The June 22 series opener against the visiting Royals is a game the Tampa Bay Rays and their fans could have looked back on for all the wrong reasons.

In the space of a few innings, Luke Raley was drilled in the wrist by a pitch, Shane McClanahan exited due to back tightness and Yandy Diaz remained down for a couple of minutes after blowing a tire while attempting to go from first to third on a single.

Fortunately, the left-handed slugger, staff ace and top-of-the-order on-base machine did not suffer injuries of note. In fact, Raley (CT scan was clean) and Diaz remained in and completed the game – they sat out the next evening before returning to the lineup June 24 – and, erring on the side of caution while taking advantage of an off day, McClanahan had his next start pushed back.

About three hours before McClanahan delivered the game’s first pitch, manager Kevin Cash announced that his young star shortstop, Wander Franco, would be held out for at least the first two games of the Royals’ series.

The punitive action was not about a specific incident. Rather, an accumulation of things including the 22-year-old becoming noticeably upset when things were not going his way, which they certainly were not during a 2-for-20 funk (eight strikeouts) prior to his benching. Whether it was slamming his bat to the ground, gesturing his disapproval to umpires or whatever might (or might not) have been going on the clubhouse, Cash felt it was time to send a message to a young man who signed an 11-year, $182-million contract in November 2021.

As for the injuries, the Rays’ lineup has largely escaped. The exception would be Brandon Lowe, who was limited to 61 games last season due mostly to a back that would not stop barking. Exercise and conditioning programs had him pointed in the right direction with a productive and healthy Grapefruit League season seeming to indicate as much. That changed in early June when Lowe’s back flared up leading to a stint in the injured list. The second baseman has yet to return, though could be back in early July.

Infielder Taylor Walls, who has performed at a Gold Glove-caliber level at three positions was held out June 27 at Arizona due to back tightness.

Needless to say, but worth mentioning nonetheless, any back injury is a concern, which is why McClanahan has been monitored closely since leaving his start against Kansas City.

The Rays, who had not lost three games in a row until they nearly reached the halfway point, dealt with a couple of serious blows to the rotation. They have overcome the mid-April loss of Jeffrey Springs for the season after the southpaw was off to a fantastic start only to be felled by an elbow injury requiring Tommy John surgery.

In May, Drew Rasmussen, who developed into a top-flight starter last season, was shelved with an elbow injury that did not require surgery. The hope is he will return by September.

The Rays’ rotation has overcome such setbacks thanks in very large part to McClanahan (11-1) pitching like the American League’s top Cy Young candidate and Zach Eflin (9-3) coming within two of his career high for victories before the end of June. While rookie righthander Taj Bradley has experienced his share of growing pains, he has displayed maturity beyond his 22 years and appears to have a very promising career ahead of him.

As for a lineup that was pounding away at a prodigious pace while the Rays won their first 13 games and 20 of 23 before leveling off and even cooling off at times, it went entered the seasons’ back half second in MLB in OPS (.802), third in average (.266) and third in homers (123). In underscoring the lineup’s versatility, Tampa Bay’s 99 stolen bases led the way.

The offensive production combined with a pitching staff that was second in ERA (3.59) led to an MLB-best 54-27 mark at the midway point. While they could duplicate their first half success over the second half, it might be asking too much. If nothing else, it would seem very difficult to continue to play at .772 pace at home (34-10). After all, the AL East is a juggernaut and other teams on the second-half schedule (see Diamondbacks, Braves, Rangers, Astros) will pose plenty of challenges.

Losing McClanahan, Diaz and Raley for any length of time would most certainly have elicited concern. Not that Cash-managed teams have not succeeded when venturing into full perseverance mode. However, it is likely all concerned are breathing a lot easier three key players did not sustain major injuries.