MINNEAPOLIS - The Devil Rays are planning more changes to their pitching staff.
Right-handers Paul Abbott and Jason Standridge have struggled in recent outings and are likely candidates to be dropped from the staff as soon as today.
Right-hander Dewon Brazelton, who is 4-4 with a 4.71 ERA in 10 starts at Triple-A Durham, is expected to be promoted and could start Sunday. Brazelton was 1-6, 6.89, in 10 starts for the Rays last season before being sent down to Class A Bakersfield to rebuild his delivery.
Also likely to be called up is Jesus Colome, the hard-throwing right-hander who is 2-1 with a 3.52 ERA in 18 relief appearances for the Bulls. Colome is 7-17, 5.49, in 116 big-league games over three seasons.
Abbott, 36, was hopeful of regaining his spot in the rotation after 10 days in the bullpen but couldn't get out of the fifth inning Tuesday, allowing seven runs on five hits and four walks. He could be released.
Standridge made a decent relief debut coming off the disabled list May 19 but in his past two outings has allowed five homers in 62/3 innings. The 1997 first-round pick is out of options, which means the Rays would have to expose him to waivers before they could send him to the minors.
"We'll have some announcements tomorrow," manager Lou Piniella said.
BLUM GLUM: Geoff Blum has tried everything to get out of what has been the longest and - "without a doubt" - most frustrating slump of his career.
"I stink right now. I've just got to work through it somehow, some way," Blum said. "I'm not going to sacrifice dead chickens or anything, but if it's a gimmick, a workout or a drill, I've done it."
Piniella said Blum, who is hitting .167 with three RBIs, may be trying too hard.
"He needs to just let it happen," Piniella said. "He's trying to force it."
After a slow start, Blum got hot for a couple weeks and increased his average to a season-high .217 May 14. Since then, he has three hits in 39 at-bats and is 0 for his past 19. He hasn't gotten a hit since May 20.
"I've exhausted (hitting coach Lee Elia), now it's all on me," Blum said. "I've got to figure the law of averages definitely is in my favor."
If Blum were hitting better, he could either be in the Rays lineup more or a candidate for a trade. The A's are the latest team that needs a third baseman.
THE HALL WALL: Catcher Toby Hall got the night off after a tough Tuesday when he had to deal with three wild pitches, a couple others in the dirt and an errant throw to the plate.
"He got beat up last night," Piniella said. "He looked like he'd been doing a Lightning game."
"( Nikolai) Khabibulin would be proud," Hall said. "That's what Tino ( Martinez) said."
Brook Fordyce started Wednesday, and Hall is expected to be back behind the plate for today's matinee.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY: It was one year ago today that Sammy Sosa's bat shattered, Hall noticed the cork and tossed the bat in the direction of umpire Tim McClelland, and the baseball world was in a week-long frenzy.
Sosa ended up apologizing and getting a seven-game suspension. Hall ended up in the middle of a controversy he wanted no part of.
As for the anniversary?
"I forgot all about it," Hall said. "We've got our problems."
MINOR MATTERS: The Rays are in the process of selling the contract of right-hander Dicky Gonzalez to the Yakult Swallows in Japan. Gonzalez, who didn't pitch well during a short stint with the Rays, was 1-2 with a 4.80 ERA at Durham. ... Reliever Al Reyes, who was 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 10 saves at Durham, exercised a clause in his contract and was granted his release. ... Also released were Edwards Guzman and Anton French.
MISCELLANY: Of the Rays' 19 wins, 16 have come indoors, 14 at the Trop and two at the Metrodome. ... Aubrey Huff extended his hitting streak to 11 games, high among the Rays this season. ... Jose Cruz sat with hip soreness. ... Martinez had his best 50-game start since 1998, .306 with nine homers and 28 RBIs.
