| Date | News | Comment |
| Jun 30 2025 | McClanahan (triceps) is scheduled to throw a full-intensity bullpen session Tuesday, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was shut down briefly as he battles through a nerve issue in his pitching arm, but he received the go-ahead from Dr. Gregory J. Pearl on June 17 to resume throwing and will take another step in his progression Tuesday. The hope is that McClanahan will be ready to rejoin the Rays' rotation sometime in August, but he has numerous boxes to check before that can become a reality. |
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| Jun 25 2025 | McClanahan (triceps) threw off a mound Wednesday, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It appears to be his first time throwing off the bump since he was shut down for a bit earlier this month. McClanahan visited a nerve specialist following the brief shutdown period, and that doctor gave the go-ahead to ramp things back up. There is no timetable for McClanahan's return to the Rays' rotation. |
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| Jun 18 2025 | Rays manager Kevin Cash said that McClanahan (triceps) received "very good" news from nerve specialist Dr. Gregory J. Pearl on Tuesday and should resume throwing off a mound "soon," Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was shut down briefly after not feeling 100 percent during a 10-to-12 pitch bullpen session June 7. He resumed flat-ground work Tuesday and the hope is that the lefty "got some good peace of mind" as a result of his meeting with Dr. Pearl, per Cash. Prior to the setback, McClanahan was tracking toward a season debut in late July. It's unclear what a revised timetable looks like, but it now seems unlikely he would be ready before August. |
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| Jun 16 2025 | Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that McClanahan (triceps) played catch from 100-plus feet last week and the pitcher "says it's the best he's felt," Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was shut down for a bit due to ongoing issues with his nerve-related triceps injury, but Cash seemed to offer a much more optimistic tone Monday when discussing the pitcher's progress. The southpaw will visit with Dr. Gregory J. Pearl, a nerve specialist, in Texas on Tuesday, and there could be more information regarding McClanahan's long-term outlook following that exam. |
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| Jun 11 2025 | Manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that McClanahan (triceps) will visit another nerve specialist within the next several days before determining the next steps in his rehab, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan has spent the entire season working his way back from a nerve-related triceps injury and threw what was deemed a successful bullpen session Friday. However, the Rays skipper added that the 28-year-old southpaw is in "shut-down mode" for now. Clarification regarding the health of McClanahan's triceps will come after his doctor visit, though a best-case scenario still involves him remaining sidelined through the All-Star break. |
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| Jun 8 2025 | McClanahan (triceps) threw a successful bullpen session Friday, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: There weren't many details released regarding the session, but McClanahan has been upbeat about his recovery. Manager Kevin Cash reiterated that the session went well. |
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| Jun 4 2025 | McClanahan (triceps) threw a short box bullpen session Tuesday and has a full bullpen session scheduled for Friday, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rays continue to offer optimistic news about McClanahan, as imaging has revealed no structural issues with his arm. He'll continue to ramp up his throwing intensity but will be sidelined until after the All-Star break. |
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| Jun 2 2025 | Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Sunday in an interview with MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM that McClanahan (triceps) is expected to throw his first bullpen session Friday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan has been out all season after he was removed from his final appearance of spring training March 22 due to left triceps nerve irritation. Though Neander said that the Rays initially expected McClanahan to return from the injured list by the middle of April after follow-up tests on his arm revealed no structural problems, the nerve issue made it more difficult than anticipated for the lefty to regain strength. Just over two months after suffering the injury, McClanahan finally seems to be making some positive strides in his recovery, as he's been steadily increasing his throwing distance off flat ground in recent weeks. He'll take another important step forward in the rehab process when he gets back on the mound later this week, but he still has several more checkpoints to hit before he's activated from the 60-day IL. Neander acknowledged that "if all goes as planned from this point," McClanahan could be ready to join the Tampa Bay rotation "somewhere in late July or early August." |
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| May 24 2025 | McClanahan (triceps) threw from 90 feet Friday, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan had been throwing from 60 feet in early May but began to feel discomfort. However, he received reassuring imaging results and is now back in a throwing program. He remains without a timetable to return but is expected to be sidelined until at least July. |
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| May 13 2025 | Rays manager Kevin Cash said Sunday that McClanahan still feels some discomfort in his left triceps when playing catch from 60 feet, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: While the soreness in McClanahan's left arm hasn't totally dissipated, he's been "given the thumbs up by the doctors" to continue his throwing program, per Cash. However, McClanahan will not be able to ramp up and get cleared to throw from a mound until the nerve irritation in his triceps is gone. As such, McClanahan is without a timeline for making his 2025 debut with the Rays. |
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| May 7 2025 | Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that McClanahan (triceps) is playing catch from 60 feet, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan resumed simuated throwing in late April and continues to ramp up slowly. He also underwent imaging recently, which came back clean. McClanahan's progress is positive, but he remains without a clear timeline to make his 2025 debut. |
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| Mar 26 2025 | The Rays placed McClanahan (triceps) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan is without an official timeline to make his season debut while he recovers from a nerve-related triceps injury, but since he's yet to resume a throwing program, he's expected to miss beyond the minimum 15 days. The southpaw's injury clears the way for both Zack Littell and Drew Rasmussen to hold down spots at the back end of the rotation to begin the season. |
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| Mar 24 2025 | McClanahan said Monday that he remains without a timeline to make his season debut, but he acknowledged that his left arm is already feeling better after he exited his final Grapefruit League start Saturday due to nerve irritation in his tricep, John Romano of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan noted that he's still waiting for the nerve to calm down before he's re-evaluated, at which point the Rays could have a clearer timeline for the lefty to resume his throwing program. Given that McClanahan previously underwent Tommy John surgeries in 2016 and in August 2023, the Rays will likely proceed deliberately with his recovery from the tricep issue, even though all indications are that the 27-year-old avoided a significant injury. With McClanahan ticketed for a stint on the injured list to begin the season, the Rays should have room at the back end of their Opening Day rotation for both Zack Littell and Drew Rasmussen. |
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| Mar 23 2025 | McClanahan was diagnosed with an inflamed nerve in his left triceps and will begin the season on the injured list, with manager Kevin Cash saying the diagnosis was "probably the best news that we could have heard," Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-hander doesn't have an official timeline for his return as he begins a period of rest and recovery, but the initial diagnosis in encouraging after he exited Saturday's Grapefruit League game with the injury. A timetable for McClanahan's season debut could come into focus once he resumes a throwing program, but it appears he won't require as significant an absence as first anticipated. |
