ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. _ The Rays will activate starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow on Sunday to start against the Blue Jays at Tropicana Field, manager Kevin Cash said Friday.
Glasnow, on the injured list since May 11 with a right forearm strain, will likely serve as an opener for the Rays, making the start and contributing about two innings on the mound.
"I'm excited to get back out and pitch in a big league game," Glasnow said. "I've been preparing for this for a while."
Cash said the coaching staff will assess Glasnow's status throughout the start to determine when he should come out of the game.
"We're not in a position right now where we can just guarantee pitches for anybody," Cash said. "We'll monitor how he's feeling, how the ball's coming out. Hopefully he can kind of harness it and get some command going early on."
Cash said Glasnow will continue to build up his strength and potentially contribute more innings in each start over the final month of the season.
In eight starts with the Rays this season, Glasnow compiled a 6-1 record and posted a 1.86 ERA. He has made two rehab starts with the Class Triple-A Durham Bulls, tossing a scoreless inning on Aug. 30 and 1 1/3 scoreless innings on Sept. 2. His start Sunday will be his first in the majors since a May 10 outing against the Yankees.
The Rays will need an open 40-man roster spot to activate Glasnow. That spot became available when the San Francisco Giants claimed right-handed reliever Ricardo Pinto off waivers Friday.
