ST. PETERSBURG -- Right-handers Chris Archer (left abdominal strain) and Jake Faria (left oblique strain) continued to progress. Each threw a bullpen session on Monday prior to the Rays taking batting practice.
Archer threw 40 pitches -- including breaking balls -- and Faria threw 30.
"It was great," said Archer of his bullpen session. "Continuing to progress forward. We increased the workload a little, incorporated some [fielding practice], no issue, no limitations right now. The only thing now is I have to be a little patient to build up to a normal pitch count."
If Archer feels fine on Tuesday, he will likely throw a three-inning simulated game on Thursday.
"Probably throw three innings, 45-50 pitches," Archer said. "If all goes well, continue to make my way toward a real game, probably for [Class A Advanced] Charlotte, wherever they are."
Faria told reporters that he threw fastballs in addition to changeups, and "everything is good."
"Able to push it pretty good, so it's been a pretty smooth process," Faria said. "At three weeks out, I had it looked at again, and it was pretty clear, so now it's just a process of building back up to five or six innings. ... Building my arm back up, building everything up so I'm ready to go."
Roster move
The Rays placed left-hander Jonny Venters (right hamstring strain) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled right-hander Austin Pruitt from Triple-A Durham.
Venters hurt himself while pitching in relief on Sunday against the Yankees. The veteran said he'd never had a hamstring problem before, so it "scared" him a little bit. Venters said he's received "pretty good news so far" concerning the severity of his injury.

Pruitt was optioned to Durham prior to Friday's game against the Yankees, but did not pitch for the Bulls. The right-hander was scheduled to start Monday night before the Rays made the move. Why Pruitt?
"I think right now [the front office recalled] Austin simply because he can provide a lot of length for us," said manager Kevin Cash, who explained that the Rays' bullpen was a little thin after the team's weekend series against the Yankees.