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10:48 Update: The injury that drove Rays starter Matt Moore from his start yesterday involves his UCL, reports Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (Twitter links). Moore, 24, will see Dr. James Andrews for a second opinion.

A Tommy John procedure is the surgery of choice associated with UCL tears. Pitchers can attempt a rehab and pitch through a tear if it is minor enough. Though, as Passan notes, any delay would push back the timetable in the event that surgery is ultimately necessary.

The Rays sounded optimistic earlier, but the outlook took a downturn as the day progressed. Tampa Bay has options to fill in for him in the near term — including Erik Bedard, Cesar Ramos, and Nate Karns.

5:00 Update: The Rays have placed Matt Moore on the 15-day DL with Beliveau called up. We will have more info on injury later. Andrew Friedman said no decision has been made on the replacement for Moore, and Cesar Ramos and Erik Bedard are the leading candidates. Roger Mooney tweeted, “Friedman said he’s concerned but fact Moore is optimistic is a positive sign.”

…All I know is that I don’t know, all I know is that I don’t know nothin’ 
— Operation Ivy

The Rays have yet to provide an update on LHP Matt Moore, who had an MRI exam this morning on his sore elbow. It would seem as though the plan is to put him on the disabled list. Adding credence to that idea, reliever Jeff Beliveau is on the way up from Durham to add arm an extra arm in the bullpen, also giving the Rays time to decide how to replace Moore in the rotation.

Moore hasn’t been told if he’ll be placed on the DL, yet he made mention that he’s cautiously optimistic  since his elbow felt “extremely better” when he woke. “Every movement I make,” said Moore, “it’s tough to find that soreness unless I put my finger on it, so I think that that’s a positive sign.”

In a tweet from Marc Topkin,

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Veteran LHP Erik Bedard seems the most likely choice to replace Moore in the rotation. With Thursday off, the Rays could drop Bedard (or Cesar Ramos or someone else) into Moore’s slot on Sunday, or they could move Chris Archer up to Sunday and Jake Odorizzi to Monday (still on normal rest) and use the replacement on Tuesday.

Beliveau is already on the 40-man roster from last season, whereas Bedard will need to be added — putting him at risk of being picked up by another team when this presumed stint has come to pass. Beliveau has a five pitch repertoire: Fourseam Fastball averaging 90 MPH, Cutter averaging 86 MPH, Changeup averaging 80 MPH, Slider averaging 80 MPH, and a Curve averaging  77 MPH.

 We’ll update this thread as the news on Moore breaks. 

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