KANSAS CITY -- All of the Rays walking wounded appear to be making strides.
Steve Pearce, who left Monday night's game after his right elbow began to trouble him, was back in the lineup for Tuesday's 10-5 Royals win, but manager Kevin Cash elected to remove the second baseman in the fifth inning with the Rays trailing by four runs.
"It was more or less the game had kind of separated itself right there," Cash said. "Obviously, he's still sore. He tried to grind through it and play. It just made the most sense for me to get him out and see if we can let his elbow calm down a little bit."
Pearce has been experiencing pain that is considered tendinitis since Spring Training, and he expects to have to manage the pain for the remainder of the season. He shows up early for treatment daily.
Second baseman Logan Forsythe (left-scapula hairline fracture) hit off a tee on Tuesday, fielded 35 ground balls and turned double plays. He is no longer experiencing pain when he backhands grounders. Forsythe is expected to be back with the team during the next homestand, which starts June 10.
Forsythe also stood in the batter's box on Tuesday while Alex Cobb and Chase Whitley, who are both recovering from Tommy John surgery, threw 35 pitches each, including breaking pitches.
Right-hander Ryan Webb (right pectoral strain) is expected to be back on the first day he is eligible to return, June 12.