Rays’ Taj Bradley scratched from start with pectoral tightness
SARASOTA — Taj Bradley was scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday due to pectoral tightness. Instead of pitching against the Orioles, the young Rays right-hander was sent to have an MRI.
“When he was warming up, he felt a little tightness, pectoral tightness. So we made the decision it was probably best not to try to push through it right now,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “I’m pretty optimistic right now. … I don’t know why. I just feel like we’ve caught it in time where hopefully it’s not a big deal.”
Bradley, who will turn 23 next week, was expected to make his second spring start. He was warming up in the bullpen at Ed Smith Stadium with pitching coach Kyle Snyder when he felt the issue. It is not something he has complained about before, Cash said. Snyder made the decision to stop the warm-up and have Bradley checked.
The Rays had to temper their optimism simply because of the timing. With the 12-8 loss to the Orioles, they have only 14 exhibition games remaining before the March 28 opener against the Blue Jays.
“If you miss a start right now, you’re kind of pushing it,” Cash said. “I mean, the good thing is he got the three innings in Tampa (last week in his first spring start). So, we’ve built up enough. But, yeah, missing a start or two at this point, I don’t know where he’ll get to with his workload.”
It’s a concern for the Rays, whose rotation already was a question mark.
With Shane McClanahan expected to miss the season following Tommy John surgery, Zach Eflin is their de facto ace after pitching a career-high 177⅔ innings last season. Aaron Civale is looking to rebound from a mediocre 2023 debut with the Rays after being acquired from Cleveland at the trade deadline.
Zack Littell is in camp for the first time in his career as an expected starter. Shane Baz, who has basically missed two seasons with injuries, will be working on a strict innings limit. Ryan Pepiot, part of the return from the Dodgers for Tyler Glasnow, has struggled in spring training.
Bradley’s start against the Yankees last week had been a bright spot, and he has better stuff than he showed in his rookie season, when he went 5-8 with a 5.93 ERA in 23 appearances, including 21 starts..
J-Lowe progressing slowly
Josh Lowe has progressed to baseball activities but has yet to see live at-bats in a Grapefruit League game since being shut down with left hip inflammation on Feb. 29. Cash had no real update Tuesday but acknowledged he is not confident Lowe will be ready for the opener.
“He had a good day (Monday), he got out and took some fly balls, and he’s hitting in the cage,” Cash said before Tuesday’s game. “So, we’re still talking about a week from now not to get into a game.”
Lowe said Tuesday he felt good and was targeting this weekend to return to the lineup, confident he’d be ready for opening day. But asked if he was confident Lowe would be in rightfield for the opener, Cash shook his head.
“I am not,” he said.
In Lowe’s absence, Amed Rosario has played a lot in rightfield. The veteran infielder had taken the starts there because he had not previously played the position in the big leagues and wanted to get comfortable.
A return by Sunday would give Lowe just nine exhibition games if he played every day to get ready. A major-league hitter usually likes between 30-50 at-bats in the spring to prepare for opening day.
Lowe, 26, had a breakout season in 2023 after a slow start to his big-league career. The left-handed hitter batted .292 with an .835 OPS, 33 doubles and 20 home runs.
Miscellany
Randy Arozarena had his second hit of the spring Tuesday, a home run. “Everything with my swing feels good,” he said. “I just wasn’t getting hits. Hopefully, this brings them.” … The Rays optioned right-handed pitcher Colby White to Triple-A Durham after the game.
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