Sonnanstine still trying to get on track

As long as their starting pitching continues to come together, the Rays can hold out hope of making a run this year.

But the defending American League champions need Andy Sonnanstine to get going.

The rest of the rotation, buoyed by the arrival of David Price, has shown signs of getting into a rhythm. Sonnanstine, though, is 3-5 with a 7.66 ERA, and, in his most recent start last Wednesday at Cleveland, he gave up a career-high eight runs in three innings.

Manager Joe Maddon would only say he believes the 13-game winner of a year ago - who makes his 11th start of the season tonight against the Royals - will get his season turned around.

"Of course, you want him to pitch at a better level than he is," Maddon said. "I mean, his ERA is very high, and he's had some difficult moments."

Sonnanstine started last season 10-3, won matchups with several elite-level pitchers and had two phenomenal starts against Boston in September. He pitched in the postseason, winning both of his starts in the AL playoffs before getting beat in the World Series.

But the 26-year-old has pitched six-plus innings only three times year. His ERA would be the highest in the majors, and his opponents' average (.340) would be the highest in the AL, if he had enough innings to qualify (he's three short).

Some of his numbers are baffling: After going 6-5 with a 4.35 ERA away from Tropicana Field last year, Sonnanstine is 1-5 with a 9.00 ERA on the road this year. He's holding left-handed hitters to a .263 average, but righty batters are hitting .436 against him.

"That's so opposite of his entire career in the minor leagues," Maddon said.

Maddon said that besides wanting Sonnanstine to pitch inside more, he and pitching coach Jim Hickey have discovered "some other items that are kind of interesting" that they've addressed since the Cleveland game.

Sonnanstine wouldn't elaborate on that, saying only that he needs to be sharp and throw quality pitches.

He said he doesn't feel pressured to get better results, but the fact the Rays have other options suggest he can't feel comfortable.

Recently, the club pulled Scott Kazmir from the rotation after his ERA ballooned to 7.69, placing him on the disabled list with a right quad strain. He was replaced by Price, the dazzling lefty who's expected to be a fixture in the rotation for years.

Price had a short and wild season debut May 25, but he pitched impressively Saturday against Minnesota, earning his first regular-season win.

The Rays have Wade Davis, Carlos Hernandez and Mitch Talbot at Triple-A Durham. Davis is 5-2 with a 3.40 ERA, Hernandez posted a 2.63 ERA in six starts during May, and Talbot is 4-4 with a 4.47 ERA.

And at some point, Kazmir will be back. Although his name has come up in trade rumors, Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said over the weekend he expects the lefty will be "a significant contributor" this year.

At three games under .500 nearly two months into the season, the Rays realize time is starting to work against them in the tough AL East.

They received a dose of optimism over the weekend with strong starting pitching from James Shields, Price and Matt Garza, and they're encouraged by the recent improvement of fifth starter Jeff Niemann.

"Price gave us a huge shot," Garza said after getting tagged with a loss Sunday despite allowing only three runs in seven-plus innings. "He got us on track, and he's making a lot of things come together.

"And I'm looking forward to seeing Sonny come out tonight and go six or seven innings and beat the Royals."