Yarbrough (groin) could return by midweek

ST. PETERSBURG -- Rays reliever Nick Anderson returned on Friday, and the team could be on the verge of welcoming back starter Ryan Yarbrough as early as next week.

Yarbrough, who has been sidelined since Aug. 28 with left groin tightness, threw a bullpen session on Friday. Rays manager Kevin Cash said that there were no setbacks and that the next time the left-hander throws could be in a game.

“The bullpen went really, really well,” Cash said. “I spoke with [pitching coach Kyle Snyder] during the game. He said [Yarbrough] looked great. I think now it’s just a matter of him going through the bullpen and us finding where we’re going to slot him back in.”

Tuesday is the first day Yarbrough is eligible to come back from the injured list, and it’s possible that he makes his return that day. If not, the Rays could slot him in on Thursday against the Red Sox after Wednesday’s off-day.

Aside from Yarbrough, Oliver Drake (biceps tendinitis) is also progressing well, but Cash indicated that the right-hander is still likely about a week away from returning. When he comes back, Drake will give the Rays another key piece in the bullpen.

Reed leaves game
Cody Reed, who was acquired from the Reds on Aug. 28, was removed from Saturday’s 7-3 loss to the Marlins with two outs in the eighth inning with pinkie soreness, according to Cash.

Reed was replaced by Aaron Loup, but the Rays aren’t overly concerned about the left-hander’s injury.

“We’ll have a doctor check it out and see what comes up,” Cash said.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Day
For the fifth consecutive year, MLB and its clubs raised awareness for childhood cancer during all games on Saturday for a special league-wide day in home ballparks. MLB’s “Childhood Cancer Awareness Day,” held during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in collaboration with Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C), combined a visual and ceremonial demonstration of support for the cause with outreach to local hospitals treating young patients in their communities. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States and Canada.

The Rays joined all on-field personnel, including players, coaches and umpires around baseball in wearing gold ribbon decals and wristbands during Saturday's game against the Marlins at Tropicana Field. Clubs also featured ceremonial activities in ballparks. Club activities included pregame ceremonies, cardboard cutouts of pediatric patients in stands at ballparks, virtual patient first pitches, virtual player hospital visits and more.

For Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier, who does a lot of community work with his foundation “Kiermaier’s Kids," the day has a special meaning.

“My main takeaway after being around these kids for the last couple of years is the positivity that comes from the kids and the parents,” Kiermaier said. “It’s something that drew me in right away, and I’m so thankful and fortunate to be able to make an impact in some of these kids’ lives.”

Childhood cancer awareness efforts in previous seasons have included special pediatric cancer awareness batting-practice T-shirts, online campaigns to empower fans to hold fundraisers for pediatric cancer research and donations to local children’s hospitals. MLB and its clubs have supported the fight against cancer through a variety of initiatives for many years. As Stand Up To Cancer’s founding donor, Major League Baseball has pledged more than $50 million to SU2C’s collaborative cancer research programs, providing invaluable support. Launched in 2013, the work of the Stand Up To Cancer/St. Baldrick’s Foundation Pediatric Cancer Dream Team has helped to develop new immunotherapy approaches and contributed to the development of two new treatments for difficult-to-treat pediatric leukemias that have been approved by the FDA. MLB has recognized SU2C at its jewel events since the '09 World Series.