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Rays’ Tyler Glasnow has good checkup but seems to be running out of time for 2019 return

Glasnow, out since May, will be shut down for two more weeks before he can resume throwing.
 
Tyler Glasnow watches his team from the dugout during the second game of the series against the New York Yankees on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Glasnow left sixth inning in game one because of a mild forearm strain. (ALLIE GOULDING  |  Times)
Tyler Glasnow watches his team from the dugout during the second game of the series against the New York Yankees on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Glasnow left sixth inning in game one because of a mild forearm strain. (ALLIE GOULDING | Times)
Published July 16, 2019|Updated July 16, 2019

NEW YORK — The good news Tyler Glasnow got about his strained forearm in a followup MRI and doctor exam Monday is balanced by the bad news that he seems to be running out of time to pitch again this season as he will be shut down from throwing for two more weeks.

Manager Kevin Cash said “everything was really, really good” in Glasnow’s visit to Dr. Keith Meister in Texas and they were “very encouraged."

But also that the Rays are “going to take the slower route and shut him down for two more weeks and then we’ll look to bring throwing back into the equation.’’

Glasnow has been out since May, so he will need an extended time, assuming no further setbacks, to work through the progressions of playing catch, throwing bullpen sessions, facing hitters and then working in rehab games. And then to build back up to a starter’s workload of five to six innings.

Is there enough time to do that and come back to pitch this season?

“I really don’t know," Cash said. “I really don’t know. I certainly hope that’s our mind-set, but I know how much we care about him and his future with us, that we’ll just wait and see how time plays out and if there’s enough time to build him back up.”

Another scenario if Glasnow, 25, progresses well could be to bring him back as a reliever, or an opener, and shave off the several weeks of rehab starts to get him stretched out as a starter. But the Rays would have to weigh whether there were risks in doing so that could negatively impact his long-term future.

At the time of his May 10 injury, Glasnow was one of the game’s top starters with a 6-1, 1.86 record.

AL honors for Nate Lowe

Since rejoining the Rays on July 4, rookie Nate Lowe has been impressive in showing the power that pushed him into prospect status, and sparked a debate, at least among fans, if he should stick around as the starting first baseman ahead of Ji-Man Choi.

Now Lowe has earned some national attention, named Monday as the AL player of the week for his performance in the four games since the All-Star break, hitting .471 (8-for-17) with three homers, seven RBIs and a 1.559 OPS.

“It’s pretty cool in the AL to get this award," Lowe said. “And in any league to get the award. To be rewarded for a hot stretch right there is really nice."

Lowe, 2,4 is the second Ray to be so honored this season, joining Austin Meadows, who won April 8-14. And he is the second Rays rookie to win, joining Evan Longoria, who did so in June 2008.

Lowe had two previous stints with the Rays, but has been much more productive this time, with a .345 average, five homers, 10 RBIs and a 1.321 OPS in eight games.

“Just getting comfortable, that’s all," he said. “It took a little time. It took a little longer than I wanted to with the year all the way through. Even in Durham, it wasn’t comfortable for a while there. When I first came (to the majors in April) and got optioned (back) we had to do some soul-searching and figure some things out. But being around these guys in easy and being on a winning team is fun so getting comfortable with these guys really has been a key for me."

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Roster movement: Beeks, Bemboom

Lefty Jalen Beeks is expected to be recalled from Durham and work bulk innings behind an opener in Tuesday’s game, with a reliever likely to go to make room. … Catcher Anthony Bemboom was reinstated from the 60-day injured list but then designated for assignment and traded to the Angels for cash considerations. Since Bemboom, sidelined with a knee injury in his third game after a May 12 debut, was on the 60-day IL, he had to be re-added to the 40-man roster, so rather than make room elsewhere the Rays dropped him.

Quote of the day

“They’re real."

Yankees manager Aaron Boone, on the Rays as an opponent.

Miscellany

• Lefty Ryan Yarbrough said he had time to reflect on the magnitude of just how close they came to history Sunday in losing their bid for the majors’ first combined perfect in the ninth inning Sunday: “You’re out there just doing your job, you’re so focused and locked in at the moment, then you’re able to see some things, read some things talk to some people and you’re like, ‘Oh, geez.’"

• Matt Duffy (hamstring) played third for Durham on Monday, and is likely to continue his rehab for at least a few more games, with a potential weekend return.

• Nate Lowe took some ground balls at third base “to see what he looks like over there," Cash said, and potentially expand the versatility of the roster.