Jeff Niemann finally made his first start Thursday and allowed three runs in five innings against the Tigers. Niemann was doing great until the fifth, when he gave up both of his walks and two of the four hits he allowed on the day. Needless to say, he wasn't brought back out for the sixth after that. Niemann still figures to be a decent enough play in AL-only leagues most weeks.

Jeff Niemann (blister) completed a bullpen session Sunday and is slated to return to game action on Wednesday. Niemann did have his blister covered up for the session, but he won't be needed for a start until April 11 or 12 and is expected to be fine by then. The tall right-hander won the No. 5 spot in the rotation over Wade Davis.

Jeff Niemann confirmed the blister to his right middle finger will not cause him to miss his first regular season start. Niemann isn't scheduled to make his first start until April 11 or 12 so the Rays don't anticipate it being an issue. Wade Davis will continue to act as a long reliever and be used as a backup plan if he experiences a setback.

Jeff Niemann has been scratched from his scheduled start Saturday due to a blister. Niemann beat out Wade Davis for the final spot in the Rays rotation, but it's unclear if this might affect his status for his first outing or if the team is just playing it safe. We'll update his status when more is known.

The Rays announced Tuesday that Jeff Niemann will open the year as their fifth starter. He beat out Wade Davis for the job this spring. Niemann, a former first-round pick, registered a cool 4.06 ERA and 105/37 K/BB ratio in 135 1/3 innings last season for Tampa Bay and should hold some fantasy value in deeper mixed leagues. Davis will act as a long reliever in the Rays' bullpen.

Jeff Niemann picked up his first win of the spring after allowing two runs in five innings against the Twins on Monday. Niemann struck out five. This performance, on the heels of Wade Davis' shaky outing yesterday, may well clinch the fifth spot in Tampa Bay's rotation for Niemann. He has a 4.05 ERA this spring.

Jeff Niemann allowed three runs on four hits over five innings Wednesday in a minor league game. Rays' manager Joe Maddon used Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees to give his relievers some work, so Niemann went over to the minor league side. It was a pretty so-so performance in comparison to Wade Davis, who allowed one run over five innings against the Marlins on Tuesday, but we still think Niemann is the favorite for the fifth spot in the Rays' rotation.

Jeff Niemann gave up four runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings Friday in a loss to Toronto. Niemann was singled to death, giving up seven of them along with a lone double. He struck out three and walked none in the game. Niemann looks like the favorite to serve as the Rays' fifth starter, with Wade Davis likely going to the pen.

Jeff Niemann was perfect for three innings Sunday in the Rays' 4-3 defeat of the Pirates. Niemann has outpitched Wade Davis so far and might now have the edge for the fifth spot in Tampa Bay's rotation. Part of the thinking there is that Davis, with his more durable arm, might be more useful out of the pen than Niemann would be.

Rays RHP Jeff Niemann lost his arbitration hearing and was awarded a $2.75 million salary for 2012. Niemann was looking for a $3.2 million payday, but the Rays won again, running their arbitration streak to 6-0 overall and 5-0 under executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. The big right-hander looks to be competing with Wade Davis for the final spot in the Rays rotation this spring, assuming one of the two isn't traded.