"The Tampa Bay Rays learned in the first month of the season that they could survive, and win, without Evan Longoria.

The defending American League East champions emerged with a 15-13 record despite having their all-star third baseman go down with a strained left oblique in the second game of the season.

The Rays without Longoria would be a bit like the Jays without Jose Bautista considering he has career numbers in April that include a .328 average, with 14 home runs and 52 RBIs.

But the wait is over. Longoria is back. The Rays offensive catalyst is expected to be in the starting lineup Tuesday when Toronto opens a three-game series here.

Longoria is supposed to come off the DL after playing his final rehab game for double-A Montgomery Monday night. And, while the Rays survived without him, they did very much miss him.

"Obviously you're missing an all-star player," said manager Joe Maddon said. "A Silver Slugger guy, a Gold Glove guy — you're missing all that stuff, the guy who's supposed to be the centrepiece of your lineup, offensively."

Longoria said during a conference call Monday that he feels 100% ready physically for his return and that he's been impressed with the team's performance.

"We've talked about it from the beginning that we're going to find different ways to win and different guys to step up and really fill in roles. And it's been awesome to watch," he said."