The Tampa Bay Rays have the best record in the American League, but are putting one of their top starting pitchers back on the injured list.
Shane McClanahan was placed on the 15-day IL with left forearm tightness, the team announced on Friday.
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McClanahan started Thursday’s 6-0 loss to the Texas Rangers, pitching 5 innings while allowing 4 runs and 6 hits, He threw 72 pitches in the outing, striking out only three batters. There were no indications during or after the game that McClanahan was dealing with discomfort or an injury.
Following the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash said the team was hoping for a longer outing from McClanahan to give the bullpen a rest after Griffin Jax only pitched 2 2/3 innings in Wednesday’s 10-4 loss to the New York Mets. Jax was making his first start since going on the IL for right elbow discomfort on Aug. 9.
McClanahan is going on the IL for the second time this season. The left-hander was sidelined with back tightness in late July before the MLB trade deadline and missed two starts before returning.
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In 24 starts this season, McClanahan, 29, has a 3.36 ERA and 10-7 record with 106 strikeouts in 118 innings. He’s part of a Rays rotation that has the second-best ERA in the AL at 3.61 (with an overall staff ERA of 3.79).
At 83-57 going into Friday’s matchup with the Rangers, Tampa Bay has the AL’s top record and fourth-best in MLB. The Rays have a three-game lead over the New York Yankees for first place in the AL East with 22 games remaining in the regular season.
To take his place on the roster, Tampa Bay recalled pitcher Alex Cook from Triple-A Durham. In 37 appearances, the right-hander compiled a 4.64 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 42 2/3 innings. He had a two-game stint with the Rays in late July, allowing 3 runs and 4 hits in 3 2/3 innings.
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