Rays eye Friday return for Souza, Asdrubal

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays are eyeing Friday as the return date for right fielder Steven Souza Jr. and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, and both were available off the bench in Wednesday's 3-0 loss to the Mariners.

Cabrera appeared as a pinch-hitter and flied out to right in the ninth.

"The hope is [they'll return on] Friday to start," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "I don't think we would hesitate using them off the bench [today] if the right opportunities presented themselves."

Souza (sprained left wrist) and Cabrera (mild left groin strain) were both injured in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Athletics and have not been in the lineup since. Cabrera, though, did pinch-hit for Tim Beckham in the bottom of the ninth on Tuesday and stayed in to play shortstop in the 10th inning.

In Cabrera's absence, Beckham has gone 1-for-6 at the plate with a walk, a hit-by-pitch and a steal, but has made a few miscues in the field.

"Not having [Cabrera] out there these last two days just shows what he brings to our club," Cash said. "If we can give him today with the off-day, I think we'll be better down the road for it."