Jason

Standridge

Manager Lou Piniella settled on Rob Bell and Jorge Sosa at the back of his rotation, but nothing is ever permanent in Tampa.

Using Standridge Sunday would be a help to Joe Kennedy, who could get an extra two days of rest and be bumped to face Toronto on Tuesday. Normally, facing the Blue Jays is not a good thing, but Kennedy is 6-0 against them in his career.

Standridge, 24, is 2-3 with a 4.47 ERA for the Bulls in nine games, allowing 50 hits and 19 walks in 46 1/3 innings. He’ll be the 11th starter used by Tampa this season.

Standridge has thrown off a mound a dozen times and hopes to be ready to compete for a bullpen spot next month. The Rays aren’t counting on him.

He made his final rehab start Saturday at Triple-A Durham allowing two runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innnings. With many of the Rays’ pitchers sufffering from “walkitis” Standridge may be a welcome addition to the Tampa staff.

We wouldn’t touch him at this point.

Standridge was placed on the DL on Aug. 8 with back spasms. He’ll be ready to return, but there might not be room for him in the Cincinnati bullpen when his 15 days are up.

Standridge had a 4.40 ERA despite walking 12 in 14 1/3 innings since being called up on June 18. Ryan Franklin should get most of his innings.

It was a surprise that the Reds bypassed Standridge to bring up Mike Burns before Sunday’s game. Maybe this was the plan all along. Burns, who gave up three runs in an inning of mop-up relief today, is the better bet than Standridge to return to the minors when Matt Belisle comes off the DL. He’ll be used in middle relief.

Carlos Reyes replaced him and pitched the final seven innings, giving up four runs. Standridge had been pitching pretty well, so he’ll probably keep his rotation spot for now. However, another bad start and he and Reyes may switch roles.