Good news for the Rays, as center fielder B.J. Upton is expected to return to the lineup on Friday, MLB.com reports. Upton played in a minor-league doubleheader without setback on Wednesday. "B.J. definitely makes us a better team," manager Joe Maddon said. "We saw the way he finished the end of last season. It may take a little time to get him going, based on a sporadic Spring Training and then going on the rehab assignment, but it's good to get him back. Makes everything better. Makes our defense better, adds more speed to the bases and a power bat. Definite improvement for us."
Upton's return,which will come just in time for a six-game homestand, means Jennings will shift to right field and Ben Zobrist will resume playing second base. Jeff Keppinger, meanwhile, will become a reserve. At that point, you may consider baseball's best defensive team to be back at full strength.
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