Wendle will start at third base and bat sixth Saturday against the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

The 30-year-old was originally stationed on the bench for Saturday's contest, but he'll join the starting nine with Yandy Diaz (head) a late scratch. Wendle has a .295/.368/.459 slash line through 68 plate appearances and could see more consistent at-bats if Diaz is forced to miss time.

Wendle went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored in Thursday's 10-5 win over the Yankees.

EDGE Analysis

Wendle tied the game at two with a two-run double in the fifth and gave the Rays a 5-4 lead with a run-scoring single an inning later. The infielder is slashing .281/.349/.456 on the year.

Wendle went 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base in a loss to the Blue Jays on Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Wendle was also charged with a pair of errors, so it was a mixed bag of a night overall for the infielder. Wendle now has a modest three-game hitting streak going, which comes on the heels of an 0-for-8 skid earlier in the month.

Wendle went 1-for-3 with a game-tying RBI triple in a win over the Red Sox on Monday.

EDGE Analysis

Wendle's one hit of the night made an impact, as it plated Yandy Diaz in the fifth inning to knot the score up at 4-4. The triple was Wendle's second of August, and it snapped a modest 0-for-7 stretch that had encompassed the last three games in which he'd logged an official at-bat. The 30-year-old seems much more like himself in the batter's box than at any point during an injury-marred 2019, as he's now slashing an impressive .289/.357/.500 across his first 42 plate appearances and sports a minuscule, career-low 9.5 percent strikeout rate.

Wendle went 3-for-4 with a triple, a stolen base and a run in a win over the Red Sox on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

The versatile infielder has looked like a completely different hitter thus far in 2020 compared to last season, as Wendle's clean bill of health has allowed him to rediscover the stroke that led to a pair of .300-average campaigns in 2017 and 2018. Tuesday's three-bagger and steal were both firsts for the 30-year-old in the current season, while the multi-hit tally was his third in the last seven games.

Wendle went 2-for-3 with a run in a loss to the Braves on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

Wendle's multi-hit tally was the only one of the night for the Rays, and it extended his hitting streak to four games. The versatile infielder endured a difficult, injury-plagued season in 2019, but he appears back to the form that led to him hitting at least .300 in each of his first two Rays campaigns back in 2017-18.

Wendle went 2-for-5 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Monday's 14-5 rout of Atlanta.

EDGE Analysis

Getting the start at third base, Wendle took Mike Foltynewicz deep in the fourth inning for his first homer of the season. After a disappointing, injury-plagued 2019, the 30-year-old is looking to re-establish himself as a key piece in the Rays' infield.

Wendle participated in infield drills during the Rays' first workout of summer camp Friday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The valued utility man got back into the swing of things alongside his teammates in the Rays' largest team workout in nearly four months. Wendle is expected to once again fill in at a number of positions this coming season, and he focused on increasing his arm strength this past offseason in order to be more effective when manning shortstop and third base.

Wendle worked on his arm strength this offseason with the intention of filling in more often at shortstop and third base in 2020, Josh Tolentino of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The versatile infielder enjoyed a solid spring (.259, two doubles, two home runs, three RBI, six runs) and is considered a lock to be on the team come Opening Day, especially with MLB reportedly preparing to allow teams to expand rosters to 29 players for at least the first month of the regular season. Wendle has experience playing up to five different positions, but he's spent the majority of his time at second base over the last two seasons. However, a stronger arm would certainly make him a more effective player when deployed on the left side of the infield, thus seemingly enhancing his job security.

Wendle, who's competing for an infield utility role this spring, is hitting .400 (6-for-15) with two doubles, one home run, two RBI and five runs over his first six Grapefruit League games.

EDGE Analysis

The versatile 29-year-old endured the poorest offensive season of his career in 2019, slashing a pedestrian .231/.293/.340 across 263 plate appearances over 75 games. Wendle struggled with hamstring and wrist injuries last season, which certainly played a part in his sub-par performance. However, he reported to camp at full health, and despite the modest sample, his early work at the plate seems to confirm Wendle may be returning to the form that saw him generate an impressive .300 average and .354 on-base percentage during his first Rays campaign back in 2018.