The beleaguered Tampa Bay Rays pitching staff has lost another pitcher to injury as closer Nick Anderson was placed on the 10-day injured list with right forearm inflammation Sunday.
Anderson becomes the ninth Rays pitcher currently on the injured list and sixth member of the bullpen, joining Jose Alvarado, Oliver Drake, Andrew Kittredge, Colin Poche and Chaz Roe.
The Rays also currently have two starters (Yonny Chirinos and Charlie Morton) and fill-in starter Brendan McKay on the IL.
Chirinos, McKay, Kittredge and Poche are all out for the season.
"You always expect some injuries, they're going to occur,'' manager Kevin Cash said Sunday. "I think we all knew that they were going to be elevated this season in particular. But no doubt this is a little head scratching.''
Anderson leads the Rays in saves (three) and holds (four). He hasn't allowed an earned run in 11 appearances and has 15 strikeouts and just one walk in 9 1/3 innings pitched.
Despite the injuries, the Rays enter Sunday's games in first place in the American League East.
In other moves Sunday, the Rays recalled left-hander Josh Fleming and right-hander Edgar Garcia to the major league club and designated Sean Gilmartin for assignment.
Fleming started Sunday's game against the Blue Jays and pitched five innings of two-hit ball to get the win as Tampa Bay defeated Toronto 4-2. John Curtiss worked 1 2/3 perfect innings to record his first career save.