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| Mar 22 2025 | McClanahan (triceps) will miss the start of the regular season, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan exited Saturday's Grapefruit League game with a triceps injury, an unfortunate development as he was attempting to return from his second Tommy John surgery. He is undergoing imaging that will reveal a more specific timeline, though the nature of the injury doesn't offer significant reason for optimism. |
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| Feb 15 2025 | McClanahan will start Opening Day, March 28 against the Rockies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from a Tommy John procedure he underwent in August 2023 -- already |
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| Feb 12 2025 | McClanahan (elbow) confirmed Wednesday prior to throwing his first bullpen session of the spring that he's 100 percent and will face no restrictions in spring training, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Rays are still expected to cap McClanahan at around 150 innings in 2025 after he missed the entire 2024 campaign while recovering from August 2023 Tommy John surgery, but he appears to be entering the spring on a normal throwing progression that mirrors Tampa Bay's other healthy rotation candidates. According to Bass, McClanahan's fastball sat at around 94-to-95 mph during Wednesday's throwing session, just a tick or two behind his average velocity from the 2023 season. McClanahan made his second consecutive All-Star appearance that season and turned in a 3.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 121:41 K:BB over 115 innings before requiring the second Tommy John surgery of his career. |
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| Dec 16 2024 | Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said on Dec. 10 in an interview on MLB Network that he expects McClanahan (elbow) to throw "150-ish" innings in 2025. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan missed the 2024 season following August 2023 Tommy John surgery but has been able to go through a normal throwing program this offseason. The left-hander threw 115 innings in 2023 and had a career-high 173.1 frames in 2022 between the regular season and playoffs. This is McClanahan's second Tommy John surgery, however, and Walker Buehler's 2024 (Buehler was coming back from his second TJS) is an example of the downside involved with McClanahan in 2025. It's not yet clear how the Rays plan to manage McClanahan's workload, but it could involve some early removal from starts and/or extra rest in between outings. |
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| Sep 25 2024 | Rays manager Kevin Cash said that McClanahan (elbow) touched 94-to-95 mph in a 16-pitch live batting practice session Wednesday at Tropicana Field, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cash added that McClanahan -- who is coming back from August 2023 Tommy John surgery -- is "mentally ready to go" and "excited about a normal offseason." The left-hander is expected to be ready for spring training and next year's Opening Day, although he will undoubtedly have workload restrictions in place after missing the entirety of the 2024 campaign. |
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| Sep 20 2024 | McClanahan (elbow) is scheduled to throw live batting practice next Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It will be the left-hander's first time facing hitters since he underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2023. McClanahan began throwing off a mound last month and expects to have a "completely normal offseason." The 27-year-old should open the 2025 season in the Rays' rotation but is likely to have some workload restrictions in place in his first year back from elbow surgery. |
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| Aug 4 2024 | McClanahan (elbow) threw from a mound Tuesday, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This was the first time McClanahan threw from a mound since he underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2023. He threw 10 fastballs and is expected to progress to full bullpen sessions next. McClanahan is still very likely to miss all of the 2024 season. |
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| Jun 25 2024 | Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that McClanahan (elbow) has increased his throwing distance to 135 feet, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cash noted that McClanahan is "doing well" in his recovery from his Aug. 21, 2023 Tommy John surgery, the second such procedure of his career. The southpaw remains unlikely to return from the 60-day injured list in 2024. |
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| May 8 2024 | Rays manager Kevin Cash said Friday that McClanahan (elbow) is "progressing well" and has ramped up his throwing off flat ground to 90 feet, MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-hander is still in the early stages of his recovery from his second career Tommy John surgery, which he underwent Aug. 21, 2023. The Rays are preparing for McClanahan to miss the entire 2024 season, though a return in September hasn't been completely discounted if the rehab process goes smoothly for the 27-year-old southpaw. |
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| Feb 14 2024 | The Rays placed McClanahan (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Wednesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Tampa Bay needed to clear a spot on the 40-man roster for the addition of Phil Maton. McClanahan will be sidelined until 2025 while recovering from Tommy John surgery. |
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| Jan 11 2024 | McClanahan (elbow) signed a two-year, $7.2 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Robert Murray of FanSided.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan underwent Tommy John surgery in August, making it unlikely he pitches at all in 2024. However, if the 26-year-old lefty is able to return this season, he would add an extra $120,000 to his 2025 salary for every start he makes. |
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| Aug 15 2023 | Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that McClanahan (forearm) will undergo Tommy John surgery, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan had already been ruled out for the rest of 2023, but a Tommy John procedure will likely keep him out for all of 2024 as well. The 26-year-old southpaw landed on the injured list Aug. 3 and will undergo surgery sometime next week. He finishes 2023 with a 3.29 ERA and 1.18 WHIP alongside a 121:41 K:BB ratio through 115 innings. |
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| Aug 12 2023 | McClanahan's (forearm) season is officially done, as he was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan hit the injured list in early August with tightness in his left forearm, and it's since become clear that the injury is a serious one. Surgery is reportedly a possibility, and even if McClanahan can avoid it, he won't be back on a major-league mound until next year. The move creates space for Josh Fleming (elbow) to return from his own trip to the 60-day IL. |
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| Aug 8 2023 | Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that McClanahan (forearm) is "highly unlikely" to pitch again this season, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan landed on the 15-day injured list last week due to left forearm tightness and he has since visited a number of specialists in an attempt to get to the root of the issue. Cash told reporters that surgery is a possibility for the 26-year-old ace, who had pitched to an 11-2 record, 3.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 121:41 K:BB through 115 innings (21 starts) this season. It's the biggest blow yet to a Tampa Bay pitching staff that has been ravaged by injuries to key starters. |
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| Aug 3 2023 | McClanahan was placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday with left forearm tightness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In a short statement to reporters, the Rays said only that they are "in the process of gathering further information and updates will be provided when available." This all sounds ominous after McClanahan was pulled from his start Wednesday against the Yankees due to forearm discomfort, shortly after he surrendered five earned runs on a double, two singles and two homers in the bottom of the third inning. Topkin reported previously that the 26-year-old ace is headed for "additional imaging" and "additional opinions" on his left arm. |
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| Aug 2 2023 | McClanahan experienced tightness in his left forearm during Wednesday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The issue arose while McClanahan was warming up ahead of the fourth inning. He'll head back to Tampa on Thursday to be checked out by the team doctor, at which point more details regarding the severity of his injury will be available. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for the time being. |
