Decision on rotation coming for Rays

NEW YORK -- Jake Odorizzi will start on Monday for Class A Advanced Charlotte. If all goes well, he will re-join the Rays to start against the Astros on Saturday at Tropicana Field.

That means room will need to be made for Odorizzi on the 25-man roster and within the five-man rotation.

Alex Colome will start for the Rays against the Royals on Monday night in Kansas City, and he is on the same schedule as Odorizzi.

Colome was asked on Sunday if he had any idea about his fate following Monday's start.

"I don't know," Colome said. "They don't say nothing to us. Something you have to ask the manager. The only thing I can do is do my job. Go out and pitch."

Heading into Spring Training, the Rays' starting rotation was as follows: Alex Cobb, Chris Archer, Drew Smyly and Odorizzi, with Nathan Karns and Colome fighting for the final spot.

Since then, countless injuries have changed the picture. Now the Rays are faced with a pleasant problem by having too much pitching.

Rays manager Kevin Cash allowed that they have "thought about it" but "we're not ready" to make the call.

"I don't think we have a defined decision yet," Cash said. "There will be a lot of factors going in. And everybody says it's a good problem to have, and it is. It is good to get these guys back. A lot of these guys have thrown the ball really well.

"So there will be some tough decisions made and we'll just have to factor who lines up. Who's pitching well. There will be plenty of things. Who can bounce back best out of the bullpen?"

Colome could move to the bullpen in a long role, as could Erasmo Ramirez, though Ramirez has performed better than Colome.

"It's tough to change things when it's working really well," Cash said. "And those guys have pitched really well. But Jake Odorizzi, we need him in our rotation."