The Rays’ pitching staff could be without a key member for all of next season.
Ace Shane McClanahan is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery and is likely to miss all of the 2024 season, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said earlier in August that the lefty would almost undoubtedly be on the shelf for the rest of the year after dealing with left forearm tightness.
Since his call-up to the big leagues in 2021, McClanahan has been one of the best pitchers in all of baseball.
Over three seasons, he has won 33 games and held a 3.02 ERA and 1.105 WHIP with 456 strikeouts over 404 2/3 innings.
In 2022, he started the All-Star Game for the American League and finished sixth in the Cy Young award voting.
This year, he had a 3.29 ERA with 121 strikeouts in 21 starts before he landed on the injured list.
The Rays enter Tuesday with a 72-49 record, three games back of the first-place Orioles in the American League East.