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| Jul 28 2023 | McClanahan did not factor into the decision Friday, allowing three runs on eight hits over five innings against the Astros. He struck out six without issuing a walk. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The final line is rather pedestrian by his standards -- that speaks to the incredibly high bar he's set for himself more than anything else. McClanahan induced a whopping 17 swinging strikes on 86 pitches. Jose Abreu's homer in the fourth inning accounted for two of the three runs against McClanahan, who lines up to pitch in Yankee Stadium his next time out. |
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| Jul 22 2023 | McClanahan did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing five runs on five hits and three walks over four innings against Baltimore. He struck out five. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: All of the damage against McClanahan came in the fourth frame, where he surrendered five total hits, including back-to-back-to-back doubles as part of a five-run inning for Baltimore. The rough inning was enough for Rays' manager Kevin Cash to pull McLanahan, marking his third time in his last four starts not reaching the fifth inning. Saturday's outing also set a season high in runs allowed for McClanahan. After a dominant start to 2023, McClanahan has struggled mightily over the last month, posting a 7.02 ERA and a 15:8 K:BB over his last four outings (16.2 innings). |
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| Jul 18 2023 | McClanahan allowed two runs on three hits and no walks while striking out six batters over six innings in a no-decision against Texas on Monday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan landed on the IL with a back injury July 1, but he needed only a near-minimum stay before facing the Rangers on Monday. The southpaw dominated in his first five frames, holding Texas scoreless on just one hit. However, Ezequiel Duran tagged him for a two-run homer in the sixth inning, which proved to be McClanahan's final frame despite the fact that he needed just 69 pitches to reach that point. The low pitch count was likely a result of Tampa Bay being cautious following the star hurler's recent injury, though it speaks volumes that McClanahan was able to notch a quality start without reaching 70 pitches. He'll presumably face no limitations moving forward, with his next start tentatively scheduled to come at home against Baltimore this weekend. |
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| Jul 17 2023 | Manager Kevin Cash expects McClanahan to make "very close to a normal start" Monday night against the Rangers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan hasn't fired more than 66 pitches in a game in over a month, but Cash feels the southpaw is healthy and ready to handle a normal start, if efficient. McClanahan's last start took place June 30 against the Mariners before landing on the 15-day injured list with mid-back tightness. |
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| Jul 14 2023 | McClanahan (back) is slated to return from the 15-day injured list to start Monday's game against the Rangers at Globe Life Field, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After landing on the IL on July 1 with mid-back tightness, McClanahan initially appeared poised to return from the IL when first eligible to start Sunday's series finale in Kansas City, but a rainout Friday nixed those plans. With a doubleheader Saturday creating a stretch of six games in five days, the Rays will call up Cooper Criswell from Triple-A Durham to take the hill for the second game of the twin bill and serve as a temporary sixth starter. As a result, McClanahan and all the other Rays' starting pitchers will be pushed back a day in the schedule. The southpaw will thus miss out on a more favorable matchup versus the 26-65 Royals and will instead make his return on the road against one of the majors' top offenses. On a positive note for fantasy managers, McClanahan will at least line up for two starts next week, with his second turn expected to come next weekend at home versus Baltimore. |
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| Jul 13 2023 | Rays manager Kevin Cash said last week that he's confident McClanahan (back) will be ready to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible to start Sunday's game in Kansas City, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was placed on the IL with mid-back tightness July 1, one day after he was limited to a season-low three innings in a start at Seattle. The injury kept him from making his final turn before the All-Star break and also prevented him from pitching in the Midsummer Classic, but he was able to play catch last week without any discomfort and has presumably continued to improve in the days that followed. McClanahan may throw a bullpen session Thursday or Friday before the Rays officially confirm that he'll take the hill for the final game of the series in Kansas City. |
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| Jul 1 2023 | The Rays placed McClanahan on the 15-day injured list with mid-back tightness, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan has exited back-to-back starts due to back tightness, and now he'll head to the injured list in order to resolve the issue. It's unclear how long the 26-year-old lefty will spend on the injured list, but he will have to wait until at least after the All-Star break to make his next start. Jalen Beeks was recalled from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. |
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| Jun 30 2023 | McClanahan was pulled after three innings in Friday's start against the Mariners after his back issue flared up, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan allowed four earned runs on five hits and three walks, and the Rays initially claimed the quick hook was a result of ineffectiveness rather than injury. However, after the game, manager Kevin Cash admitted that McClanahan's back became an issue. While further testing will be done, Cash also noted that a stint on the injured list is a possibility. |
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| Jun 29 2023 | McClanahan (back) is listed as the Rays' probable pitcher for Friday's game against the Mariners at T-Mobile Park. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Just as manager Kevin Cash suggested would be the case earlier in the week, McClanahan will rejoin the Tampa Bay rotation for the first game of the team's series in Seattle. The ace southpaw will be returning to the mound after a full week's rest, as he last pitched June 22 before leaving his start against the Royals that day in the fourth inning with mid-back tightness. McClanahan threw a bullpen session over the weekend and apparently checked out fine, so he's not expected to face any limitations Friday. |
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| Jun 27 2023 | Rays manager Kevin Cash said McClanahan (back) is expected to make his next start Friday in Seattle, MLB.com reports. "Totally...precautionary for us," Cash said of the decision to push McClanahan back in the pitching schedule. "He was pretty adamant that he felt great and was ready to go, but just felt like with the workload to date and where he's at, it's not the worst thing in the world." | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan last pitched June 22, exiting his start against the Royals midway through the fourth inning with mid-back tightness. He was able to play catch two days later and threw a short bullpen session Sunday, but the Rays will take advantage of Monday's off day in any case and give McClanahan additional time to heal up from the injury. Zach Eflin and Yonny Chirinos will both move up a day in the pitching schedule to make starts Wednesday and Thursday in Arizona, respectively, before McClanahan takes the ball in Friday's series opener on seven days' rest. |
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| Jun 24 2023 | McClanahan (back) threw from flat ground with trainers Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Topkin further reported that the five-minute session seemed to go well, as McClanahan exchanged fistbumps and handshakes with the trainers as he walked off the field. McClanahan was forced to exit his start Thursday prematurely, though the initial indications suggest he avoided a serious issue. |
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| Jun 22 2023 | Manager Kevin Cash said he hopes McClanahan will be "okay" after receiving treatment on his back, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was pulled in the fourth inning of Thursday's game against the Royals with mid-back tightness. After the contest, Cash noted that the issue lingered from McClanahan's prior outing but didn't provide any additional detail as to whether he may require a stint on the injured list. |
