McClanahan deals again as Rays complete MLB-leading fifth sweep

ST. PETERSBURG -- Shane McClanahan put an exclamation point on a dominant homestand for the red-hot Rays, working 5 2/3 scoreless innings in Tampa Bay’s 3-0 win over Toronto on Wednesday afternoon at Tropicana Field.

The Rays finished off a sweep of the Blue Jays on the heels of a three-game sweep against the Giants, giving them a MLB-leading five sweeps on the year. The Rays have won 12 of their last 13 games and 22 of 29, giving them the Majors’ best record since April 4 and a 24-12 mark overall.

Wednesday’s series finale was the club’s 13th straight game allowing three runs or fewer, setting a new franchise record, and the Rays have only surrendered 17 total runs during that stretch. Here's where that streak ranks in the Wild Card era:

2010 Giants: 18
2026 Rays: 13 *active
2022 Astros: 13
2014 Mariners: 13
2013 Royals: 13
2002 Diamondbacks: 13

McClanahan set the tone against the Blue Jays, building on what he did in his last three starts and continuing to look more like the back-to-back All-Star he was before losing 2 1/2 seasons to injuries. Maybe even a better version, in fact.

McClanahan extended his personal scoreless streak to 16 2/3 innings with Wednesday’s performance, as he held Toronto to two hits and a walk while striking out four. It’s the longest scoreless streak of the left-hander’s career, surpassing a 15-inning run in late 2022. This is also the first time McClanahan has put together three consecutive scoreless starts.

Intent to be more of a complete pitcher than ever, McClanahan looked the part on Wednesday. His fastball velocity took another jump, averaging 95.6 mph compared to 95.1 on the season, but he used it even less than his changeup and his curveball. Those secondary pitches accounted for nine of the 10 swinging strikes he recorded and finished each of his four strikeouts.

The Rays didn’t do much at the plate, but they did enough in the fourth inning against left-hander Patrick Corbin to put McClanahan in line for his fourth win of the season. After a one-out walk by Jonathan Aranda, Jonny DeLuca doubled in a run and scored on a single by Chandler Simpson.

Despite McClanahan only throwing 69 pitches, manager Kevin Cash pulled him with two outs in the sixth, a runner on first and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. coming to the plate. But Tampa Bay’s bullpen continued its excellent work in his absence, running its scoreless streak to 17 1/3 innings.

Kevin Kelly retired Guerrero, then Garrett Cleavinger, Bryan Baker and Ian Seymour (who picked up his first career save) kept the Blue Jays off the board the rest of the way.