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As anticipated, the Rays are skipping Drew Smyly's fourth rehabilitation start and slotting him into the rotation, starting this Friday.
After a weekend sweep at the hand of the Yankees and in the midst of an AL East showdown, the Rays are in sore need of their players currently on the Disabled List - starters Drew Smyly and Alex Cobb chief among them.
#Rays Smyly says he is "definitely" ready to go. So Friday seems even more likely - tho not official.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) April 21, 2015
This is fantastic news and well anticipated.
Smyly was always likely to skip a rehab start and jump back into the rotation, even though the Rays are rarely aggressive with their pitchers. The team opted to allow Smyly to stay down for his most recent start and the Rays got battered in a possibly crucial loss to New York.
Here's how the rotation shakes out with Drew Smyly back in the fold.
| Date | Opp. | Time | Rays | Opp. |
| vs BOS | 7:10 PM | Archer | Miley | |
| vs BOS | 7:10 PM | Karns | Kelly | |
| vs BOS | 7:10 PM | Odorizzi | Buchholz | |
| vs TOR | 7:10 PM | Smyly | Dickey | |
| vs TOR | 6:10 PM | TBD | Norris | |
| vs TOR | 1:10 PM | Archer | Buehrle | |
| @ NYY | 7:05 PM | Karns | Warren | |
| @ NYY | 7:05 PM | Odorizzi | Tanaka | |
| @ NYY | 1:05 PM | Smyly | Pineda | |
| Thu, Apr 30 | off day | |||
| @ BAL | 7:05 PM | Archer | Gonzalez | |
| @ BAL | 7:05 PM | Karns | Norris | |
| @ BAL | 1:35 PM | Odorizzi | Jimenez | |
| @ BOS | 7:10 PM | Smyly | Buchholz | |
| @ BOS | 7:10 PM | TBD | Porcello | |
| @ BOS | 7:10 PM | Archer | Masterson |
Smyly is likely to take the Friday start on standard four days rest, which would set him up for standard rest on the following Wednesday as well.
The fifth starter's slot likely belongs to Matt Andriese on Saturday, April 25th, bumped a day backward in the rotation, but the Rays could feature Alex Colome. He most recently pitched a day game for the Durham Bulls in his rehabilitation from pneumonia-related weight loss on April 21.
Picture perfect day in the Bull City. Alex Colome on the bump in a rehab start for the good guys. pic.twitter.com/SVkx5ufftp
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) April 21, 2015
He needed 28 pitches for the first inning against the Triple-A Charlotte Knights, allowing two hits, but struck out the side in the second on 23 pitches. He kept it scoreless in the third on 17 pitches, but came back in the fourth and allowed a run. He finished with 77 thrown, in line for a possible starter's work load.
Averaging nearly eight pitches per out is not very efficient, but Colome still might be effective in a three-inning burst. Combined with Andriese or Erasmo Ramirez may make for a decent bullpen day, playing the hottest hands.