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| Jun 16 2023 | McClanahan (11-1) allowed one run on three hits and three walks over 6.2 innings Friday, striking out five and earning a win over the Padres. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan rolled through six shutout frames before serving up a solo homer to Nelson Cruz in the seventh inning. With a third straight win, McClanahan has racked up a league-high 11 wins in just 15 starts. However, during that win streak, he's registered a lackluster 15:6 K:BB through 19.2 innings. For the season, the 26-year-old lefty owns a terrific 2.12 ERA and 97:33 K:BB through 89.1 innings. McClanahan is currently lined up for a nice home matchup against the Royals next week. |
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| Jun 11 2023 | McClanahan (10-1) earned the win Sunday over the Rangers, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out five over seven innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan had some trouble in the third inning, when he allowed all three runs and four of his five baserunners. This was his fourth quality start in his last five outings, and it's just the second time he's given up three or more runs all season. The ace southpaw is now at a 2.18 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 92:30 K:BB through 82.2 innings over 14 starts. McClanahan's 10 wins lead all of baseball, and he'll look to add to the total in his next start, which is projected to be in San Diego. |
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| Jun 5 2023 | McClanahan (9-1) earned the win Monday, allowing a run on five hits and two walks over six innings against the Red Sox. He struck out five. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McLanahan has only allowed more than two runs once in 13 starts this season. The lone blemish on his line Monday came on Justin Turner's solo home run in the sixth inning. McLanahan now boasts a pristine 2.02 ERA with a 1.15 WHIP and 87:29 K:BB over 75.2 innings this season. He'll look for a 10th win in his next outing, tentatively lined up for this weekend against a powerful Rangers offense. |
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| May 30 2023 | McClanahan (8-1) took the loss Tuesday, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks over 5.2 innings against the Cubs. He struck out seven. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In his 12th start of the season, McClanahan took his first loss despite allowing just two runs. McClanahan has been on a tear to start the season, allowing more than two runs just once all year, earning a 2.07 ERA, and 1.15 WHIP to pair with a 10.6 K/9. On top of leading MLB in wins, McClanahan boasts the third-lowest ERA, fourth-most quality starts and fifth-most strikeouts among starters. |
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| May 20 2023 | McClanahan did not factor into the decision Friday, tossing seven scoreless innings in which he allowed six hits and one walk during a 1-0 win over the Brewers. He struck out seven. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan gave up a season-high four runs to the Yankees last time out, but he bounced back with his third scoreless outing of the year and completed a season-high seven innings Friday. The left-hander has been a true ace to start the campaign, posting a 2.05 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 68:25 K:BB across 10 appearances (57 innings). McClanahan will look to stay sharp in his next start, which is tentatively scheduled during a four-game set versus Toronto. |
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| May 14 2023 | McClanahan did not factor into the decision Saturday, allowing four runs on five hits and four walks over four innings during a 9-8 loss to the Yankees. He struck out three. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was his usual dominant self through four shutout innings, but he allowed the first five hitters to reach in the fifth, yielding two-run home runs to Aaron Judge and Kyle Higashioka. The left-hander finished with season highs in walks and runs allowed while submitting season lows in innings and strikeouts, so it was easily his worst performance of the campaign. McClanahan now sports a 2.34 ERA, 1.22 WHIP and 61:24 K:BB through nine starts (50 innings), and he'll look to bounce back next time out, which is tentatively scheduled for a three-game weekend set versus Milwaukee. |
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| May 9 2023 | McClanahan (7-0) earned the win Monday, tossing six scoreless innings in which he allowed four hits and four walks during a 3-0 win over Baltimore. He struck out seven. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan tied his season high with four walks, but he was still able to complete six innings for a sixth time this year and earned his seventh win. The left-hander has been the definition of an ace through eight starts (46 innings), posting a 1.76 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 58:20 K:BB. McClanahan will look to stay sharp next time out, which is tentatively scheduled for a four-game weekend series versus the Yankees. |
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| May 4 2023 | McClanahan (6-0) earned the win Wednesday, allowing one run on five hits and two walks over six innings during an 8-1 win over Pittsburgh. He struck out nine. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan gave up a solo home run to Andrew McCutchen, but he got plenty of run support and recorded at least nine strikeouts for the third time this season en route to his sixth win. The left-hander has given up four homers over his past three starts after not allowing one through his first four outings, but he's yet to give up more than two runs in a game through his first seven appearances. McClanahan has been one of the best pitchers in the MLB thus far and currently sports a 2.03 ERA, a 1.10 WHIP and a 51:16 K:BB through 40 innings. |
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| Apr 28 2023 | McClanahan (5-0) earned the win Thursday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over five innings in a 14-5 win over the White Sox. He struck out five. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan is now tied with Gerrit Cole and Joe Ryan for most wins in the league following Wednesday's victory. The southpaw also ranks seventh with 42 strikeouts. The Rays' ace has firmly established himself as an elite option in fantasy ahead of his next tentative start against the Pirates in a few days. |
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| Apr 6 2023 | McClanahan (2-0) allowed two earned runs on five hits and four walks while striking out six across six innings to earn the win Wednesday against the Nationals. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan made his outing more difficult early on by walking a batter in each of the first three innings. He escaped those frames having allowed only one run, and he then surrendered an additional run in the fourth after allowing four consecutive batters to reach base. Despite some shakiness, the bottom line turned out fine for McClanahan, and he backed his six strikeouts with 14 swinging strikes across 94 pitches. Through two starts, he owns a 1.50 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with a 12:5 K:BB across 12 innings. |
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| Mar 30 2023 | McClanahan (1-0) allowed four hits and one walk while striking out six across six scoreless innings to earn the win Thursday against the Tigers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan earned the Opening Day nod and delivered an excellent performance. He allowed only one extra-base hit and racked up an impressive 16 swinging strikes on 86 total pitches. Perhaps most importantly, the Rays showed little interest in limiting McClanahan after he ended the 2022 regular season with an impingement in his right shoulder. |
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| Mar 1 2023 | McClanahan allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was on the mound for game action for the first time in 2023, and his outing was a success based on the stat sheet. Per Dawn Klemish of MLB.com, McClanahan worked through adjustments related to the pitch clock, as he noticed he was working too fast and his control was suffering as a result. The issue doesn't currently pose any reason for concern, as McClanahan specifically pointed out he was using the exhibition season to adjust to the new rule. |
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| Feb 23 2023 | McClanahan was clocked in the upper-90 mph range Thursday during his first live batting practice session of the spring, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: That's an impressive and encouraging dose of news here in late February. McClanahan battled some injuries in the second half of the 2022 regular season -- most notably a shoulder impingement -- but he ended up with a brilliant 2.54 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 194:38 K:BB in 28 starts covering 166.1 innings. The 25-year-old left-hander also worked seven solid frames in the Wild Card Series against the Guardians. He's rightly going as a top-10 starter in early fantasy drafts for 2023. |
