KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Rays were still unsure Wednesday whether left-hander Matt Moore will need surgery on his ailing left elbow after he was examined by orthopedic surgeon James Andrews.
Rays manager Joe Maddon said after a 7-3 loss to the Royals that the team was still awaiting results from another series of tests. Moore was getting a second opinion from Andrews after an MRI exam performed in Kansas City proved to be inconclusive.
Maddon did say that it appears the ligaments in Moore’s elbow were not fully torn. If that was the case, season-ending surgery would be a foregone conclusion.
"There is no surgery tomorrow. That’s not planned. I can tell you that," Maddon said. "We need to get all the facts and see how we want to proceed with this, see if surgery is necessary or if it’s not necessary. We’re still waiting to find out."
Moore was placed on the disabled list Tuesday, one day after feeling discomfort in his elbow during a loss to the Royals. Moore conceded at the time that surgery "is a possibility."
Moore was dynamic for the Rays last season, going 17-4 with a 3.29 ERA, even though he was on the disabled list from July 31 to Sept. 3 because of soreness in his elbow.
"I would say it’s quite a bit different in how it feels, in how it dangles, with regards to soreness," Moore said before Tuesday night’s game. "The discomfort is similar. The severity has jumped from what I was feeling. It’s frustrating."
Many pitchers have been able to play several seasons with a partially torn ligament, though they often end up undergoing Tommy John surgery eventually.
"We are waiting with baited breath," Rays general manager Andrew Friedman said.
The Rays recalled left-hander Jeff Beliveau from Triple-A Durham to fill Moore’s roster spot Tuesday. He appeared in Wednesday’s game and was sent back to Durham afterward.
Tampa Bay will make another roster move before a weekend series in Cincinnati.
