Rays All-Star contingent excited to head west

ST. PETERSBURG — Catcher Mike Zunino, infielder Joey Wendle and a contingent of 20-plus Rays coaches and staff, led by manager Kevin Cash, were excited to head out late Sunday afternoon for a working All-Star break in Denver.

Zunino, voted a reserve by the players, and Wendle, appointed Friday as a replacement on the American League team, were both thrilled by their first chance to play in the Midsummer Classic, and to have their wives, kids, relatives, coaches, athletics trainers and other team personnel with them.

“Very excited,’’ Zunino said. “Extremely excited to enjoy it with my family. Extremely excited to enjoy it now with Joey and his family, and the rest of the staff. So it’s going to be a good time.’’

Cash said he appreciated the efforts of the Rays’ 2020 team giving him the opportunity to manage in the All-Star Game and is looking forward to all aspects of the experience, including addressing the elite group before Tuesday’s game.

Cash spent the past few days talking with each manager about how their respective players and pitchers would be used. He was still deciding Sunday on a starting pitcher between the Yankees’ Gerrit Cole (unlikely since he threw 129 pitches Saturday), Angels two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani and the White Sox’s Lance Lynn and Carlos Rodon — unless Cash opts to use an opener.

There will be much to do, starting with Monday’s media sessions, workout and Home Run Derby. One event the players weren’t that excited about — but said their wives and some of their kids were — is Tuesday’s red carpet walk to the stadium. “Dressing up a couple kids along with myself, my wife’s done a really good job of making sure we all look nice,’’ Zunino said. “Red carpet’s not quite my speed.’’

Had Wendle ever even been on a red carpet? “I mean, I’m sure in some capacity,’’ he said. “But never like a red carpet.’’

Medical matters: Margot, Thompson, Archer, Drake

Outfielder Manuel Margot’ is “doing better,” but his left-hamstring strain likely will sideline him until at least the July 27-29 series against the Yankees, Cash said. … Reliever Ryan Thompson is “fine” and “progressing” in his return from right-shoulder inflammation, Cash said, but he will be sidelined at least through the first post-All-Star break series in Atlanta, and likely will need some rehab work at Triple-A Durham. … Starter Chris Archer and reliever Oliver Drake will start 30-day rehab assignments this week, with a target to be ready in August. … Archer, out since early April due to forearm tightness, will pitch for the Florida Complex League (FCL) team Monday. If all goes well, he will move up to Durham and work on a starter’s schedule to get stretched out to at least 3-4 innings. … Drake, recovering from a flexor tendon issue, will pitch for the FCL team Tuesday and also head to Durham, though on a shorter timetable, pitching once every three days. “If we can get (Archer and Drake) back and healthy heading into sometime in August, we should feel pretty good,’’ Cash said. … Reliever Nick Anderson (elbow sprain) has looked “impressive” in bullpen sessions, but there is no date yet for him to start a rehab assignment.

Future world

Triple-A right-hander Shane Baz had an impressive showing in the All-Star Futures Game on Sunday with a 10-pitch 1-2-3 second inning, hitting 98.5 mph, and striking out Braves prospect Michael Harris and Cubs prospect Brennen Davis, who later homered twice. … Rays Double-A infielder Xavier Edwards started at second base and grounded out in his only at-bat.

Miscellany

• With two more zeroes, reliever Collin McHugh extended his shutout streak to 23 innings, fourth longest in team history. J.P. Howell went a record 27⅓ in 2012. The bullpen overall has a 22-inning scoreless streak, with six hits and five walks.

• Brandon Lowe’s 21 homers are fourth most by a Ray at the break; Jose Canseco had 31 in 1999.

• Discussions are ongoing, but Cash said they might go with a bullpen game in Friday’s post-break opener, working around not having a DH.

• Attendance was 11,233 Sunday at the Trop, 29,738 total for the three-game, weekend, post-Lighting playoff series.

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