The Rays placed McClanahan (triceps) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
McClanahan is without an official timeline to make his season debut while he recovers from a nerve-related triceps injury, but since he's yet to resume a throwing program, he's expected to miss beyond the minimum 15 days. The southpaw's injury clears the way for both Zack Littell and Drew Rasmussen to hold down spots at the back end of the rotation to begin the season.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Feeling better, but no timeline
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McClanahan said Monday that he remains without a timeline to make his season debut, but he acknowledged that his left arm is already feeling better after he exited his final Grapefruit League start Saturday due to nerve irritation in his tricep, John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
McClanahan noted that he's still waiting for the nerve to calm down before he's re-evaluated, at which point the Rays could have a clearer timeline for the lefty to resume his throwing program. Given that McClanahan previously underwent Tommy John surgeries in 2016 and in August 2023, the Rays will likely proceed deliberately with his recovery from the tricep issue, even though all indications are that the 27-year-old avoided a significant injury. With McClanahan ticketed for a stint on the injured list to begin the season, the Rays should have room at the back end of their Opening Day rotation for both Zack Littell and Drew Rasmussen.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Dealing with inflamed nerve
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McClanahan was diagnosed with an inflamed nerve in his left triceps and will begin the season on the injured list, with manager Kevin Cash saying the diagnosis was "probably the best news that we could have heard," Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
The left-hander doesn't have an official timeline for his return as he begins a period of rest and recovery, but the initial diagnosis in encouraging after he exited Saturday's Grapefruit League game with the injury. A timetable for McClanahan's season debut could come into focus once he resumes a throwing program, but it appears he won't require as significant an absence as first anticipated.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Will miss time
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McClanahan (triceps) will miss the start of the regular season, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
McClanahan exited Saturday's Grapefruit League game with a triceps injury, an unfortunate development as he was attempting to return from his second Tommy John surgery. He is undergoing imaging that will reveal a more specific timeline, though the nature of the injury doesn't offer significant reason for optimism.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Expected to throw '150-ish' innings
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Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said on Dec. 10 in an interview on MLB Network that he expects McClanahan (elbow) to throw "150-ish" innings in 2025.
McClanahan missed the 2024 season following August 2023 Tommy John surgery but has been able to go through a normal throwing program this offseason. The left-hander threw 115 innings in 2023 and had a career-high 173.1 frames in 2022 between the regular season and playoffs. This is McClanahan's second Tommy John surgery, however, and Walker Buehler's 2024 (Buehler was coming back from his second TJS) is an example of the downside involved with McClanahan in 2025. It's not yet clear how the Rays plan to manage McClanahan's workload, but it could involve some early removal from starts and/or extra rest in between outings.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Touches 94-95 mph in live BP
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Rays manager Kevin Cash said that McClanahan (elbow) touched 94-to-95 mph in a 16-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday at Tropicana Field, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Cash added that McClanahan -- who is coming back from August 2023 Tommy John surgery -- is "mentally ready to go" and "excited about a normal offseason." The left-hander is expected to be ready for spring training and next year's Opening Day, although he is expected to have workload restrictions in place after missing the entirety of the 2024 campaign.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Facing hitters next week
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McClanahan (elbow) is scheduled to throw live batting practice next Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It will be the left-hander's first time facing hitters since he underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2023. McClanahan began throwing off a mound last month and expects to have a "completely normal offseason." The 27-year-old should open the 2025 season in the Rays' rotation but is likely to have some workload restrictions in place in his first year back from elbow surgery.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Throws off mound
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McClanahan (elbow) threw from a mound Tuesday, MLB.com reports.
This was the first time McClanahan threw from a mound since he underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2023. He threw 10 fastballs and is expected to progress to full bullpen sessions next. McClanahan is still very likely to miss all of the 2024 season.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that McClanahan (elbow) has increased his throwing distance to 135 feet, MLB.com reports.
