Rays Get Encouraging Tyler Wells Injury Update Before ALDS

The Tampa Bay Rays received good news Wednesday about one of their top bullpen pieces. 

In a media availability, Rays manager Kevin Cash spoke about the injury report and availability of some of Tampa Bay's biggest question marks heading into Saturday's Game 1 of the American League Division Series. 

And for recently acquired reliever Tyler Wells, the news was very optimistic. Wells is dealing with a forearm issue and, according to Cash, "looked really good" in a throwing session on Tuesday. 

Wells has been out of action for about two weeks due to the forearm tightness in his right arm, but it sounds like he has a good chance to possibly be cleared to be added to the Rays' ALDS roster. 

This would add another weapon to Kevin Cash's already loaded bullpen. Wells was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles at the trade deadline, and he's been excellent between the two teams this season. He's had 57 appearances and over 72 innings of work, has logged a 2.38 ERA, with 72 strikeouts and only 18 walks. 

If Wells is cleared, Kevin Cash will have some difficult decisions to make when it comes to selecting the pitchers he wants on the ALDS roster. Assuming he only goes with three starting pitchers for the rotation, that would move both Griffin Jax and Ian Seymour into a reliever-type role. 

We likely won't see Shane McClanahan in the ALDS, but if so, that would be another piece that would likely be seen in a long reliever spot. Regardless, adding Jax and Seymour to the mix, plus potentially Wells, could make Tampa Bay's bullpen the most dangerous of all teams in the postseason. 

Tampa Bay already has a solid back end of the relief corps, led by Bryan Baker, who led all closers in saves this season. Kevin Kelly and, if cleared, Wells would be the setup man for Baker in high-leverage situations. 

Cash has plenty of opportunities to shorten games, and that's only if he needs to. Tampa Bay's starting rotation has been some of the best in baseball all season, including two All-Stars in Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez. Add in Freddy Peralta, who just won September's Pitcher of the Month in the American League, and you're looking at a very hot pitching staff heading into the best-of-five series against either the New York Yankees or the Boston Red Sox.