The Tampa Bay Rays placed right-hander Tyler Glasnow on the 10-day injured list with a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow and a flexor strain.
In a best-case scenario, he misses several weeks and returns near the end of the regular season.
In a worst-case scenario, he undergoes Tommy John surgery eventually and misses a year and a half.
Glasnow attributed his injury to MLB’s new prohibitions on using foreign substances on the ball because it alters so many things in his grip and motion.
His absence is a huge blow to the Rays’ pitching staff.
He was one of the few starters who could take the ball at the beginning of games; no opener, no ‘bulk’ reliever, no pitching until the fourth or fifth inning.
He is a six, seven-inning hurler, and one of the best in MLB.
Glasnow was pitching like a Cy Young candidate, with a 2.66 ERA in 88 innings, striking out 36.2 percent of the batters he faced.
Tampa will have to come up with a plan to replace him.
Which pitchers need to step up in Glasnow’s absence?
2. Ryan Yarbrough
Left-handed starter Ryan Yarbrough doesn’t quite have Glasnow’s talent, but he is a versatile arm that can fulfill a variety of roles.
Yarbrough can be a starter, an opener, a bulk reliever, or a traditional bullpen arm.
He has been deployed as a starter this year, with success: he owns a 3.63 ERA.
He will be needed as a rotation stabilizer from this point on: on a team that employs an innovative pitching strategy that doesn’t necessarily preach length, Yarbrough will be expected to provide that length.
He is second on the team in innings pitched behind Glasnow, with 72.
Yarbrough relies on weak contact to succeed, as his strikeout potential is limited (19.9 percent strikeout rate).
He will need to be on his game if the Rays want to make a deep postseason run.
He is gritty and pitches with brains and heart, somewhat making up for his lack of elite stuff.
• Ryan Yarbrough’s CH had a season high 43% usage today & it’s now been his most used offering for 2 straight starts
In these 2 starts (15.0 IP), he’s allowed 2 ER with a 12:0 K:BB
Today he earned a 30% whiff & 35% CSW as he threw most of his pitches to his arm side
— Fantasy Central (@FantasyCentral1) June 12, 2021
1. Shane McClanahan
If there is someone on the Rays’ current active roster with similar tools as Glasnow, it’s Shane McClanahan.
He matches Glasnow’s profile, as a power pitcher with a heavy fastball (he can sit in the high 90s with it) that has some command issues.
Shane McClanahan, Overpowering 99mph Fastball. 💪 pic.twitter.com/u9K0HgxFm1
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 27, 2021
That’s precisely how Glasnow started, but overcame his problems commanding the ball and took off.
The Rays hope McClanahan can follow a similar path.
He oozes talent, as he offers the strikeout ability that usually comes with a big fastball.
This year, he has a solid 27.9 percent strikeout rate in 38.2 innings and nine starts.
His command issues are evident if we look at his elevated HR/FB ratio of 22.6 percent, but it’s something he should improve as he matures.
McClanahan’s ERA is currently 4.42, but he has the potential to lower it in a hurry if he reaches his ceiling.
If his slider and splitter develop, he could be an ace eventually.
The Rays will give him his time, but they hope he can step up and take a step forward now that Glasnow won’t be around for a while.
NEXT: 3 Reasons Rays Can Keep Winning With A Small Payroll