ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays are giving Shane McClanahan a bit of a breather.
Rather than keeping their rotation order in place this weekend, the Rays are pushing back McClanahan’s next start until later next week. With veteran Nick Martinez delivering a strong effort in a series-opening, 6-1 win over the D-backs on Friday, and Drew Rasmussen set to start Sunday’s finale at Tropicana Field, Tampa Bay is expected to run a bullpen game on Saturday night.
Manager Kevin Cash said McClanahan’s next start will likely come next Friday against the Astros in Houston, the first game of that series. The decision was made to manage the 29-year-old left-hander’s workload, as he has made a healthy return to the rotation after missing the past 2 1/2 seasons due to injuries.
“As a competitor, oh gosh, do I want the ball. But at the same time, I think it's important to take a step back and understand that this is the long game,” McClanahan said Friday night. “After everything we've been through, now is not the time to slip up and not think logically. … So we're putting the best foot forward, and I can't wait to get back out there.”
Right-hander Cole Sulser will start Saturday’s game, which Cash said would likely be “kind of your traditional bullpen day.”
“The thought with Mac is knowing that the workload has been very consistent, and it's been very good,” Cash said. “But felt like we have to shave some days and give him some extra rest, knowing what he's been through the last two seasons.”
McClanahan’s 2023 season came to an early end due to an elbow injury that wound up requiring season-ending Tommy John surgery. He did not pitch in 2024 while recovering from that procedure. He was ready to return last spring, but went down with a nerve issue in his left triceps, which kept him off the mound all season.
McClanahan, who played catch and ran on the field about an hour and a half before Friday’s game, hasn’t missed a start this year, and his recent uptick in velocity reflects how good he says he’s felt physically. His four-seam fastball has averaged 96.1 mph this month, not far below where it sat in 2022 (96.7 mph) and ‘23 (96.8).
“I feel great. I want to take the ball, but got to be smart about the innings and understanding that it's been a process to get to this point,” McClanahan said. “And I want to make sure that I can pitch deep into October for us.”
The Rays have been careful with his workload, considering how little he’s thrown the last two years. He’s only worked into the sixth inning five times, and he hasn’t thrown more than 90 pitches in an outing. Still, he’s thrown 73 2/3 innings over 15 starts roughly halfway through the season, putting him on pace to blow past the 115 innings he pitched in 2023 and approach the 173 1/3 innings he threw between the regular season and postseason in 2022.
"Once we saw where I was tracking innings-wise, it's like -- I'm pretty proud of that. Obviously that means I'm taking the ball every fifth or sixth day,” McClanahan said. “Fifteen starts in, and feeling great. But ultimately the end goal is October, and I want to make sure that I'm ready for that and fresh and just kind of being mindful of those innings and the lack of workload we've had the last two and a half years.”
Cash said McClanahan’s recent performance was not a factor in their decision to push back his next start. Despite his improved stuff, the left-hander has posted a 5.79 ERA in four starts this month after going 4-0 with a 1.41 ERA over six starts in May.
“If you look at the velocities and stuff, he's throwing the ball really, really well,” Cash said. “But that really didn't go into the equation whatsoever. I think we're basically kind of tying it into [the idea that] we're coming up on the All-Star break. If we can give him a plus-two or three [days’ rest] the next two starts, there would be benefit to that."