Tampa Bay Rays starter Shane McClanahan was removed from his Thursday start against the Texas Rangers due to a potential back injury. The injury that McClanahan suffered in bad timing for the Rays’ playoff chances could change everything leading up to the Aug. 3 trade deadline.
Shane McClanahan left in the fourth inning
McClanahan was placed on the 15-day injured list before Thursday night’s game. He is away from the Rays’ best pitcher who has helped them secure the best record in the American League all season long. McClanahan left Thursday’ start after the top of the fourth inning .
What injury did Shane McClanahan suffer?
McClanahan started the fourth inning by hitting the leadoff hitter. He then walked the second batter he faced in Brandon Nimmo. After the walk, McClanahan leaned over to stretch and put his fingers on the ground and touched his toes. Right when McClanahan bent over Rays manager Kevin Cash and head athletic trainer Joe Benge went out to check on McClanahan. McClanahan was pulled from the game shortly after.
McClanahan suffered what is believed to be a lower back injury. McClanahan was seen stretching his lower back before being taken out of the game. McClanahan also lost some steam on his fastball Thursday night. His fastball maxed out at 97.3 mph earlier in the game but sat at 92.9 mph in the fourth inning. McClanahan allowed one run on two walks with one strikeout over three-plus innings.
McClanahan has dealt with injury problems recently
Injuries kept McClanahan sidelined for the entirety of both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Forearm tightness troubled McClanahan in August 2023, leading to his second Tommy John surgery, with the first occurring in college in 2016. McClanahan eventually began his recovery journey during the 2025 spring training, though he encountered a bizarre triceps nerve problem necessitating surgery.
McClanahan made only one start this season before being placed on the injured list. In that start, McClanahan threw four innings and allowed four earned runs against the Oakland Athletics. Shane returned this season and had great success, pitching to a 3.09 ERA over 19 starts. McClanahan led a Rays’ starting rotation that has been a driving reason for their success.
McClanahan’s injury could change Rays rotation going into playoffs
With MLB’ trade deadline at Aug. 3 there could not be a worse time for McClanahan to go down with an injury. The Rays have already been rumored to be one of the teams looking to acquire an elite starting pitcher this season. They wanted to add a proven arm to their rotation that they could count on to help them go on a deep playoff run. The Rays have zeroed in on Detroit Tigers ace and back-to-back Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal.
Do the Rays make a play for Tigers ace Tarik Skubal?
Before McClanahan’s injury, it was a conversation of if the Rays will get Skubal and what would it cost. The Tigers are expected to ask for a king’s ransom for Skubal, which has been speculated to be Rays’ top prospect and elite center fielder Theo Gill. Tampa Bay has been linked to Gillen recently but have never wanted to part with their top prospect.
Depending on McClanahan’s injury could play a huge role on if Tampa Bay pulls the trigger on Skubal. If McClanahan suffered a small injury and is expected to return within a few weeks then there is a good chance the Rays make a move to acquire Skubal to have one of the most elite rotations come playoff time. But if McClanahan is injured badly then the Rays will have to pull the trigger. An ace like Skubal can “shift their World Series odds dramatically” and pair with “the American League’s best record and perhaps its most intimidating October starter.” The next few days will be scary for Rays fans as they await McClanahan’s diagnosis.