Cash noted that McClanahan is "doing well" in his recovery from his Aug. 21, 2023 Tommy John surgery, the second such procedure of his career. The southpaw remains unlikely to return from the 60-day injured list in 2024.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Placed on 60-day IL
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The Rays placed McClanahan (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Tampa Bay needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Phil Maton. McClanahan will be sidelined until 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Will undergo Tommy John surgery
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Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that McClanahan (forearm) will undergo Tommy John surgery, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
McClanahan had already been ruled out for the rest of 2023, but a Tommy John procedure will likely keep him out for all of 2024 as well. The 26-year-old southpaw landed on the injured list Aug. 3 and will undergo surgery sometime next week. He finishes 2023 with a 3.29 ERA and 1.18 WHIP alongside a 121:41 K:BB ratio through 115 innings.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Likely done for season
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Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that McClanahan (forearm) is "highly unlikely" to pitch again this season, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
McClanahan landed on the 15-day injured list last week due to left forearm tightness and he has since visited a number of specialists in an attempt to get to the root of the issue. Cash told reporters that surgery is a possibility for the 26-year-old ace, who had pitched to an 11-2 record, 3.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 121:41 K:BB through 115 innings (21 starts) this season. It's the biggest blow yet to a Tampa Bay pitching staff that has been ravaged by injuries to key starters.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Headed to injured list
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McClanahan (forearm) will be placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
McClanahan was lifted from his start Wednesday against the Yankees after experiencing left forearm tightness in the bottom of the fourth inning. There is no exact diagnosis yet, but the 26-year-old ace is headed for imaging scans and is expected to seek out multiple opinions in an effort to get to the root of the issue. He'll be sidelined through at least mid-August, and perhaps far longer. More should be known in the coming days.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Fans six in no-decision
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McClanahan did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing three runs on eight hits over five innings against the Astros. He struck out six without issuing a walk.
The final line is rather pedestrian by his standards -- that speaks to the incredibly high bar he's set for himself more than anything else. McClanahan induced a whopping 17 swinging strikes on 86 pitches. Jose Abreu's homer in the fourth inning accounted for two of the three runs against McClanahan, who lines up to pitch in Yankee Stadium his next time out and will be looking for his first win since June 16.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Could see normal workload
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Manager Kevin Cash expects McClanahan to make "very close to a normal start" Monday night against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
McClanahan hasn't fired more than 66 pitches in a game in over a month, but Cash feels the southpaw is healthy and ready to handle a normal start, if efficient. McClanahan's last start took place June 30 against the Mariners before landing on the 15-day injured list with mid-back tightness.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Activated for Monday's start
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McClanahan (back) was activated from the 15-day injured list Monday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
McClanahan will rejoin the Rays' rotation on Monday in a road start versus the Rangers. The left-hander has missed all of July with a nagging back issue but is ready to go now after skipping a rehab assignment. McClanahan hasn't thrown more than 66 pitches in a start in a month, so he probably won't be ready for a full workload Monday.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Expected back Sunday
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Rays manager Kevin Cash said last week that he's confident McClanahan (back) will be ready to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible to start Sunday's game in Kansas City, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
McClanahan was placed on the IL with mid-back tightness July 1, one day after he was limited to a season-low three innings in a start at Seattle. The injury kept him from making his final turn before the All-Star break and also prevented him from pitching in the Midsummer Classic, but he was able to play catch last week without any discomfort and has presumably continued to improve in the days that followed. McClanahan may throw a bullpen session Thursday or Friday before the Rays officially confirm that he'll take the hill for the final game of the series in Kansas City.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Starting Friday
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McClanahan (back) is listed as the Rays' probable pitcher for Friday's game against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
Just as manager Kevin Cash suggested would be the case earlier in the week, McClanahan will rejoin the Tampa Bay rotation for the first game of the team's series in Seattle. The ace southpaw will be returning to the mound after a full week's rest, as he last pitched June 22 before leaving his start against the Royals that day in the fourth inning with mid-back tightness. McClanahan threw a bullpen session over the weekend and apparently checked out fine, so he's not expected to face any limitations Friday.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Dealing with back issue
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McClanahan exited Thursday's game against the Royals with mid-back tightness, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
McClanahan was pulled in the fourth inning after a brief visit from manager Kevin Cash and a team trainer. The severity of the issue isn't known, but the initial diagnosis seems encouraging given it's not an arm injury.
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Rays' Shane McClanahan: Exits Thursday's start
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McClanahan exited Thursday's start against the Royals in the fourth inning with an undisclosed injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
One of the team's trainers went to the mound along with manager Kevin Cash. There was a brief conversation with McClanahan before he was pulled, but no further details are currently available. He allowed two runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks over 3.2 frames prior to his exit.
