When Rays ace Shane McClanahan exited within the fourth inning Thursday night with mid-back tightness, after all, the quick concern was concerning the condition of arguably the AL Cy Young frontrunner.
But there also was concern concerning the mounting injuries to Tampa Bay’s starting pitchers.
The Rays didn’t immediately announce the severity of the injury, though McClanahan said he didn’t imagine it to be serious.
Tampa Bay, though, already was coping with substantial rotation loss that McClanahan has been helping to attenuate by being not only sensible (leading MLB with a 2.23 ERA) but durable (tied for the MLB lead with 16 starts).
League stats show that pitching injuries, while substantial, haven’t been far more prevalent than during previous recent seasons.
From the opening of spring training through the 83rd day of the regular season this past Wednesday, there had been 288 pitchers placed on the injured list, in comparison with 277 last season at the identical point and 306 in 2021 (after the shortened, 60-game 2020 pandemic season) and 247 in 2019.
Because the regular season began, there have been 167 IL stints for pitchers through 86 days this yr, 183 last yr, 218 in 2021 and 162 in 2019.
Pitching IL stints grew to historic highs in recent times for a lot of reasons, including a generalized philosophy to have pitchers max out on velocity and spin with regularity, plus more liberal use of the IL.
There was concern that making pitchers work more quickly with a clock would also consider. However the yr over yr numbers suggest that has not occurred. Yet.
But no one knows the withering impact it can have over the long season; it is a large concern in front offices.
It also just might be that pitching is an inherently unhealthy activity. There have been 184 position-player IL stints in comparison with those 288 for pitchers.
What stands out this yr is how ravaged certain rotations, particularly of projected contenders, have been.
Tampa Bay epitomizes the epidemic.
A part of every season is navigating players lost to injury, notably pitchers.
But just take a look at how this season is being shaped by the lack of pitchers and who’s and isn’t managing it best:
Tampa Bay Rays
The organization that brought you the opener believed its rotation was going to be a serious asset. And it has been.
Amazingly, the Rays led MLB in starter ERA (3.21), though Drew Rasmussen (flexor tendon) was lost at the very least for many of the season and Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery) for all of it after each began 2023 so superbly.
Josh Fleming (elbow) is out for an prolonged period. Tyler Glasnow (oblique) didn’t make his first start until May 27.
Zach Eflin missed two weeks with a lower back ailment. Shane Baz, expected to supply potential depth, will miss the season after Tommy John surgery.
Ever resourceful, Tampa Bay still generated MLB’s best record despite tying the MLB high by utilizing 13 starters.
But that has been with McClanahan because the bulwark and never missing a start.
Recent York Yankees
Gerrit Cole is like McClanahan, the durable ace and Cy Young contender who has not missed a start while throughout him has crumbled.
Frankie Montas and Carlos Rodon have yet to pitch within the majors in 2023.
Luis Severino got here back about when Nestor Cortes went down. Luis Gil, potential depth, could be an element late after he had Tommy John surgery last yr.
The rotation injuries, plus Aaron Judge’s injury, stand out amid the Yankees leading the majors, through Thursday, in games missed to the IL this yr with 856.
Los Angeles Dodgers
They were second (831) in IL games missed and, like McClanahan and Cole, Clayton Kershaw has been the durable ace and Cy Young contender.
The Dodgers knew they might be operating most of this season without Walker Buehler (Tommy John). The three other veteran members of the season-opening rotation — Dustin May, Noah Syndergaard and Julio Urias — are all currently on sustained IL stints.
Tony Gonsolin missed the primary month, Michael Grove (who was within the opening rotation) missed greater than a month, and Ryan Pepiot has been out the entire yr thus far.
Houston Astros
AL Cy Young winner Justin Verlander left via free agency and was not replaced.
Then Luis Garcia (Tommy John) was lost for the season, Jose Urquidy (shoulder) has missed nearly two months already, and the Astros recently learned Lance McCullers Jr. (elbow) is not going to pitch this season.
The load falls heavily on Cristian Javier and Framber Valdez.
Much will rest on whether the Astros, so good at rebuilding from the lack of nearly all of their 2017 championship rotation, can get high-level efforts from Hunter Brown and J.P. France.
Atlanta Braves
Ace Max Fried and Kyle Wright, who won 21 games in 2022, each have missed many of the season thus far. Hoped-for depth from Huascar Brazoban and Mike Soroka has not materialized resulting from injury and performance.
Yet the Braves have the NL’s best record despite using 12 starters.
Atlanta infrequently has a touted farm system, but nevertheless breaks in players who help quickly, as Spencer Strider did within the rotation last season and Bryce Elder has this yr.
Recent York Mets
That they had lost the fourth-most IL games (760), but unlike the five teams listed above, the Mets didn’t compensate well enough to enter the weekend in a playoff spot.
Verlander and Carlos Carrasco each missed somewhat greater than a month. Jose Quintana has yet to pitch. Max Scherzer has endured ailments without happening the IL (though he missed 10 games for a sticky-stuff suspension).
The Mets’ belief system to get to the playoffs stays the identical — that Quintana will return across the All-Star break for stability, and Scherzer and Verlander will start pitching like their historic selves.
Cleveland Guardians
Other clubs might be here for losing key pitchers to Tommy John surgery — equivalent to the Rangers (Jacob deGrom) and Mariners (Robbie Ray).
But Cleveland’s identity has long revolved around its rotation, and the Guardians will hardly have Triston McKenzie (first shoulder, elbow) while also enduring sustained absences to Peyton Battenfield, Aaron Civale and Cal Quantrill.
