OAKLAND -- Chase Whitley continued his rehab from Tommy John surgery on Sunday, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out one in two innings for Class A Advanced Charlotte against Brevard County.
Rays manager Kevin Cash was asked if Whitley, claimed off waivers from the Yankees in the offseason, had moved ahead of Alex Cobb in their progression toward a return to the Rays.
"That's a good question," Cash said. "I'm not really sure if he is or isn't. I know he's thrown the ball really well. We're excited about how he's thrown. Threw two innings. Punched out a lot of guys. He's racking up some strikeouts in his rehab.
"He's an interesting guy. We don't know a ton about him other than we faced him really good in New York last year. Then I think he hurt himself in our ballpark. I don't know who's ahead of who, but we're excited he's on the right track."
As for Cobb, also working his way back from Tommy John surgery, he threw 35 pitches in a two-inning simulated game Saturday at Charlotte Sports Park.
Cash said that head athletic trainer Ron Porterfield talked to Cobb.
"He felt really good with his outing," Cobb said. "He'll throw a bullpen now on Tuesday."
After that bullpen session, and once the Rays see how Cobb responds the next day, a decision will be made regarding the next step.
Worth noting
• Cash talked to Brad Boxberger (left oblique injury) after the Rays closer made his third rehab appearance Saturday night and expressed afterward that he felt ready to return.
"We're excited that he's eager to come back, but we think it's best for him to take a couple of days," Cash said. "We're going to try and work him in a back-to-back outing. He's going to go to Jupiter [Florida with Charlotte] to do that. So he'll pitch Tuesday and Wednesday. And then we'll see how he gets through that. Hopefully his timetable is coming to the end on the DL and we can activate."
• Logan Morrison (inflammation in his right wrist) remained available off the bench on Sunday, but Cash would like to let him have another day off after missing two games.
"He's better," Cash said. "With that off-day coming up tomorrow, we'd like to find a way to get through without using him. Just an extra day of rest coming into the first day of [the team's next series in] L.A. [against the Dodgers]."