Shane McClanahan's Start Cut Short as Rays Pitcher Exits with Back Injury
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan left Thursday's game against the Texas Rangers in the fourth inning due to left mid-back tightness, which could impact the team's plans before the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline.
McClanahan began the fourth inning by hitting Ezequiel Duran with his first pitch, then walked Brandon Nimmo on six pitches. That prompted Rays manager Kevin Cash and a team trainer to come out to check on McClanahan. After a short chat, the pitcher left the game.
McClanahan finished with 49 pitches, allowing one run and no hits. He walked two batters while striking out three. MLB.com's Brian Murphy noted that McClanahan was throwing with less velocity during Thursday's start, averaging 93.8 mph compared to the 95.6 mph he averaged this season.
The Rays' starting rotation has been a strength this season, with a second-best ERA in the American League at 3.49 and an overall staff ERA of 3.69. Nick Martinez leads the rotation with a 2.45 ERA and 10-2 record. Drew Rasmussen has a 3.07 ERA with 112 strikeouts in 111 1/3 innings, while Griffin Jax has a 3.74 ERA and averages 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings.
McClanahan's injury could increase urgency for a trade before the Aug. 3 deadline. The Rays have been rumored to be pursuing Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal, viewed as the top trade deadline prize. An injury to McClanahan could make a deal more likely.
McClanahan has been a key contributor to the Rays this season, with a 3.09 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 99 innings over 20 starts. He returned this season after missing all of 2025 following surgery on his left triceps during spring training. McClanahan also missed the entire 2024 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2023.
The Rays have the young talent to make a deal happen, with MLB.com ranking their minor-league system as the No. 10 overall coming into this season. An injury to McClanahan could make the team more desperate to acquire a new starting pitcher before the deadline.
The Rays will likely monitor McClanahan's condition closely in the coming days, and it's unclear how long he'll be out. The team may choose to place him on the injured list, but the hope is that he didn't suffer a longer-term issue.
Source: Yahoo Sports