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| Oct 1 2022 | McClanahan (12-8) allowed two runs on five hits and a walk while striking out two over five innings, taking the loss Saturday versus the Astros. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan bounced back from a rough outing last Sunday versus the Blue Jays. Unfortunately for him, the Rays didn't offer enough support. The ace exited the game after 67 pitches (45 strikes), presumably to give him a bit of rest with the Rays' playoff spot confirmed Friday. The southpaw finished the regular season with a 2.54 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 194:38 K:BB across 166.1 innings through 28 starts. He's lined up to start Game 1 of the wild-card round against a yet-to-be-determined opponent. |
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| Sep 25 2022 | McClanahan (12-7) yielded four runs on six hits and two walks over five innings Sunday, striking out two and taking a loss against Toronto. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was taken deep three times Sunday, including twice by George Springer. The 6-foot-1 southpaw had allowed just two home runs over his previous 38.2 frames. After producing two straight scoreless starts, McClanahan has been tagged with nine runs over his last two, raising his season ERA to 2.51 through 27 starts. He's projected to make his final start of the regular season next weekend in Houston. |
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| Sep 24 2022 | The Rays list McClanahan (neck) as their probable starter for Sunday's home game against the Blue Jays. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Unless he experiences a setback with his neck while warming up Sunday, McClanahan doesn't look as though he'll have to miss a turn through the rotation after he battled the minor injury in his last start Tuesday against the Astros. The All-Star lefty has taken a step back in performance in the second half, but his 3.94 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 43:16 K:BB in 45.2 innings since the break still make him a valuable fantasy option who needs to be rostered in every format. |
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| Sep 20 2022 | McClanahan (12-6) took the loss against the Astros on Tuesday after he exited with neck tightness/spasms, but he expects to make his next turn through the rotation, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. He allowed five runs on five hits with four walks and three strikeouts over four innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan lobbied to stay in the game but was removed for precautionary reasons, which is understandable given it was only his second start since he returned from the injured list. The 25-year-old lefty tentatively lines up to start Sunday versus the Blue Jays, though he'll likely need to throw a bullpen session before he's cleared for that outing. |
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| Sep 15 2022 | McClanahan (12-5) allowed three hits and one walk while striking out five across five scoreless innings to earn the win Thursday against the Blue Jays. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: This marked McClanahan's first start since being placed on the injured list Aug. 31 with a left shoulder impingement. He was limited to only 69 pitches but was otherwise excellent, racking up 14 swinging strikes to shut down a strong Blue Jays lineup. The Rays will likely continue to play it safe with McClanahan's workload, but he's a good bet to turn in pristine ratios while on the mound. Across 152.1 innings this season, he has a 2.14 ERA and 187:31 K:BB. |
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| Sep 14 2022 | McClanahan (shoulder) is expected to be reinstated from the 15-day injured list to start Thursday's game against the Blue Jays, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan seemed to be trending toward a brief IL stint after he threw a 50-pitch simulated game Friday and checked out fine afterward. It's not clear whether the left-hander threw a bullpen session Monday or Tuesday, but he should be ready to return to game action for Thursday's matchup. Despite his brief absence, it's possible he's on a pitch count against Toronto. |
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| Sep 10 2022 | McClanahan (shoulder) could return Thursday against Toronto, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan hit the injured list on the last day of August due to a shoulder impingement, but reports emerged quickly that he may not need more than a minimum-length absence. If he is indeed able to start Thursday, that will wind up being the case. He felt good after throwing a bullpen session Friday, so the odds of him making it back when first eligible look good. |
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| Sep 6 2022 | McClanahan (shoulder) felt good after throwing 15-20 pitches off of a mound Tuesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After receiving a cortisone injection to help his shoulder recover, McClanahan has progressed rather quickly during his rehab process and began throwing Sunday. It looks increasingly likely that he will spend the minimum amount of time on the 15-day injured list. |
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| Sep 4 2022 | McClanahan (shoulder) played catch from 75 feet Sunday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year-old landed on the injured list with a left shoulder impingement Wednesday and received a cortisone injection, so it's an encouraging sign he's already started a throwing program. Manager Kevin Cash reiterated Sunday that he expects McClanahan to "be back soon," so a return from the IL when first eligible Sept. 15 still appears possible. |
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| Aug 31 2022 | Manager Kevin Cash said McClanahan underwent an MRI on Wednesday which confirmed the diagnosis of a shoulder impingement, and the left-hander is scheduled to receive a cortisone injection, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Cash added it's possible the 25-year-old will spend only the 15-day minimum on the injured list, but the return timeline will depend how the shoulder responds to the injection. Regardless, McClanahan will be unavailable until at least mid-September, which is major blow to both the Rays and fantasy managers. |
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| Aug 30 2022 | McClanahan was diagnosed with a left shoulder impingement after being scratched from Tuesday's start at Miami, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was on track to start Tuesday before the injury flared up while warming up in the bullpen. The left-hander, who is in the mix for the AL Cy Young Award, should be considered day-to-day as he continues to be evaluated, and it's unclear if the issue will affect his availability for the next turn through the rotation. |
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| Aug 24 2022 | McClanahan did not allow a run on four hits and one walk over six innings with nine strikeouts in an extra-innings victory against the Angels. He did not factor in the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw returned to form Wednesday, firing his first scoreless outing in 12 starts dating back to June 9 and the most strikeouts in a game since July 2. He was in command all night, throwing 62 of 90 pitches for strikes and allowing just five runners on base. The Cy Young contender lowered his ERA to 2.20 and will look to keep the momentum going in his next scheduled start against Miami next week. |
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| Aug 20 2022 | McClanahan did not factor into the decision against the Royals on Friday, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out eight and walking three over seven innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After posting an ERA under two until July 26, McClanahan has seemed like a mere mortal since. From that point on, he has allowed 13 earned runs across 23.2 innings for a 4.94 ERA in that span. McClanahan picked up a quality start in Friday's contest, his 17th of the season. The lefty threw 90 pitches (56 for strikes) in the game and does not appear to be limited by the management in Tampa, which is typically cautious with young pitchers. |
