Rays notes: Maddon ponders rotation

The Tampa Bay Rays are confident they can cover for starting RHPs Jeff Niemann and Wade Davis during their stints on the disabled list. They just don't know how they're going to do it yet.'

Top prospect Jeremy Hellickson started for Davis on Tuesday night, and Matt Garza's turn comes up today against the Tigers. James Shields will pitch Friday when the Rays return home to play the Orioles, but the other weekend starters are listed as undecided.

Manager Joe Maddon said he needed to discuss the situation again with pitching coach Jim Hickey and could have a decision today.

The obvious options are to have Andy Sonnanstine make a second consecutive start for Niemann on Saturday or use the day off Thursday to bypass Niemann's turn and have David Price pitch on regular rest.

Sonnanstine (2-1, 3.98 ERA), who said he hasn't been told when he'll pitch next, made his first start of the season Sunday at Toronto. He allowed one run on three hits over 51/3 innings in a 1-0 loss.

Maddon said Sonnanstine is well-rested and was a major contributor for the Rays in their 2008 pennant race with the Red Sox.

"Regardless who he's pitching against, you know he's not going to be intimidated or afraid," Maddon said, noting that the Blue Jays hit eight home runs in a 17-11 win the day before Sonnanstine faced them. "'Give me the ball;' that's who he is."

Sonnanstine won 13 games in 2008 and has pitched well out of the bullpen this season, but he lost his job in the rotation last year. With 15-game winner Price available, the Rays might be tempted to go with a four-man rotation when days off permit.

Niemann and Davis were placed on the 15-day DL on Monday with right shoulder strains. Niemann is eligible to come off Aug. 19, and Davis on Aug. 20.

Maddon said the "best-case scenario" is that neither will miss more than three starts and that extended minor-league rehabilitation assignments won't be needed. Niemann is 10-3 with a 3.12 ERA, and rookie Davis is 9-9 with a 4.45 ERA.

Pena improving

1B Carlos Pena - (right plantar fascia sprain) ran "arcs" on the grass around the infield, did agility drills and hit in the cage. Maddon said he should be available Monday when he's ready to come off the DL, or soon after.

Pena flew home to join his wife, Pamela, who is expecting their second child Thursday.

Maddon also said RHP Grant Balfour (intercostal strain) is making progress, but he didn't give a timetable for his return.

Ekstrom settles in

RHP Mike Ekstrom, called up Monday to take Niemann's roster spot, said he is a more confident and consistent pitcher than he was in April with the Rays.

He was 0-1 with an 8.53 ERA when he was optioned to Triple-A Durham on April 27, but at Durham, Ekstrom went 5-1with a 2.13 ERA and one save.

He said success at Durham was contagious.

"Everybody is putting up good numbers in Durham," Ekstrom said. "It's a really good team - the best team I've been on, for sure."

Maddon said Ekstrom will be used in early game and extra-inning situations against right-handers or when the bullpen gets taxed.

Odds and ends

C John Jaso said it wasn't much fun catching Price during Monday night's 6-3 win against the Tigers after he got hit in the left index finger with a backswing. "Every time David threw a fastball and I didn't catch it perfectly, it would ring pretty good," Jaso said. "It was like hitting a bone bruise. He was throwing those upper-90s fastballs, so it wasn't helping."... Niemann and Davis are the first Rays starting pitchers on the DL since Scott Kazmir came off on June 27, 2009. In the 14 months since a Rays starter went on the DL, 107 other starting pitchers have had DL time, including nine from the Nationals.