Archer feels good after 20-pitch 'pen session
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ST. PETERSBURG -- Chris Archer (left abdominal strain) threw a bullpen session on Friday, and the right-hander allowed that it went well.
Archer's session was his first since 13 days ago, when he threw a bullpen before waking up the next day with soreness.
"The bullpen was really good," Archer said. "I feel like the last week, my body's really come a long ways. I don't wake up with any soreness. But tomorrow is going to be big, just to see where my level of soreness is. ... The past week, I haven't woken up with any soreness. Nothing at all."
Archer was asked if he had a gut feeling about how long it might take him to return to the Rays.
"We have a rough outline, most of it's in pencil, though," Archer said. "All I know is, as long as I feel pretty good tomorrow, I'll throw another bullpen Monday. And then we're going to continue to play it by ear from Monday."
Archer threw 20 pitches Friday. He did not throw any breaking balls, but he did throw some changeups.
"They were nasty," Archer said with a smile.
Roster move
As expected, the Rays reinstated infielder Daniel Robertson (left hamstring strain) from the 10-day disabled list and optioned right-hander Austin Pruitt to Triple-A Durham.
Robertson is "going to play a lot of second, a lot of third," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. "He'll spell some [players] at short now that we have [Adeiny Hechavarría] and Willy Adames both back. There's going to be limited reps there, but we know he can play short."
Cash added that the Rays plan to get a look at Robertson and Joey Wendle in the outfield, too.
Worth noting
• Outfielder Rob Refsnyder cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Durham.
• On Wednesday night at Houston, Jake Bauers attempted to steal second base in the fifth inning. He beat the throw, only to be sent back to first base on batter interference, as Wilson Ramos' backswing clipped the catcher. It was the third time that Bauers had his first career stolen base taken away.
• The back-to-back-to-back home runs served up by Nathan Eovaldi on Wednesday night against the Astros was the eighth time in club history the Rays have allowed three consecutive homers in a game.