Here’s the Rays’ lineup for Wednesday night’s Rays-Pirates contest at Charlotte Sports Park:

Zobrist, 2B

Pena, 1B

Longoria, 3B

Joyce, RF

Scott, DH

Lobaton, C

Rodriguez, SS

Johnson, CF

Gimenez, LF

Price, LHP

–Bill Chastain

Here’s who the Rays will start against the Red Sox Tuesday in Fort Myers:

Jennings, DH

Joyce, RF

Zobrist, 2B

Pena, 1B

Keppinger, 3B

Salazar, CF

Rodriguez, SS

Lobaton, C

Rhymes, LF

Rodney, RHP

–Bill Chastain

Jeff Niemann didn’t do anything to hurt his chances for claiming the last spot in the rotation with his performance Monday against the Twins.

The 6-foot-9 right-hander allowed two runs on six hits, three walks and he struck out five in five innings. Niemann threw 93 pitches of which 57 were strikes.  Rays manager Joe Maddon said Niemann appeared to have a lot left in the tank when he finished his outing, which he noted was a good thing.

Maddon plans to name the fifth starter on Tuesday and Niemann is starting to appear like he has the inside track for the job over Wade Davis.  Matt Moore already appears secure with a spot in the rotation.

Meanwhile, B.J. Upton took some swings and did some running around in the outfield on Monday in Port Charlotte. He continues to progress from his lower back problem. But there was no word about Sam Fuld, who was scheduled to have an MRI on his right wrist on Monday.

–Bill Chastain

Here’s the Rays’ lineup for Monday’s game against the Twins in Fort Myers:

Zobrist, RF

Scott, DH

Longoria, 3B

Pena, 1B

Keppinger, 2B

Molina, C

Johnson, SS

Rhymes, Will

Feliciano, CF

Niemann, RHP

–Bill Chastain

Jeremy Hellickson worked on Monday while the rest of the team took the day off.

The Rays right-hander pitched for a Single-A Rays team against the Red Sox, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out five and walking one in 4 1/3 innings. The reigning American League Rookie of the Year threw 76 pitches of which 55 were strikes.

Basically, Hellickson was just getting in his work as he advances toward his first start of the 2012 regular season.  And everything looked fine on Monday.

–Bill Chastain

Here’s who the Rays will start Sunday against the Red Sox at Charlotte Sports Park:

Jennings, LF

Scott, DH

Zobrist, 2B

Longoria, 3B

Pena, 1B

Keppinger, SS

Joyce, RF

Molina, C

Fuld, CF

Moore, LHP

–Bill Chastain

Here’s who the Rays will start Thursday against the Phillies at Charlotte Sports Park:

Fuld, CF

Scott, DH

Joyce, RF

Pena, 1B

Keppinger, 3B

Brignac, SS

Molina, C

Guyer, LF

Rhymes, 2B

Davis, RHP

–Bill Chastain

Here’s the Rays’ lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Marlins at Charlotte Sports Park:

Jennings, LF

Upton, CF

Longoria, 3B

Zobrist, 2B

Keppinger, 1B

Vogt, DH

Rodriguez, SS

Lobaton, C

Johnson, RF

Hellickson, RHP

–Bill Chastain

Here’s the Rays’ starting lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Orioles in Sarasota:

Fuld, CF

Pena, 1B

Longoria, 3B

Scott, DH

Joyce, RF

Rodriguez, 2B

Molina, C

Brignac, SS

Guyer, LF

Price, LHP

– Bill Chastain

The Rays made their first cuts of the spring Monday when they optioned Alex Cobb, Chris Archer, and Alex Torres to Minor League camp and they reassigned Nevin Ashley, Juan Miranda, Ricky Orta, and Mark Thomas to Minor League camp.

–Bill Chastain