Matt Duffy to be out at least six weeks

The bad news continues for Matt Duffy, who missed most of the games during Spring Training as he battled through a lingering hamstring issue, but he has apparently also privately been dealing with a back injury as well.

Duffy kept his ailing back to himself, until the Rays training staff asked him to check it out, at which time Duffy came clean about the lingering issue.

“They mentioned that they wanted to look at my back just in case something was going on there,’’ he said. “I said, ‘Funny you should ask, I’ve been feeling it for a couple of months.’ A lot of it is my fault for not saying anything about it.’’

The Rays training staff concluded that Duffy’s bad back wasn’t allowing his bad hamstring to properly heal.

The Rays and Duffy were hoping he’d be ready for Opening Day, but the veteran infielder was only able to play a couple of games during the spring before being shut down due to the hamstring issue. Now, coupled with the back ailment, Duffy is expected to be until out at least mid-May.

Duffy has struggled with injuries since being acquired by the Rays at the 2016 trade deadline, missing all off the 2017 season. He did play in 132 games in 2018, but was admittedly weaker during the second half of the season.

The Rays depth will be tested as they’ll also have to contend with Joey Wendle’s injury that he suffered during Sunday’s game with the Houston Astros. Wendle is now considered day-to-day with a hamstring issue.