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| Aug 14 2022 | McClanahan (11-5) earned the win against the Orioles on Saturday, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking three over six innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was not his sharpest Saturday, but he pitched well enough to earn the win, throwing 65 of 100 pitches for strikes across six frames. In his previous two outings, McClanahan allowed nine runs in 10.2 innings, breaking a 13-game quality start streak, but he got back on track Saturday against a surging Baltimore offense. The three walks in the game tied a single-game season high for the young lefty, who is starting to show some signs of regression after finishing July with a 2.07 ERA. In two August appearances, McClanahan's ERA has been driven up to 2.28. |
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| Aug 7 2022 | McClanahan (10-5) gave up four earned runs on six hits and no walks while striking out three over 6.1 innings to take the loss in a 9-1 defeat against the Tigers on Saturday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was cruising on his way to another quality start but got into some trouble in the seventh inning when each of the first two batters notched a hit. Rays manager Kevin Cash decided to go to the bullpen after McClanahan gave up a sacrifice fly -- which could have easily gotten down for a double if it weren't for an excellent sliding grab by Jose Siri in center field -- to Jonathan Schoop in the next at-bat. McClanahan was then tagged with another earned run after leaving the game. The 25-year-old left-hander has now given up nine earned runs over his past two starts to raise his ERA to 2.24, which ranks fourth best in all of MLB. The Rays' ace will look to return to dominance in his next start, which is expected to be versus the Orioles. |
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| Jul 31 2022 | McClanahan (10-4) allowed five runs on seven hits, three walks and a hit batsman while striking out four in 4.1 innings, taking the loss Sunday versus the Guardians. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan's five runs allowed were a season high, and he matched his season low for innings pitched. The Guardians built rallies against the southpaw in the second and fifth innings, with a two-run Austin Hedges single in the fifth off reliever Ryan Thompson adding the last damage to McClanahan's line. The good news is this has been a rarity for the 25-year-old -- he's given up three or more runs only four times in 20 starts, and he'd rattled off 13 quality starts in a row entering Sunday. He owns a 2.07 ERA, 0.83 WHIP and 158:23 K:BB in 122 innings, just 1.1 frames shy of his rookie-season mark. He's on track for a favorable road start in Detroit next weekend. |
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| Jul 26 2022 | McClanahan tossed seven innings, giving up two runs on two hits and one walk while striking out seven in the loss to the Orioles on Tuesday. He did not factor into the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was able to limit the Orioles to just three baserunners in Tuesday's outing, but both of the hits he surrendered were solo home runs. Cedric Mullins launched a leadoff homer in the bottom of the first and Anthony Santander took the lefty deep for another solo shot in the fourth frame. The two long balls matched the total that McClanahan had allowed over his five prior starts combined. On the bright side, the 25-year-old extended his quality start streak to a remarkable 13 consecutive outings and McClanahan now owns a 1.76 ERA and 0.77 WHIP with 154 punchouts over 117.2 frames in 19 starts this year. |
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| Jul 13 2022 | McClanahan (10-3) earned the win over Boston on Wednesday, pitching 6.1 innings and allowing one run on three hits and no walks while striking out six. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was quite efficient in the outing, throwing 57 of 85 pitches for strikes. His only troublesome inning was the fifth, when he allowed the first two batters he faced to reach base via singles. The Red Sox got only one run out of the frame, however, and they couldn't manage anything else against McClanahan and three Rays relievers. The southpaw lowered his season ERA to 1.71 with the dominant performance, and that mark now ranks first in the majors following a rare poor outing by previous leader Tony Gonsolin on the same night. McClanahan also leads the league with a 0.80 WHIP and 147 strikeouts, and he is one of only five pitchers to have reached 10 victories thus far. |
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| Jul 8 2022 | McClanahan allowed a run on three hits and two walks while striking out eight in six innings during Friday's extra-inning loss to the Reds. He didn't factor into the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was incredibly sharp once again Friday, as the lone run he gave up came via a solo homer in the bottom of the third inning. However, he didn't get much run support from the Rays and was unable to pick up a third consecutive win. The southpaw now has 11 consecutive quality starts dating back to May 11, and he's posted a 1.13 ERA and 94:10 K:BB in 72 innings during that time. He's a strong candidate for the AL Cy Young Award and tentatively lines up to make his final start before the All-Star break at home against the Red Sox on Wednesday. |
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| Jul 2 2022 | McClanahan (9-3) earned the win in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, allowing one run on three hits and one walk over seven innings in a 6-2 win over the Blue Jays. He struck out 10. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: Fans in Rogers Centre were robbed of a potentially great pitchers' duel, as Kevin Gausman left in the second inning after taking a comebacker off his ankle. Casey Lawrence entered in relief and was no match for McClanahan, who got 19 called strikes and 18 swinging strikes on 94 pitches. McClanahan now sits with a 1.74 ERA and 0.81 WHIP, and is arguably the frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award at roughly the midway point of the season. |
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| Jun 26 2022 | McClanahan (8-3) earned the win Sunday against Pittsburgh, striking out 10 while allowing one run on four hits in seven innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan spent the day confusing hitters and inducing weak contact as he dominated the Pirates lineup. After he allowed a one-out double in the fourth, the lefty retired the final 11 batters he faced. Over his last nine starts, the 25-year-old has a 1.07 ERA and 76:6 K:BB in 59 innings and has tossed at least six innings while allowing two earned runs or fewer in each appearance. His next start will likely be next weekend in Toronto. |
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| Jun 21 2022 | McClanahan allowed one run on four hits and one walk while striking out eight over six innings against the Yankees on Monday. He did not factor in the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan served up a first-inning solo shot to Anthony Rizzo but did not allow any runs for the remainder of his outing. He notched 16 swinging strikes and racked up eight punchouts but had to settle for a no-decision as Yankees ace Gerrit Cole carried a no-hitter into the eighth frame. McClanahan has allowed two or fewer earned runs in nine consecutive starts and has posted a 1.26 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 71:9 K:BB while collecting six wins over that span. He ranks third in the majors with a 1.81 ERA on the season. |
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| Jun 16 2022 | McClanahan (7-3) took the loss Wednesday, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks over six innings against the Yankees. He struck out seven. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan allowed only three hits, but two of those were homers -- a solo blast to Aaron Judge in the bottom of the first and a three-run shot to Kyle Higashioka in the fifth. However, the left-hander was still able to get through six-plus innings while striking out at least seven for a seventh consecutive start. During that stretch, McClanahan sports a 0.98 ERA with a 58:6 K:BB. His next start is tentatively scheduled for a rematch with the Yankees on Monday. |
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| Jun 9 2022 | McClanahan (7-2) allowed an unearned run on two hits and one walk while striking out nine across eight innings to earn the win Thursday against the Rays. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan continued his run of dominance by racking up 20 swinging strikes across 94 total pitches. He allowed two of his three baserunners in the sixth inning, which resulted in the Cardinals' only run after McClanahan committed a throwing error. McClanahan has now allowed two or fewer earned runs in each of his last seven starts. He owns a 1.87 ERA with a 98:13 K:BB across 72.1 innings on the season. |
