Rays RHP Taj Bradley shut down with pectoral strain

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Taj Bradley will not throw for at least two weeks because of a pectoral injury that forced him to be scratched from his Tuesday start in spring training.

Manager Kevin Cash said Bradley underwent testing on Tuesday to investigate the severity of the pectoral strain.

Bradley, who turns 23 next week, made only one start in spring training and was scratched before he could take the mound on Tuesday. Pitching coach Kyle Snyder paused Bradley's pregame bullpen work when he noticed something wasn't right.

Bradley is viewed as a potential top-of-the-rotation starter for Tampa Bay. Without him, Cash said the Rays will determine how to align the starting rotation in the next two weeks ahead of Opening Day on March 28.

Cash made it very clear Bradley won't be ready for the opener against the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Rays were counting on Bradley after trading Tyler Glasnow to the Los Angeles Dodgers and losing Shane McClanahan for the season following Tommy John surgery.

As a rookie last season, Bradley was 5-8 with a 5.59 ERA and 129 strikeouts over 104 2/3 innings in 23 games (21 starts).

Bradley was a fifth-round pick in 2018 out of Redan High School in Georgia.