Rays starter Shane McClanahan departed at this time’s outing within the fourth inning after a go to from the coach. The membership later introduced he’d been coping with mid-back tightness.

It’s unclear whether or not the Rays anticipate McClanahan lacking time. Postgame, he conceded he was “annoyed” to have to go away the sport early however expressed hope it wouldn’t be a severe problem (video supplied by Bally Sports activities Solar). Supervisor Kevin Money informed reporters the southpaw had skilled some minor again discomfort earlier than his earlier begin as nicely (relayed by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Instances).

McClanahan is the one Tampa Bay starter to have taken all 16 turns via the rotation. Final season’s sixth-place Cy Younger finisher has continued to excel. He owns a 2.23 ERA throughout 93 innings. His 26.7% strikeout fee is down a bit relative to final 12 months’s 30.3% clip, but it surely’s nonetheless nicely above league common. The Rays are already with out Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen and Josh Fleming and needed to navigate the primary couple months sans Tyler Glasnow. McClanahan, Glasnow, rookie Taj Bradley and offseason pickup Zach Eflin make for a wonderful prime 4, however the Springs and Rasmussen accidents have put some strain on the depth arms.

Nook outfielder Luke Raley additionally completed at this time’s recreation with some well being concern. He was hit on the precise hand by a José Cuas pitch within the first inning. Whereas Raley performed the rest of the competition, Topkin tweets that his hand remained sore postgame. Preliminary x-rays got here again destructive however he’ll head for additional imaging tonight. Raley has considerably quietly been one of many recreation’s greatest hitters this 12 months, mashing at a .276/.354/.582 clip over 193 plate appearances.

Whether or not he’ll require a stint on the injured checklist is to be decided. There’d appear a good probability he’ll a minimum of be out of tomorrow night time’s lineup. If that’s the case, he’d be joined in sitting out the competition by Wander Franco. Tampa Bay penciled in Taylor Partitions at shortstop tonight, and Money introduced pregame that Franco can be on the bench for Friday’s contest as nicely.

It’s not an damage concern in his case. It’s as an alternative a disciplinary determination. Money informed reporters the group was benching Franco for a minimum of two video games after taking problem with a few of his clubhouse habits. As Topkin writes, it isn’t believed to be associated to at least one particular incident however moderately a end result of some occasions all through the season. Topkin notes that Franco has been concerned in some verbal spats with teammates over the course of the 12 months and has had some situations of slamming gear within the dugout after making outs.

To be clear, there’s nothing to counsel the Rays’ general relationship with Franco has been affected. Money was fast to name the 22-year-old star “a extremely good child, actually good individual” whereas conceding that the infielder “is studying and coping with the challenges of being a serious league participant and a few of the frustrations that include it.” Each Money and president of baseball operations Erik Neander expressed assist for Franco general however indicated they felt it acceptable to take a seat him down for a couple of days to bolster the must be teammate.

Franco is arguably the face of the franchise and already one of many sport’s brightest younger stars. He’s off to a .287/.349/.455 begin to the season and has elite defensive marks. Recipient of the largest extension in franchise historical past, he’s beneath contract via the 2032 marketing campaign and stays as essential to the group as any participant on the roster.