ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Matt Moore will not start this weekend for the Tampa Bay Rays, a decision made after a 55-pitch bullpen session Wednesday.
Moore has been on the disabled list since July 31, retroactive to July 29, with left elbow soreness and had been optimistic that he would return to the rotation this weekend against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. However, the left-hander said he still felt discomfort during the session Wednesday and will not throw again until Sunday before being re-evaluated.
The team said the situation is not a setback, rather a sign of caution.
"I'm not ready to continue to throw," said Moore, who was named an All-Star for the first time in July. "We're just going to take two or three days from throwing and pick it up Sunday and see where I'm at then. ... I felt good, but good isn't great. Good isn't 100 percent. I think that's what we're really aiming for — to get back out there and be 100 percent right."
Moore, 24, left a start against the New York Yankees on July 28 after five innings with the soreness, but he had made progress in recent weeks. He traveled with the Rays on their recent five-game West Coast road trip and threw a 50-pitch bullpen Sunday.
Moore said that with treatment and some rest "this is going to be a lot better after the break." He shied away from placing a personal timetable on his return, however, saying, "We're trying to keep it very open."
"I have no idea," Moore said. "Right now, we're trying to stay away from that target type stuff."
Moore said that he did not feel positive, comfort-wise, about 40 pitches into his bullpen session Wednesday. Still, he remains optimistic that he won’t miss significant time, and he plans to spend the upcoming days doing cardio work and other treatment in an effort to return.
"Nothing has really changed," he said. "We're just not at the place where we want to be. Things are good, but I like said, good isn't 100 percent."
Moore is 14-3 with a 3.41 ERA in 21 starts this season.
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
