Injury not serious, Upton could return Saturday

ROGER MOONEY
rmooney@bradenton.com

TAMPA – The swelling subsided in B.J. Upton’s left triceps Friday, but the Rays center fielder was held out of Friday night’s game against the Yankees at Legends Field.

“It stung a little bit, but it calmed down as the night went on,” Upton said. “I had a lot more movement in it (Thursday) night and (Friday) morning. It felt good.”

Upton was struck by a pitch thrown by Paul Byrd in the first inning of Thursday’s game against Cleveland in Winter Haven. He immediately left the game and drove back to St. Petersburg, where X-rays revealed it was just a bruise.

Upton is not scheduled to play Saturday against visiting Pittsburgh, but said he would lobby to be in the lineup.

Rays manager Joe Maddon would like to give Upton more time off, but since there was little swelling Friday, Maddon said he could be persuaded to change his mind.

“He can talk himself into it,” Maddon said. “If he’s really convincing, we’ll do the ‘Boston Legal’ thing, the closing argument. If he’s convincing, if he plays Alan Shore very convincingly, then I’ll be willing to listen. He’s one of my favorite characters maybe of all time, he’s that good at it.”