Rays manager Joe Maddon said starting pitcher David Price, who is on the disabled list with a triceps strain, is "feeling" and "doing better," according to the Tampa Bay Times. While Price hasn't had any setbacks, it doesn't appear he will come off the disabled list when eligible May 31.

"He's probably at the backside of three starts, I would say, at least," Maddon said Wednesday. "We're going to be real careful with this one."

Maddon added Price is likely to get one minor-league rehab start before returning.

Rays starting pitcher Jeremy Hellickson didn't pick up the win Wednesday against the Blue Jays, but he tossed a season-high eight innings and felt encouraged after he allowed a season-high eight runs in his previous outing.

"My fastball command was probably the best it's been," he said, per the Tampa Bay Times. "I think if I can command that, everything else is a little bit better."

Rays third baseman Evan Longoria admitted Wednesday he was nervous he wouldn't make it through a full season because his legs felt tired at the outset.

"I felt pretty bad after the first week of the season, like 10 games in. I was kind of scared," Longoria said, per the Tampa Bay Times. "Because in spring training, you probably don't play three-four games in a row at the most toward the end of spring. Once we got like a week, 10 days into the season, I was feeling like, man, my legs were tired. And thoughts started to creep in about how you're going to do it for 162 days."

The Rays made the decision to use Longoria as the DH in an April 10 game against Texas and the slugger said he has felt better ever since. The Rays continue to use Longoria at DH every now and then, and it seems to be the formula to ease the 27-year-old third baseman's mind and keep him fresh. Longoria extended his career-best hitting streak to 16 games Wednesday against the Blue Jays.

"I haven't felt that fatigue," he said. "I feel like my legs are getting stronger and feeling better as the season goes on. And with that worry behind me, I can be focused on other things."

Red Sox DH David Ortiz stole third base for the first time in his career Wednesday against the White Sox, which was also his first stolen base since 2011. 

"Just felt like it was a chance to gain 90 feet if we have a hard-hit basehit," manager John Farrell said, per the Boston Herald. "We felt like it was an opportunity to move up. I don't know if we'll make a habit of it."

Though, it was still an encouraging sign about Ortiz's health. The slugger began the season on the disabled list because of lingering problems with his Achilles.

"I've been running well lately. I've been feeling better," Ortiz said. "If I feel well I'm going to run. I mean not steal bases, but try to take advantage of whatever's happening, whenever a guy hits the ball or whatever. ... Momentum in the game, it happens. And I don’t have a zero in that category anymore."

Diamondbacks starting pitcher prospect Tyler Skaggs has worked through a rough patch of starts for Triple-A Reno, and on Wednesday signaled he's finally settled down. After allowing six runs or more runs in three of five starts from April 13-May 5, Skaggs allowed three or fewer runs Wednesday for the third straight start.

The left-hander struck out a season-high 10 batters in 7 2/3 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits. It was arguably his best start of the season.

"I just felt like I had everything working -- fastball, changeup, curve -- and my catcher Ed Easley was calling a great game," Skaggs said, per MLB.com. "By far, it was easily my best start of the year. I didn't feel great in the bullpen [before the game] but got out there, started bearing down and got going."

Skaggs is 4-5 with a 5.23 ERA in nine starts. However, he's won his last two starts and has posted 2.66 ERA in his last three outings. He's managed 54 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings this season.

"I feel like my mechanics are getting better, hitting that groove, throwing the ball well," Skaggs said, "but I wouldn't say I'm at the peak yet. I've still got things to work out, but I feel pretty good, and the numbers are starting to show that."

Cubs outfield prospect Albert Almora finally kicked off the season at Class A Kane County Wednesday after beginning the year sidelined because of a broken bone in his left hand. Almora wasted little time making an impact, going 3 for 4 with one double and one RBI.

"I just went in there like any other game," Almora said, per MLB.com. "It's the same game, just a different atmosphere. I saw some pitches I liked. I saw good pitches and they happened to find the hole. Everything went good."

The 2012 first-round pick (sixth overall) is "super excited" to start playing in games after being sidelined since mid-March. Almora is considered a top 40 prospect by Baseball America (No. 33) and MLB.com (No. 39).

"To be honest, I worked my butt off," he said. "I worked all morning and whatever I could do baseball-wise, I did it. I just didn't stop. They told me not to rush it, and that was the best advice that anyone's ever given me. But you still, as a baseball player, you want to get out there as soon as possible to help your team hard. It was super-hard to control my emotions."

Rays catcher Jose Molina went 2 for 4 with a run scored Wednesday against the Blue Jays in his return to the starting lineup. Molina missed three starts with a hamstring injury. He scored the team's second run in a 4-3, 10-inning loss. 

Molina has multiple hits in three of his last four games to raise his batting average to .235. 

Indians pitcher Brett Myers made his second rehab start for Double-A Akron Wednesday, as he continues to recover from right elbow soreness.

Myers struggled, allowing three runs in 4 1/3 innings on two hits and four walks. He struck out two, while throwing 74 pitches. He is expected to make at least one more rehab start before potentially being activated from the disabled list. 

After his third straight poor outing, the Padres optioned pitcher Burch Smith to Triple-A Tucson Wednesday. A corresponding move will be made Friday prior to the team's next game.

Smith had an 18.41 ERA in three starts, after failing to get out of the second inning for the second time Wednesday against the Cardinals. 

Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton took part in batting practice Wednesday for the first time since going on the disabled list. He took swings before the game, but it is not clear how extensive his participation was. He hopes to begin running next week as he continues to recover from a strained hamstring.