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| Jun 3 2022 | McClanahan (6-2) earned the win Friday over the White Sox. He allowed two runs on six hits and struck out eight without issuing a walk in six innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: By his recent standards, this was a little bit of a downturn for McClanahan, who allowed multiple runs for the first time since May 5. He's picked up wins in four straight starts and five of his last six outings, and he had all the support he needed Friday after the first inning. The southpaw is now at a 2.10 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 89:12 K:BB across 64.1 innings in 11 starts this year. He'll look to keep rolling at home versus the Cardinals next week. |
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| May 29 2022 | McClanahan (5-2) earned the win, striking out seven batters in six innings while allowing a run on seven hits in a 4-2 win Sunday against the Yankees. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan navigated around trouble throughout the game but managed to limit the damage to a solo shot by Gleyber Torres. Three times the first two batters of an inning reached safely, but the southpaw was able to get timely strikeouts and induce groundballs to limit the scoring of the potent Yankees' offense. For the month of May, McClanahan was lights out with a 1.15 ERA and a 39:5 K:BB in 31.1 innings, never allowing more than two runs in a start. He'll likely begin June with a start next weekend against the White Sox. |
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| May 24 2022 | McClanahan (4-2) earned the win Tuesday versus the Marlins after allowing four hits with nine strikeouts and two walks in six scoreless innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-hander was unable to complete seven innings for the third consecutive start, but he still delivered another strong performance to notch his second straight win. McClanahan continues to pitch like an ace and has surrendered only one run while compiling a 27:3 K:BB in his last three outings. Through nine starts this season the 25-year-old has a 2.06 ERA, 0.88 WHIP and 74:12 K:BB over 52.1 innings. |
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| May 17 2022 | McClanahan (3-2) earned the win Tuesday against the Tigers after allowing one run on four hits with seven strikeouts and zero walks over seven innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 25-year-old surrendered a solo homer to Jeimer Candelario during the fifth inning but otherwise limited Detroit to three singles. McClanahan didn't walk a batter for the third time this season, and he's given up only one run with a 18:1 K:BB across his past two starts. The left-hander is pitching like an ace early in 2022 with a 2.33 ERA, 0.86 WHIP and 65:10 K:BB in 46.1 innings. |
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| May 12 2022 | McClanahan didn't factor into the decision in Wednesday's 4-2 extra-inning win over the Angels, scattering three hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings while striking out 11. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw put together the best start of his young career, tying his career high in strikeouts -- set just two starts prior -- while posting an eye-popping called plus swinging strike rate of 40 percent on his 100 pitches. Unfortunately, Andrew Kittredge promptly coughed up the lead in the eighth inning as soon as McClanahan exited, denying him his third win. The 25-year-old will take a 2.52 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and dominant 58:10 K:BB through 39.1 innings into his next outing. |
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| May 5 2022 | McClanahan (2-2) earned the win over Seattle on Thursday, completing 5.1 innings and allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After striking out at least seven batters in each of his first five starts of the season, McClanahan racked up a more modest five punchouts and induced just eight swinging strikes Thursday. Nonetheless, the southpaw kept the Mariners off the scoreboard for the first four innings and departed after 5.1 frames having done enough to earn the win. McClanahan has yet to surrender more than three runs in an outing this season and has looked the part of an ace with a 3.06 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 47:9 K:BB across 32.1 innings. He's expected to next take the mound in Los Angeles against the Angels on Tuesday. |
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| May 1 2022 | McClanahan (1-2) took the loss Saturday as the Rays fell 9-1 to the Twins, giving up three runs on four hits and two walks over five innings. He struck out 11. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 11 punchouts were a career high for the 25-year-old, who exited the game after 90 pitches (57 strikes). McClanahan is putting up ace-like ratios so far in 2022 with a 3.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and eye-popping 39.3 percent strikeout rate through 27 innings, but until he can start working deeper into games, he'll have trouble making an impact in wins and quality starts as well. |
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| Apr 24 2022 | McClanahan (1-1) allowed two earned runs on six hits and no walks while striking out seven across seven innings to earn the win Sunday against Boston. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan was touched up early in the game, as he allowed three singles and both of his earned runs in the first inning. However, he went on to retire eight consecutive hitters -- four of which came via strikeout. Perhaps most notably, McClanahan needed only 86 pitches to work seven innings to record his longest outing of the season. Through four starts this season, he's now maintained a 2.45 ERA with a 31:5 K:BB across 22 frames. |
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| Apr 18 2022 | McClanahan allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits across six innings in Monday's loss to the Cubs. He struck out nine and did not factor in the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The only damage against McClanahan came from Patrick Wisdom's two-run shot in the second inning. The 24-year-old southpaw was only charged with one earned run due to Seiya Suzuki reaching base on an error earlier in the inning. McClanahan fired 80 pitches and forced 13 swinging strikes in the impressive outing. He's now sporting a 2.40 ERA and a 24:5 K:BB through three starts. McClanahan is lined up to face Boston at home this weekend. |
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| Apr 13 2022 | McClanahan (0-1) pitched 4.2 innings against Oakland on Wednesday, allowing three runs on two hits and three walks to take the loss. He struck out eight. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-hander had his strikeout stuff working in the outing, as he induced 16 swinging strikes and racked up eight punchouts. However, he also walked three batters and was stung by a three-run homer off the bat of Sean Murphy in the third inning that provided all the scoring Oakland needed to pull out the win. McClanahan has recorded 15 strikeouts over nine innings across his first two starts of the campaign but has yet to earn a victory. He'll aim for that first win in his next outing, which is expected to take place in Chicago against the Cubs early next week. |
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| Apr 8 2022 | McClanahan allowed four hits and two walks over 4.1 scoreless innings in Friday's win over Baltimore. He struck out seven and did not factor in the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan ran into some trouble in the first inning; his first pitch of the season plunked Cedric Mullins and he eventually found himself one-out, bases-loaded jam before escaping the first inning. He settled in nicely and finished his day throwing 44 of 68 pitches for strikes with his fastball topping out in the triple digits. The 6-foot-1 lefty is expected to face Oakland at home next week. |
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| Mar 29 2022 | Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that McClanahan will start the team's Opening Day game April 8 versus Baltimore, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: With Tyler Glasnow (elbow) expected to miss most of the upcoming season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, McClanahan entered spring training as the most logical choice to get the ball for the Rays on Opening Day. The 2018 first-round pick is coming off a brilliant rookie campaign in which he submitted a 3.43 ERA and 1.27 WHIP across 123.1 innings while posting a 27.3 percent strikeout rate and limiting opposing hitters to a .251 average. Since he won't turn 25 years old until April, the Rays are likely to manage his workload carefully in 2022, so he can't reliably be counted on to clear much more than 150 innings. |
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| Oct 12 2021 | McClanahan gave up five earned runs on five hits and one walk while recording just two outs Monday in Game 4 of the ALDS against Boston. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: He did not record a strikeout and was pitching in relief on three days of rest. The Rays were eliminated by the Red Sox, and McClanahan was charged with five of the six runs Boston scored. |
