Rays place OF Joyce on DL; Peralta drops appeal
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The Tampa Bay Rays made a bevy of roster moves before Friday's series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies, including the placement of outfielder Matt Joyce on the 15-day disabled list.
Joyce is sidelined with a left external oblique strain. In 62 games this season, he has hit .279 with a team-leading 11 homers and 34 RBI.
Additionally, the Rays reinstated infielder Jeff Keppinger from the 15-day DL, claimed infielder Brooks Conrad off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers, recalled pitcher Brandon Gomes from Triple-A Durham, optioned outfielder Rich Thompson to Durham and designated infielder Drew Sutton for assignment.
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A broken right big toe had kept Keppinger sidelined since mid-May. Conrad was just 3-for-40 in 25 games for the Brewers this year.
Reliever Joel Peralta also dropped his appeal and will begin serving his eight-game suspension for possessing a foreign substance on his glove during a game earlier in the week.