Neither Souza, Asdrubal to miss much time

ST. PETERSBURG -- It seems as though the worst-case scenario for the Rays has been avoided.

After being injured in Sunday's 7-2 loss to the Athletics, both outfielder Steven Souza Jr. (sprained left wrist) and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (mild left groin strain) reported that their injuries are progressing, and neither expects to miss an extended amount of time.

In Souza's case, the swelling has subsided, but he still feels some mild pain. He has yet to start swinging a bat, but he plans to begin after finalizing some testing.

"We're trying to get a bead on the process, to the point where once I pick up the bat, I don't stop," Souza said. "We're going to hold off for a couple of days of doing activities and then go right at it."

Souza believes that he can avoid the disabled list, and manager Kevin Cash said he could be called upon on Tuesday if the team were to get into a bind but that it will continue to be a day-by-day process.

"Any time you are dealing with a wrist injury, it is kind of ... how you feel coming in that day," Cash said. "We are very optimistic with all the reports after we got the doctors to look at him, so we think he is going to keep progressing.

"He went out and took swings and everything after he injured the wrist, so we know he can swing. It was more the check swing that bothered him."

Cabrera said on Tuesday that he will be available to pinch-hit during the Rays' final two games against the Mariners, and after an off-day on Thursday, he expects to be back in the lineup on Friday.

In other Rays injury news, left-hander Matt Moore (Tommy John surgery) will make his second rehab start on Thursday in extended spring training at Fort Myers, Fla., vs. the Red Sox. Right-hander Kirby Yates (strained right pectoral) is scheduled to pitch in the same game in his first rehab appearance.