The Tampa Bay Rays have tumbled down the standings recently due to a poor stretch of play, and things are about to get even more difficult for them at the most crucial point in the season.
Josh Tolentino of The Athletic reports that Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell is scheduled to undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body in his left elbow this weekend. It’s unclear exactly how long he will be out, but both he and the team are said to be confident that the reigning Cy Young winner will pitch again this season.
As Tolentino notes, Boston Red Sox pitcher Nathan Eovaldi underwent a similar procedure in April and ended up missing about three months, though he had a setback in between. There are about two months remaining in the regular season, so the Rays must feel Snell will be able to return sooner than Eovaldi did.
Snell is 6-7 with a 4.28 ERA this season. He has struggled a bit following his incredible year in 2018, when he finished with a 21-5 record and 1.89 ERA. He’s also had some bad luck, as he suffered a toe injury in a freak accident earlier this season.
The Rays are just one game back in the AL wild card race, but they have lost seven of their last nine. Being without Snell for an extended period will be a tough obstacle to overcome.
