PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Any time a player misses action, red flags go up regarding their health.
Evan Longoria wasn't in the Rays' lineup for a second consecutive day on Wednesday, so the question had to be asked of manager Kevin Cash: Is something wrong with the veteran slugger?
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"He's fine," Cash said. "It's more or less resting. Long spring. I think Longo, through his maturity, he realizes when his body says it needs a little bit of a rest, and he's trying to recharge everything for Opening Day. Because we know once [the season starts], he's going to want to be out there every day. So we're fine with that."
Cash noted that he anticipates Longoria playing in Thursday's game against the Pirates in Port Charlotte, or one of the split-squad games on the road Friday against the Tigers and Mets.
Will Longoria be in the lineup on Sunday for the season opener vs. the Blue Jays?
Cash smiled at the question before replying: "Yeah, pretty sure on that one."