Injury News: Niemann Scratched with Blister, Rodney OK After Line Drive

Mark Topkin just tweeted that Jeff Niemann will miss his start Saturday with a blister on his pitching hand. Presumably this is just a precaution, but after Chien-Ming Wang of the division-rival Yankees went on the DL a few years back with a fingernail injury, it’s definitely worth noting. If Niemann does need to miss any time, the Rays still have Wade Davis and he could easily slide back into the rotation.

In terms of good news, Fernando Rodney is fine after getting hit by a line drive on Wednesday night, although he will miss a few days before resuming throwing. He should be ready in time for the regular season.

The Rays currently have a couple injuries in the outfield in B.J. Upton and Sam Fuld, with Upton set to return by mid-April and Fuld’s expected arrival up in the air. Accordingly, the Rays are mulling a trade for an outfielder, although if a trade happens it should be relatively minor because the Rays can easily slide Ben Zobrist to the outfield and use Jeff Keppinger or Elliot Johnson at second base. These two injuries should give a roster spot to Jeff Salazar, Brandon Guyer, or Jesus Feliciano, however. Everything should be mostly fine before long, but this does make things a little more interesting as camp draws to a close.