Grant Balfour pitched one inning in Wednesday's spring training game against the Orioles. He surrendered only one hit while striking out one.

Balfour pitched one inning in Wednesday's spring training game against the Orioles. He surrendered only one hit while striking out one.

Analysis:

Balfour went through what he called a "dead-arm period" earlier in spring, in which he had back-to-back poor outings. He allowed five earned runs, walked three, hit a batter struck out only one in 1.1 innings. He took a week off and has not allowed a run or walk and has struck out three in 2.1 innings since. He is still the favorite to be the Rays' closer this season, but Heath Bell, Joel Peralta and Jake McGee may still factor into the mix.