ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) Yonny Chirinos has become the third Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher on the injured list.
The right-hander was placed on the 10-day IL Monday with right middle finger inflammation and is expected to miss at least a month.
AL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell has been out since July 22 with bone chips in his left elbow that required surgery.
Tyler Glasnow started the season 6-1 before being sidelined May 10 due to a right forearm strain.
The Rays have not ruled out all three returning in September.
Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said the team ``is processing'' how to handle the injuries.
``Certainly, when we've got three guys that we count on for 180-plus innings and they're all sitting and watching games, not ideal,'' Cash said. ``But bet on these guys to pick each other and find a way to figure it out.''
Tampa Bay currently has Charlie Morton and two-way rookie Brendan McKay in its rotation. Ryan Yarbrough and Jalen Beeks have thrown multiple innings out of the bullpen when the team used a reliever as an opener.
Chirinos won his ninth game in a victory Sunday over Miami but was forced out following five innings after first experiencing pain in the finger while throwing a slider during the fourth.
``Of course it's sad, no one ever wants get on the IL,'' Chirinos said through a translator. ``But it's part of the game.
Chirinos will be shutdown from throwing for two weeks.
Glasnow played catch for the first time in six weeks at 45- and 60-feet on level ground. He hopes to work off a mound in two weeks.
``It was only day one but it feels really, really good timing wise,'' Glasnow said. ``It's recovering really well. I'm optimistic about it.''
Snell said Monday that he had five little bone chips and one that ``was pretty big'' removed, and that doctors are now waiting for swelling to leave before establishing a timeframe for a throwing program.
``My range of motion is better than it was,'' Snell said. ``Once the swelling goes down then everything ramps up.''
Tampa Bay started the day with a half-game lead over Oakland for the second AL wild card. The Rays won their sixth straight game Sunday, and set a team record by scoring six or more runs in seven consecutive games.
``We're nasty,'' Snell said. ``We're swinging really well right now so it doesn't really matter who's on the mound. We'll be fine.''