The Tampa Bay Rays have secured the American League's top seed and a bye in the postseason.
The Boston Red Sox will likely be heading to the Bronx on Tuesday for a best-of-three series. The winner of that series will go on to face the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League Division Series. However, the Rays will not have one of their best arms for that series, according to Kevin Cash.
"Starter Shane McClanahan (forearm tightness) won’t be an option for the Division Series, Cash said, but could be an option for later rounds, though likely in a relief role," Tampa Bay Times Marc Topkin wrote on Thursday.
McClanahan last pitched on Sept. 3 and has a 3.36 ERA in 24 starts this year. The two-time All-Star missed last season, but was an All-Star in the previous two years. He is a great pitcher, and without him, the Rays rotation will have to rely on Freddy Peralta, Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez to get to the American League Championship Series.
For the Red Sox and Yankees, they will focus on the Wild Card Series, but their paths to the American League Championship Series are much easier without McClanahan in their way. Unfortunately for the Rays, McClanahan's injury came at an inopportune time. However, they are still extremely talented and have all the pieces they need to make a deep run in October.
