ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. _ Blake Snell's first step toward rejoining the Rays rotation this week was a solid one.
Snell said he felt good Saturday after throwing an 18-20 pitch bullpen with a broken toe on his right foot, and manager Kevin Cash said Saturday that the team medical staff was thus encouraged he could return soon, possibly Wednesday against the Royals.
"Everybody was very encouraged, so that's a great sign that he's feeling good and continues to make progress," Cash said. "I was curious to see how it would feel getting off a slope, and it seemed like it didn't bother him at all."
The concern isn't just the discomfort caused by the fractured fourth toe, but even more so that in compensating for it, Snell could throw off his delivery and hurt something else.
Cash said that if Snell feels okay beyond the expected soreness, he might throw another more extended bullpen session Monday with a decision made then on when to slot him in.
He is eligible to come off the injured list Wednesday, but the team could opt to give him at least two more days and start him in the series in Boston that starts Friday.
"We'll just have to kind of balance whether to pitch him Wednesday, first day available, or pitch him ... in Boston," Cash said. "Find out what the workload is. I imagine a lot of the decision and thoughts are going to come into the shape of our bullpen at that point."
