ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — It is “highly unlikely” that Shane McClanahan will pitch again this season, Rays manager Kevin Cash acknowledged Tuesday. The ace left-hander is facing possible surgery for the forearm tightness that put him on the injured list last week, Cash said.

McClanahan was sent back to Florida and met with the team doctor after being placed on the IL Thursday. On Monday, he flew to California to meet with specialist Dr. Neal ElAttrache. McClanahan has one more meeting scheduled next week with Texas-based specialist Dr. Keith Meister, who has consulted on several Rays’ elbow injuries.

Asked about the chances of McClanahan pitching again in 2023, Cash said, “Highly unlikely. But again, I mean, I’m speaking out of turn until Dr. Meister weighs in and then Shane makes a decision.”

As far as what McClanahan could be facing, “Surgery is certainly an option,” Cash said. “But again, I don’t want to get too far ahead. But I think in fairness to Mac and to us, he’s gonna be down for a little while.”

The Rays have been evasive on the actual diagnosis. Cash said Tuesday it was not entirely clear what surgery McClanahan might need. He listed the possibility of Tommy John surgery, flexor tendon surgery or a simple loose body removal surgery.

Still, any procedure, combined with rehab, would leave little time for McClanahan to return this season. McClanahan previously underwent Tommy John surgery in college.

His last win was June 16, and he is 0-1 in six starts since. He left starts June 22 and June 30 early due to what the team called mid-back tightness. That eventually forced him onto the 15-day IL on July 1. He returned July 17 and went six innings against Texas before lasting just four innings July 22 against Baltimore. He has not pitched more than five innings in a game since.

Tampa Bay has been hit hard by pitching injuries this season. The Rays began the season without Shane Baz, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs and Josh Fleming went down during the season. Rasmussen and Springs both had elbow surgeries and are out for the year. Fleming is making rehab appearances and could return.

Glasnow gets help

Right-hander Tyler Glasnow, who was scratched from his last start because of back spasms, received a shot the Rays hope will allow him to pitch again this weekend.

“He had an injection (Tuesday) morning. We’re optimistic that he’ll respond,” Cash said. “Over the next two days, let’s see how he responds and then we’ll look to insert him back into the rotation. I think we’re aiming for the series against the Guardians, and we’ll go from there. Two days of kind of shut down.”

Reworking the rotation

The injuries to McClanahan and Glasnow throw the Rays’ rotation into uncertainly down the stretch.

Zach Eflin and Zack Littell, along with Aaron Civale, who they acquired from the Guardians at the trade deadline, are healthy. Glasnow was scratched from his last start, but the team is hopeful he will be able to return Saturday.

For now, the Rays will have a bullpen day and use Littell against the Cardinals.

“With the off days, I think that we can kind of roll through a four-man rotation,” Cash said. “The way we’re presented, yes, there will be some times that we need to insert (a fifth starter), and whether that’s a bullpen day or call up somebody to help us, we’ll do that.

“But we’re going to try to put our heads together over this homestand to figure out the best way to navigate through.”

Fleming and Andrew Kittredge both are rehabbing in the minors and could be called up to help.