4:05pm: Topkin relays word from Cash, who says that McClanahan’s MRI confirmed the impingement diagnosis, describing it as a “best case scenario.” McClanahan will get a cortisone shot and could return after the 15-day minimum absence.
1:00pm: The Rays announced that they have placed starter Shane McClanahan on the 15-day injured due to a left shoulder impingement and infielder Brandon Lowe on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to August 28, with a right triceps contusion. Infielder/outfielder Vidal Brujan and right-hander Calvin Faucher have been recalled in corresponding moves.
McClanahan’s move may be disappointing but it’s hardly surprising. He was scheduled to start yesterday but felt his injury pop-up while throwing his pregame bullpen and never actually threw a pitch in the game. He and manager Kevin Cash both expressed cautious optimism after the game, feeling that an extended absence wouldn’t be necessary. That might still prove to be true, but it appears the team feels he needs at least two weeks before he can contribute again. Whether he will need longer than that still remains to be seen.
Even if he does miss just the minimum amount of time, it will still be a significant loss for Tampa. The southpaw has thrown 147 1/3 innings this year with a 2.20 ERA, 32.5% strikeout rate, 5.4% walk rate and 52.3% ground ball rate. That elite production has put him squarely in the American League Cy Young debate. Though the Rays are known for stockpiling quality depth pieces, any team would suffer from losing that caliber of performance.
As for Lowe, it’s been a frustrating stop-and-start season for him, with this just the latest setback. He first landed on the IL in mid-May due to low back discomfort. He ended up missing about two months due to that ailment, returning in mid-July. He was then hit by a pitch on Friday and was diagnosed with an elbow contusion at the time. He has sat out the club’s past few games, but it seems that the injury is lingering enough that they’ll have him sit out for at least another week. Despite those injuries, he’s still been able to produce for Tampa, hitting .234/.319/.405 in 61 games. That amounts to a wRC+ of 114, a drop from last year’s 137 but still 14% above league average.
With both Lowe and McClanahan out of action, the Rays will have to get by with a weakened rotation and lineup for a while. They are currently in possession of the top Wild Card spot in the American League, though the Mariners are just half a game behind and the Blue Jays separated from the Rays by just a single game. There’s a bit more breathing room until the best non-playoff teams, with the Orioles and Twins three games back. Nevertheless, it figures to be a tight race over the remainder of the schedule, with just five weeks left to go, with the Rays surely hoping to secure not just a playoff spot but also earn home field advantage in the first round by keeping the top Wild Card slot. Hopefully, a little bit of time off for Lowe and McClanahan will allow them to return and contribute down the stretch.
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times announced the move before the official announcement (Twitter links).
Al cy young contender, the Rays need him
Justin Verlander by a landslide
Surprised to see Patiño doesn’t get a recall, he’s built up & looking good. Best hopes for Shane and B-Lowe to have minimum IL stays!
Ugh. Hoping it is nothing major, because the uber-cautious Rays put almost anyone on the IL if there is a slight cough. Won’t know anything until after the imaging results, wait and see. Surprised they did not call Patino up to start a game. Maybe Glas and Baz are somehow able to come back and give a few innings in September and, if applicable, the playoffs? Obv they won’t be 100%, but if they are strong enough…the Rays will need them.
I agree with bringing up a relief arm instead of a guy like Patiño, because Clanny’s spot isn’t coming up again until Monday(they’ve got an off day tomorrow). Might as well not use that spot for a guy who’s going to come up and sit on the bench. They can just call up Patiño tomorrow or wait and option somebody on Monday and call him up.
Crazy year for my rays. Just keep treading water. Wild they’re even in contention for the playoffs. Honestly just want them to get healthy for next year when I think they have a decent shot a WS title IF healthy
I can’t see the Rays ever winning a World Series for some reason. They remind me of the Yankees. Make it far then get eliminated at first chance of moving ahead in contention time
Man, I had Lowe on a lot of my rotisserie teams. Time to start cutting bait.
You might have to sell lowe on him
A shoulder injury is always cause for concern with regards to a pitcher. McClanahan has pitched at an elite level this year and you hate to see someone like him get sidelined with an injury during a playoff push. It couldn’t have came at a worse time with the Yankees slumping and the Rays getting closer to the NYY in the standings. All things considered, Cash is a really good manager and does a great job with the roster he has so we’ll see what happens.
I doubt the Rays will take over first place in the AL East regardless of if McClanahan wasn’t injured
We’ll see. Not gonna lie with the way the Yankees have been playing since the break and with an upcoming series against the Rays it could get ugly real quick for them.
It could. They’re 7 games back so we’ll see
Tbh I have zero faith in this Yankees team. I hate to sound like Randy Quaid in Major League 2 but they’re falling apart. Injuries are part of it but their tendency to blow late game leads or lose series at home to inferior teams since the break is alarming.
This was inevitable but they were just lucky playing easy teams in the first half. A rotation of old injury-prone starting pitchers doing so well seemed odd to me. Now we all see the Yankee true colors. Eliminated in the ALDS is my prediction
McClanahan and Kiermaier for Torres, Hicks, Volpe, and IKF. Who says no?
The Rays trade players with little control for players with lots of cheap control. They will have zero interest in Torres, Hicks or IKF. Volpe is nowhere near enough for a proven ACE with 4-5 years of control.
Everyone not delusional says no.
They don’t only say no they block each other’s numbers.
KK will be bought out for $2.5mil in the offseason. With Jose S. starting to hit better I don’t see the Rays bringing back KK (if they do at all) for more than $2mil next season.
Rays have been ravished with injuries this year.
I do not think that means what you think it means