ST. PETERSBURG - The problem with Doug Waechter's right middle finger is a strained tendon that will sideline him for at least two weeks.
Waechter will be placed on the 15-day disabled list today retroactive to Wednesday, with the Rays hoping he can return to the rotation before the end of the month.
Chad Gaudin, sent to Triple A last month to get work as a starter, will be called up today and start tonight against the Rockies.
"We're concerned about Waechter's finger," manager Lou Piniella said. "The trainer doesn't really think he'll be able to pitch for about 10 days."
Waechter will receive treatment for about 10 days and, if he shows improvement, will make one minor-league rehab start before rejoining the rotation.
"You'd rather be on the field battling," Waechter said. "This is the last thing anybody wants to see. It's just a bump in the road. It's nothing big. It's something I have to overcome and get back on the mound as soon as I can."
Gaudin, 21, won a job in the Rays bullpen out of spring training, but he wasn't getting much opportunity to pitch in middle relief, going 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 14 appearances (15 innings).
He made four starts at Durham, going 1-1 with a 5.02 ERA.
"I think he's ready to go six-seven innings, 90-95 pitches in that range," Piniella said. "He's been throwing the ball better. We would have hoped to have left him down there just a little longer to stretch him out a little more."
GOOD POINT: Piniella has been hopeful that MLB would expand the playoffs so that more teams can get to the postseason, but commissioner Bud Selig said during his visit Wednesday that it was not likely to happen in the near future.
"The commissioner in that regard is more of a purist," Piniella said. "But I find it difficult to be a purist in a game that has one league with a DH and one without."
FAMILIAR FACE: Based on past experience, Colorado's Vinny Castilla is expecting a loud reaction when he comes to the plate tonight.
"There will be fireworks," he told the Rocky Mountain News on Thursday. "They remember me. They remember me too well. It was tough."
Castilla became something of a target for criticism during his injury-marred and unproductive 2000-01 stint with the Rays. He hit .219 with eight homers and 51 RBIs in 109 games while going on the disabled list three times and was released in May 2001, earning about $13-million for his brief stay.
Since then, he has hit .261 with 72 homers and 267 RBIs in 467 games for Houston, Atlanta and Colorado.
"It was tough in Tampa Bay, I'd never been hurt before and I was thinking it might be career-ending,"Castilla said. "To be honest, getting released worked out great for me. After that miserable time (in Tampa Bay), I went to the playoffs the last three years, and then I got to come back to Colorado."
NUMBERS GAME: The Rays won their first interleague series since June 2002. The two wins against San Francisco are one shy of their total for interleague play last season, when they lost a record 15. ... The Rays have won five of their past seven, and their 13-6 record since May 20 is second to the Yankees among AL East teams. They are 4-1-1 in their past six series. ... Victor Zambranois 8-1 in interleague play. He is the first Ray to six wins by this date since Rolando Arrojo0 in 1998.
MINOR MATTERS: Class A Charleston first baseman Wes Bankston was selected the organization's May player of the month after hitting .299 with six homers, 10 doubles and 30 RBIs. Teammate Chad Orvella was named the top pitcher after allowing one run in 15 innings over eight games. ... Joey Gathright stole 10 bases in his first 11 games for Triple-A Durham.
SIGNING UP: The Rays signed fifth-round pick Jacob McGee, a left-handed pitcher from Reed (Nev.) High School, and five others taken in this week's draft. Also signed were No.6 outfielder Ryan Royster, No.15 left-hander Kenneth Brock, No.24 outfielder Francisco Leandro, No.25 right-hander Bill Evers Jr.and No.45 shortstop John Bouman. ... First-round pick Jeff Niemann0 is coming in today for a visit.
MISCELLANY: Piniella is one win shy of tying Jimmy Dykes0 for 22nd place on the all-time list with 1,406. ... The Rays saved about $160,000 when the Phillies signed pitcher Paul Abbott, who was released last week. ... Jose Bautista, the Rule 5 draft pick claimed off waivers from Baltimore, made his first start. ... Tino Martinez's error was his second in his last 91 games.
