ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Reliever Jesse Crain's wait could soon be over.
Crain, on the disabled list with a right shoulder strain, is expected to be available for the Tampa Bay Rays in their series finale Monday against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field. Crain said Sunday morning there were no lingering issues with the troublesome strain, and it was the team's call when to activate him.
"It's a great relief," Rays manager Joe Maddon said of Crain's recovery. "It's a tribute to primarily two people. Of course, No. 1 is Jesse, his work ethic. And the other one would be (head athletic trainer) Ron Porterfield and the game plan he set out there to get him to this particular point."
The Rays acquired Crain in a trade with the Chicago White Sox on July 29. The 10-year veteran, who has a 0.74 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 36 2/3 innings this season, last appeared in a game June 29 in a loss to the Cleveland Indians.
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