Twins game is canceled

Published 1:35 am Tuesday, March 25, 2014

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The spring training game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins scheduled for Monday was rained out.

STARTING TIME

Rays: After the game was canceled, right-hander Chris Archer was scheduled to throw a simulated game in a batting cage at Port Charlotte as the Rays sought to keep their rotation on schedule for opening day.

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Twins: Right-hander Mike Pelfrey played catch for a few minutes after the game was washed out, but no simulated game was conducted. Instead, Pelfrey will throw for Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday while right-hander Kyle Gibson starts as scheduled at home against Baltimore.

Pelfrey will work with a tighter pitch count on Tuesday before coming back on short rest to throw a full 80 to 90 pitches in Saturday’s Grapefruit League finale against Boston.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rays: Left-hander Matt Moore isn’t expected to miss much time, if any, after being struck in the face on Sunday by a line drive off the bat of Boston’s Xander Bogaerts. Rays manager Joe Maddon said he was encouraged after having breakfast Monday with Moore, the Rays’ No. 3 starter and a 2013 All-Star.

Twins: Shortstop Pedro Florimon, fully recovered from a Feb. 17 appendectomy, remains on track to be the opening day starter in Chicago against the White Sox. Florimon had two hits Sunday on the road against Philadelphia.

STILL HERE

Veteran infielder Jason Bartlett and the Twins mutually agreed to move his March 25 opt-out date to the end of the week. The 34-year-old Bartlett is hitting just .088 in 34 spring at-bats but remains in the mix for a roster spot because of his versatility.

Under the minor league deal Bartlett signed with the Twins in November, he had the right to opt for free agency if the Twins didn’t place him on their season-opening roster by Tuesday.