Guess who’s back?!

The Rays announced that left-hander Blake Snell will make his second start in the majors on Thursday. Matt Andriese will be shuffled to the bullpen and give other A-team relievers a needed breather.

It’s unknown how long Snell will remain in The Show, but Joe expects him to stick around as long as he performs. The Super Two eligibility deadline has passed – the marker delays his eligibility for salary arbitration – so there’s no ulterior motive left for demoting Snell if he’s successful on the mound.

(Don’t get Joe started on baseball’s shady contract rules for young players. Snell deserved to be in the majors for good long ago. But those are the breaks.)

Here’s how Roger Mooney framed the situation in the Tampa Bay Times:

Snell, the consensus 2015 minor-league player of the year, made his major-league debut April 23 at New York. He allowed two hits and a run, struck out six and walked one in five innings. Snell was needed for just that spot start and was optioned back to Triple-A Durham after the game.

Cash would not comment on if Snell will remain in the rotation for an extended period. But with the deadline for Super Two eligibility having passed — delaying Snell’s eligibility for salary arbitration — why wouldn’t the Rays keep him in the big leagues as long as he pitches well?

“We’ll get through one start and then kind of see where it goes from there,” Cash said.

Joe hopes Snell’s presence gives the Rays’ bullpen a boost, with Andriese moving out there. The shake-up couldn’t have happened soon enough.