Pregame notes on Lough, Hardy, Davis and more

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Outfielder David Lough was scratched from today's intrasquad game in Sarasota, raising doubts that he's going to be ready to come off the disabled list on Saturday.

Lough has been slowed by a hamstring injury. He also had back spasms earlier in camp.

Shortstop J.J. Hardy will report to Single-A Frederick sometime after Monday next week to begin an injury-rehab assignment.

"He's not going to make the 11th, but we're hoping it's not too far behind that," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "I told him the Eastern Shore is nice this time of year. It actually is."

Hardy worked out for the second time today, with more intensity than he brought on Sunday, and he's clearly ahead of schedule. With his left shoulder feeling so good, Hardy said he should be ready to play sooner than expected.

Hardy will take dry swings on Wednesday and progress to hitting off a tee, coach flips and batting practice.

With Hardy progressing quickly, he could make it off the disabled list before Lough. That wasn't the projection yesterday.

"You can tell in his face that he feels good about where he is," Showalter said. "He's actually ahead of things a little bit, what they originally said."

Showalter was pleased to finally be able to write Chris Davis' name in tonight's lineup.

"Good for Chris," Showalter said. "I had somebody look it up. It's been 209 days since he played in a major league game. I know he's excited. So are we to have him back and it's been a long road for him. He'd be the first to tell you it was self-inflicted, but I don't think anybody here doesn't think he paid a dear price for it."

Showalter figures that Davis will feel some level of anxiety.

"Oh yeah," Showalter said. "I'm going to play him at first base tomorrow. I thought it would be a good idea to start out DHing and go from there. Try to get everybody out there.

"He's not really trying to downplay it. He expects it to be a little bit different. It's for real now, right?

"Chris has always been very thankful for the things that he's been blessed with. He went through a period where he was kind of trying to low-key it and he just gave up on it. That's why I wanted to DH him and work our way into it."

The Rays are expecting around 10,000 fans tonight, so the hecklers easily will be heard inside the dome.

"We hear a lot of stuff out of the stands," Showalter said. "It wouldn't surprise anybody. I think you'll definitely be able to hear it, though."

Showalter said Ryan Lavarnway may catch Wednesday night with Miguel Gonzalez on the mound.

Showalter met with catcher Steve Clevenger today and broke the news of the roster move.

"He had a good spring, as did Lavarnway," Showalter said. "Just keeps all our options available. There are a lot of variables there. I talked to Steve about the depth it provides us and told him this time next year, he won't be having that. He'll be out of options.

"We would have felt good about him or Ryan. It's good to have them both still in the fold."

The Rays scratched first baseman James Loney from the lineup after he tweaked his right side.

For the Rays
Brandon Guyer DH
Steven Souza Jr. RF
Asdrubal Cabrera SS
Evan Longoria 3B
Desmond Jennings LF
Logan Forsythe 1B
Rene Rivera C
Tim Beckham 2B
Kevin Kiermaier CF

Nathan Karns RHP