Joseph Boyle: Everything you need to know

Boyle (elbow) is playing catch from 90 feet, MLB.com reports. The Rays are hopeful that the right-hander will be able to throw a bullpen session by the end of April. Boyle is on the 15-day injured list due to a right elbow strain, and he may need a minor-league rehab assignment before being cleared to rejoin Tampa Bay's rotation. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to be available until sometime in May.

The Rays placed Boyle on the 15-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to Friday, due to a right elbow strain. Boyle likely picked up the injury during Wednesday's start against the Cubs, when he took the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out three across 4.1 innings. An MRI revealed a minor strain and some inflammation but no structural damage, and Rays manager Kevin Cash relayed to reporters Saturday that Boyle's placement on the 15-day IL is a "cautionary" move, per Ryan Bass of Rays.tv. Boyle is eligible to be activated off the IL in late April, though he'll undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury and establish an estimated timeline to return. In a corresponding move, the Rays recalled right-hander Jesse Scholtens from Triple-A Durham.

Boyle (0-1) took the loss versus the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits and three walks while striking out three over 4.1 innings. Boyle was in trouble right from the start as Nico Hoerner led off the game with a home run. More trouble arose in the fifth inning, though Boyle was let down by his defense as the Cubs cobbled together a five-run rally before Jesse Scholtens came on for a long-relief assignment. This was the worst of Boyle's three outings so far this season, and he's now at a 5.17 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 16:6 K:BB through 15.2 innings. He's walked three batters in back-to-back starts, so he'll need to display better control to get the rest of his numbers to improve. Boyle is not certain to get turn through the rotation, as off days Thursday and Monday could allow the Rays to get by with a four-man rotation until Drew Pepiot (hip) is ready to make his season debut.