Zobrist adjusting to playing every day

With injuries thrusting him into at least temporary duty as an everyday player, IF/OF Ben Zobrist says he's taking more care in how he prepares and recovers from games.

He says he'd forgotten what it felt like to "get worn out" playing every day and is making adjustments.

"Just going back and forth between the cold tub and hot tub to keep the blood flow going and regular maintenance in the weight room - making sure I'm getting in there and getting stuff done that I need to get done," he said.

"And then making sure I'm not taking too many swings in the cage and too much extra work. I could do more of that when I wasn't going to start a game."

With 2B Akinori Iwamura lost for the season and SS Jason Bartlett and DH Pat Burrell on the disabled list, Zobrist has made nine consecutive starts through Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Twins.

All told, he has appeared in 45 games with 29 starts at six positions.

Manager Joe Maddon likes Zobrist's versatility so much that he isn't ready to consider him for extended duty as Iwamura's replacement.

"If he just takes off and runs with it, of course I'm not going to run away from that," he said. "As of right now, I'm thinking that as everybody gets healthy, he'll give the second baseman a day off, the shortstop a day off or the right fielder - like he had been doing before."

After a 1-for-4 game batting leadoff Sunday, Zobrist is batting .304 with eight home runs and 26 RBIs.

Avoiding Greinke

Because he pitched Sunday, Royals sensation Zack Greinke won't face the Rays in the three-game series between the clubs Tuesday-Thursday.

"That's too bad," Maddon cracked Sunday.

Greinke is 8-1 with a 1.10 ERA after Sunday's start. He had an ERA of 0.84 entering Sunday and was only the eighth pitcher since 1913 to have an ERA under 1.00 after 10 starts.

Percival update

Maddon said he and executive vice president Andrew Friedman met with RHP Troy Percival and no decision was made on whether the former closer will retire or try to rejoin the club at some point.

"We're going to let it ride for a little bit and give him a chance to get well," Maddon said, adding that Percival would return home to California and is working with a chiropractor.

Percival, 39, is on the 15-day DL with right shoulder tendinitis, which apparently has caused numbness in his right arm. The veteran is 0-1 with a 6.35 ERA.

Also notable

Maddon said B.J. Upton, given most of the day off Sunday, will be back at the leadoff spot Tuesday. Upton had a pinch-hit single off the left-field wall Sunday but is batting .204. ... OF Matt Joyce said he got the call informing of him of his call-up Saturday while he was taking out the garbage at his apartment.

Tony Fabrizio