Rays' Tyler Glasnow Diagnosed with Partial UCL Tear After MRI on Elbow Injury

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow has been diagnosed with a partially torn UCL and a strained flexor tendon, according to multiple reports.

Glasnow left Monday night's start after four innings with what was described as right elbow inflammation.

He was placed on the 10-day injured list, with a timeline for recovery to be determined. 

"The last couple of pitches I felt just a little tug," Glasnow told reporters after the game. "I didn't want to go out and chance it. The velo was still there; it just felt not right."

It's a huge loss for the 43-24 Rays. Glasnow, 27, is 5-2 this season with a 2.66 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 123 strikeouts in 88 innings. While Gerrit Cole, Lance Lynn and Shane Bieber are the early favorites to win the American League Cy Young Award, Glasnow was putting together a season that would have had him in the running.

The Rays will be without their ace for the time being, meaning starters Rich Hill, Ryan Yarbrough and Shane McClanahan will need to step up. The Rays bullpen remains one of the best units in baseball (3.03 ERA, third in MLB), while the offense has been excellent (five runs per game, sixth in MLB).

Tampa Bay is built to continue winning, even without its ace. But if he needs surgery or cannot return this season, the team's World Series hopes will take a severe blow.