he isn’t on the 25-man roster yet, he was in uniform.

ST. PETERSBURG—This will be quick, because I don’t want to miss any developments down in the clubhouse. We still don’t know anything on the roster move or change in the rotation needed to bring left-handed pitcher Scott Kazmir back this weekend.

I just spoke to Jeff Niemann, and he said he’s still pitching tomorrow night, as far as he knows. He’s schedule to pitch tomorrow and David Price is scheduled to pitch Sunday, but manager Joe Maddon said yesterday that Kazmir will pitch one of those days.

Andy Sonnanstine, a candidate to get moved to the bullpen or sent down to Triple-A Durham, was kicking a soccer ball around in the outifield with reliever Jeff Nelson earlier.

Third baseman Evan Longoria is back in the lineup for tonight’s series opener against the Marlins after getting to rest his tender left hamstring yesterday. Here’s the lineup:

B.J. Upton, CF
Carl Crawford, LF
Evan Longoria, 3B
Carlos Pena, 1B
Ben Zobrist, 2B
Pat Burrell, DH
Jason Bartlett, SS
Gabe Gross, RF
Dioner Navarro, C
—
James Shields, RHP