Moore feels 'good,' hoping to return to Rays soon

ST. PETERSBURG -- Matt Moore felt fine Sunday, a day after the 24-year-old left-hander threw a simulated game.

"I feel good, just normal soreness," Moore said. "I feel like my chest and my back, that area, the cuff that gets normally sore, normal soreness today, so far. … I think it's a good sign just waking up and having normal soreness in the areas I'm used to."

Moore, who is trying to return from left-elbow soreness, is 14-3 with a 3.41 ERA this season. But he has not pitched in a game since July 28 against the Yankees in New York. He had hoped that the way he feels would prompt the Rays to let him make his return to a Major League game rather than having to make a Minor League start.

Moore did not get his wish.

He will throw a bullpen session on Monday followed by a start in a Minor League game on Thursday at, according to Rays manager Joe Maddon, a Minor League city to be named.

Maddon allowed that if Moore pitches Thursday and all goes well, "he'll be lined up after that," which would place him in the rotation to be the Rays' starter Sept. 3 in Anaheim.