The Tampa Bay Rays will be without superstar shortstop Wander Franco for at least the next week and a half with a right quadriceps strain.
The 21-year-old has been dealing with quad and hamstring issues in both legs for the majority of the regular season, and has missed a handful of games while trying to manage the malady.
To take Franco’s spot on the active roster, reliever Shawn Armstrong had his contract selected from Triple-A Durham. To make room on the 40-man roster for Armstrong, left-hander Ben Bowden was designated for assignment.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
