Rays third baseman Evan Longoria dealing with foot injury

After getting what looked like a routine day off Monday night, Evan Longoria is dealing with a foot issue.

Over his last seven games, Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria is just 3-for-29 with one extra base hit, two runs scored and three walks. He seemed to be getting a fairly routine day off Monday against the Miami Marlins, along with similarly struggling outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (one hit in his last 32 at-bats), but it appears to be a little more to it than that for the Rays’ franchise cornerstone.

According Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Longoria is dealing with plantar fasciitis in his left foot. He had the same issue in his right foot back in 2013, but Longoria still played 160 games that season without much drop-off in production (.269/.343/.498 slash-line, 32 home runs and 88 RBI).

The designated hitter is not an option over the next two nights with the Rays playing in Miami. But the in-state four game series will move to Tampa Bay for Wednesday and Thursday night, and Tampa Bay’s next road interleague game after these two games in Miami comes on June 27.

But Longoria apparently, and obviously, hopes to be back in the lineup on Tuesday night.

Daniel Robertson is starting in Longoria’s place Monday night, batting eighth against Marlins’ starter Wei-Yin Chen (2-1, 4.71 ERA so far this season). Robertson made the Rays’ Opening Day roster as a utility man, and he’s already seen time at shortstop (six games), second base (three games), third base (three games) and in the outfield (one game) this season.

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It wouldn’t be surprising to see Longoria out of the starting lineup again on Tuesday night. But he is theoretically available as a pinch-hitter Monday night, and would presumably be available in the same capacity if need be for a second straight game.