Drew Smyly to be reinstated from DL, start Friday for Rays

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays will reinstate Drew Smyly from the 15-day disabled list Friday night to start against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The left-hander has been out with shoulder inflammation.

"If I was limited, I wouldn't go out there," said Smyly, who made three minor league rehab starts.

First baseman James Loney, coming back from a right oblique strain, also will be reinstated from the 15-day DL for Friday's game.

In the meantime, righty Alex Cobb is set to throw his first bullpen session since being sidelined during spring training by forearm tendinitis.

Cobb was scheduled to start Opening Day, but his injury prevented it. He will throw around 20 fastballs before the Rays play Toronto.

"It's not much, but it's something," he said Thursday.

Cobb went 10-9 with a 2.87 ERA in 27 starts last season.

Smyly, who was obtained as part of a three-team trade July 31 that sent Rays ace David Price to the Tigers, went 3-1 with a 1.70 ERA in seven starts for Tampa Bay.

Lefty C.J. Riefenhauser was put on the 15-day DL with a sore left shoulder. The Rays have 12 players on the DL, a club record.

Outfielder Mikie Mahtook was optioned back to Durham along with first baseman Allan Dykstra after Thursday night's 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox to make room on the roster for Smyly and Loney.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.