MIAMI -- The Rays placed ace left-handed starter Shane McClanahan on the 15-day injured list Wednesday afternoon due to left shoulder impingement.

The move came after McClanahan was a late scratch from his scheduled start in Miami on Tuesday night against the Marlins.

Manager Kevin Cash said before the series finale that he does not expect McClanahan to be out long. McClanahan, who had an MRI in Miami, added that he was relieved the injury wasn’t serious.

“We were optimistic last night and this morning, and we are still that way,” Cash said. “Best-case scenario is he’ll get an injection when we get home, we’ll shut him down for a couple of days and get back on it and start playing catch again. We don’t expect him to be out too long.”

Added McClanahan: “It was a sigh of relief. I feel pretty good today, and I will feel even better in the next couple days, coming home. I’m excited to get back, really itching for it. I need that competitive drive.”

McClanahan started the 2022 All-Star Game for the American League and is an AL Cy Young Award contender. He ranks among the top five in the Junior Circuit in ERA (2.20), strikeouts (182) and opponents’ batting average (.185). He is tied for the Major League lead in WHIP (0.86) and paces all qualified starters in hits per nine innings (5.9).

The Rays will be without their best starter for the next couple of weeks, a stretch that includes six games against the Yankees and the start of a five-game road series against the Blue Jays.

McClanahan said he is already working toward a return.

“I was already out in the field running sprints,” McClanahan said. “I’m going to do everything I can to do it in the responsible way, but also try to get back with these guys. My goal is to help these guys win a lot of games and I can’t do that on the IL.

“I feel very lucky and very good. Very good.”

The Rays entered Wednesday holding onto the top AL Wild Card spot, a half-game ahead of the Mariners and one game in front of Toronto. They trailed the Yankees by seven games in the AL East.