TAMPA, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays announced on Friday that starting pitcher Shane McClanahan will be placed on the 15-day injured list after departing Thursday’s game due to back tightness.
The team says it is recalling RHP Alex Cook from Triple-A to fill McClanahan’s spot on the roster.
Cook has a 3.78 ERA over 33.1 innings in Durham this season.
The Tampa Bay Rays have placed LHP Shane McClanahan (left mid-back tightness) on the 15-day IL and recalled RHP Alex Cook from Triple-A Durham. Cook will wear No. 54.
— Rays Communications (@RaysPR) July 31, 2026
The Rays initially listed McClanahan as day to day after his departure in the fourth inning Thursday against the Texas Rangers.
Following a brief discussion on the mound, McClanahan walked to the dugout accompanied by head athletic trainer Joseph Benge. He was replaced by Casey Legumina, who was already warming up after McClanahan informed the coaching staff that his back was beginning to bother him.
“He complained that his back was tight, and we’re just taking (it) inning to inning and just watching,” Cash said. “We saw the (velocity) kind of dip a little bit and felt like, all right that was enough.”
McClanahan was making his 20th start of the season and entered the game with a 9-6 record and 3.06 ERA. He threw 49 pitches.
The 29-year-old returned to the Tampa Bay rotation this year after missing the previous two-plus seasons because of injury. McClanahan underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2023 that kept him out for the entire 2024 season. Then, in spring training ahead of the 2025 campaign, he dealt with nerve irritation in his left triceps but never returned and eventually underwent surgery in August of last year.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.