Carlos Rivera makes 25-man roster?

With Merced's release today, Mac needs a left-handed pinch-hitter off the bench (esp. on the days that Randall Simon starts). As Joe Rutter reports in today's notebook for the Tribune-Review, Littlefield said Rivera "shouldn't be counted out of the running for a roster spot" despite the strained intercostal muscle that has kept him out since mid-March. No mo' Merced suggests Rivera won't start the season on the DL or in the minor leagues. Carlos is 26. Nate Silver's PECOTA program suggests Rivera's most comparable player is Henry Rodriguez.