Josh Lowe set to return to lineup that needs a spark

CHICAGO -- Josh Lowe isn’t going to single-handedly save Tampa Bay’s scuffling lineup. But the Rays’ 9-4 loss to the White Sox on Friday night was another reminder that they need all the help they can get right now.

Lowe rejoined the team in the visitors’ clubhouse at Guaranteed Rate Field, where they managed only two hits in the first six innings against a White Sox team that is now 4-22 on the season. He is expected to be reinstated from the injured list and make his season debut on Saturday night.

“He said that he feels good. I think that we still have to be mindful that he didn’t have the regular buildup, this is not the longest stint on the IL building himself up, but we need him,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “That’s ultimately what it comes down to.”

The Rays’ need for a proven left-handed bat like Lowe’s is particularly acute while they’re still without the injured Brandon Lowe and Jonathan Aranda and struggling to consistently produce runs. That much was reinforced again on Friday as Tampa Bay (13-14) lost for the fourth time in five games.

While Rays starter Zach Eflin snapped his 14 1/3-inning scoreless streak by allowing five runs (four earned) in six innings, including three on a Martín Maldonado homer in the sixth, their all-right-handed lineup let righty Chris Flexen pitch five scoreless innings, left a season-high 12 runners on base and went 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position. They’ve scored fewer than five runs in 18 of their 27 games this season.

“Simply, we’ve just got to keep on working. It’s no secret that we’re not hitting out there,” first baseman Yandy Díaz said through interpreter Manny Navarro. “We’ve just got to go out and keep on playing baseball.”

Josh Lowe will spend most of his time in right field, his primary position last season, but he started three games in center during his rehab stint. Cash said he plans for Lowe to “predominantly” play right field, although he’ll get some work in center on Jose Siri’s days off.

But the Rays mostly need Lowe in the batter’s box. The 26-year-old slashed .292/.335/.500 with 20 homers, 33 doubles, 83 RBIs and 32 steals last season, the kind of high-level performance Tampa Bay has been missing to start this season. The Rays have posted a collective .244/.306/.360 slash line, good for a .666 OPS that ranks 25th in the Majors.

Lowe said he won’t put any additional pressure on himself, though.

“I don’t think that should be on the front of my mind. I think what should be in the front of my mind is going out and competing and getting back to playing baseball again,” Lowe said. “The more you go out and chase numbers like that, I think it kind of spirals in the wrong direction. Just go out and be myself, and those numbers will take care of themselves.”

It has been a frustrating spring for Lowe, who entered the year hoping to build off his breakout 2023 campaign. He was initially shut down on Feb. 29 due to left hip inflammation, with the idea being that he’d miss only 10-15 days. But just as Lowe was nearing a return to game action, he tweaked his right oblique on March 15, and an MRI the next day revealed a Grade 1 strain.

“It’s been frustrating to watch from the sideline, but excited to get out there and just go and be myself and help the team win,” Lowe said.

Lowe worked his way through the recovery process and began a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on April 19. The Rays stressed the need for patience with Lowe, considering he had to make up for missing essentially an entire Spring Training worth of at-bats. But he played only six games for Durham, only taking off the club’s scheduled off-day last Monday, before Cash called him Thursday night.

“It was kind of, ‘How [are] you feeling? Making sure your body’s right and in good shape. It’s time to go if you’re feeling good,’” Lowe said Friday afternoon. “When your manager calls you and says, ‘Are you ready?’ What are you going to say? No? … I’m glad that I’ve almost graduated now from rehab and excited to get out there.”

Lowe admitted he would have preferred to see better results during his rehab stint, as he went 5-for-22 with one homer, five RBIs, four walks and 10 strikeouts. But staying healthy and feeling good was the priority, and he believes he has checked that box.

Now comes the real test.

“The main thing was timing and making sure the body feels good,” he said. “I think one of the biggest things was I just swung a lot down there to make sure I felt good and I didn’t feel anything flare back up. So that’s a good sign, and now it’s time to dial it in even more and get it going.”