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| Oct 8 2021 | McClanahan (1-0) earned the win in Game 1 of the ALDS against Boston on Thursday after allowing five hits with three strikeouts and zero walks over five scoreless innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 24-year-old was in control throughout the contest, as he scattered five singles and didn't allow a baserunner to reach third base. McClanahan was pulled at 82 pitches, and the Tampa Bay bullpen locked it down the rest of the way. The left-hander lines up to start Game 5 of the series on Wednesday, should it be necessary. |
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| Oct 5 2021 | McClanahan will start Game 1 of the ALDS on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: It's quite an honor for a rookie to get the ball in the first game of the postseason for the No. 1 seed in the American League, but it's hard to say it's undeserved. McClanahan finished his debut season with a well-supported 3.43 ERA across 25 starts, striking out 27.3 percent of opposing batters while walking 7.2 percent. This won't actually be his first taste of the postseason; he made four relief appearances in last year's playoffs despite not pitching a single time in the 2020 regular season. |
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| Oct 1 2021 | McClanahan allowed a run on three hits and struck out three in three innings in a no-decision versus the Yankees on Friday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan only threw 43 pitches (28 strikes) in the contest, but no injury was reported after the game. That could make it a case of workload management for the 24-year-old in his first big-league season. He finished the regular season with a 3.43 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 141:37 K:BB in 123.1 innings overall. Expect McClanahan to fill a starting role in the postseason. |
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| Sep 25 2021 | McClanahan (10-6) allowed one run on six hits and one walk with three strikeouts through five innings, picking up the win in Saturday's 7-3 victory over the Marlins. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Marlins embarked on a hit parade against McClanahan in his first three innings, but the left-hander retired eight of the final nine batters he faced to turn the tides of his evening. The only damage to his line came on a Miguel Rojas solo homer in the third inning. Since surrendering four runs in five innings against Boston on Sept. 2, McClanahan has a 1.20 ERA and a K:BB of 13:4 in his last three starts. |
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| Sep 20 2021 | McClanahan (9-6) allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out seven over five innings Sunday in a loss to the Tigers. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan returned to the mound for the first time in 11 days after hitting the injured list due to back stiffness and looked to be on top of his game. He touched triple digits with his fastball and punched out seven guys after throwing just 64 pitches. The lone tally against him was allowing a solo home run to Eric Haase in the fourth. The 24-year-old hasn't reached six innings in five of his last six starts despite only giving up more than two runs just once in those outings. He'll take a 3.51 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 135:36 K:BB over 115.1 innings into his next start, projected to be against the Marlins over the weekend again. |
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| Sep 19 2021 | McClanahan (back) was activated off the 10-day injured list to start Sunday's game versus Detroit, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The left-hander will rejoin the rotation after spending the 10-day minimum on the IL due to back stiffness. McClanahan has a 3.04 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 57:13 K:BB across 50.1 innings (nine starts) since the All-Star break, and he shouldn't significant workload limitations Sunday following the brief absence. |
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| Sep 16 2021 | McClanahan (back) is expected to be activated from the 10-day injured list to start Sunday against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The 24-year-old landed on the shelf with back stiffness last week but is scheduled to return after spending the 10-day minimum on the shelf. McClanahan shouldn't face significant workload limitations given the brevity of his absence. |
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| Sep 10 2021 | McClanahan (back) said Friday that he expects to miss just one start and be on the injured list for the minimum 10 days, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan moved to the injured list with back stiffness earlier Friday, but all indications thus far are that he will return to the rotation after missing just one start. He becomes eligible to come off the IL on Sept. 19 against the Tigers, though it's possible the club waits to activate him until the following series against the Blue Jays. |
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| Sep 8 2021 | McClanahan pitched five shutout innings Wednesday against Boston, yielding just three hits and a walk with three strikeouts in a no-decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: After giving up four runs to the Red Sox in his previous start six days ago, McClanahan bounced back nicely Wednesday, allowing just three singles. He was pulled after five innings despite having thrown only 68 pitches (44 strikes). The 24-year-old McClanahan, who is tentatively lined up to face the Blue Jays on the road in his next start, has held his opponents to two earned runs or fewer in seven of his last 10 outings. |
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| Sep 2 2021 | McClanahan (9-5) picked up the loss pitching five innings allowing four runs on eight hits with two walks and eight strikeouts against Boston on Thursday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The rookie left-hander ran into trouble early Thursday surrendering four runs across five innings, all of which came via singles. Despite tying a season-high four runs allowed, McClanahan also tied a career-high eight strikeouts. The southpaw is tentatively scheduled to take the mound next week against Boston once again. |
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| Aug 27 2021 | McClanahan (8-2) allowed two runs on eight hits and no walks while striking out four in six innings to earn the win over the Orioles on Friday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan has allowed at least six baserunners in each of his last five starts, but he's earned wins in each of those outings. The right-hander matched his lowest strikeout total of the season Friday, but he still limited run production against the struggling Orioles. He's picked up wins in six of his seven starts since the All-Star break and has posted a 2.90 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 40.1 innings during that time. McClanahan tentatively lines up to make his next start at home against the Red Sox on Wednesday. |
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| Aug 19 2021 | McClanahan (8-4) picked up the win Thursday after holding the Orioles to one run on five hits and a walk while striking out eight across five innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan cruised to his fourth straight win by punching out a career-high-tying eight batters while receiving ample run support from his teammates. It was the ninth time this season that the southpaw has pitched into at least the sixth inning, doing so in only 79 pitches this time around. His recent success has improved his season stats to a 3.63 ERA and 1.28 WHIP across 94.1 innings. |
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| Aug 13 2021 | McClanahan (7-4) allowed three runs (two earned) on eight hits and two walks over 5.1 innings Friday, striking out six and earning a win over Minnesota. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan started the outing with three shutout innings before allowing a run in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth frames. The Rays provided plenty of offense to help the rookie southpaw pick up his third straight victory. It was the first time in four starts that he failed to complete six innings but he lowered his season ERA to 3.73 in the process. McClanahan will carry a 105:30 K:BB into next week's projected home start against Baltimore. |
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| Aug 8 2021 | McClanahan improved to 6-4 while limiting the Orioles to three runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings in Saturday's 12-3 win. He struck out eight in the outing, matching his career high. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The quality start was the third in a row for McClanahan, who has been earned the trust from manager Kevin Cash to work deeper into games after he failed to push past 5.1 innings in each of his preceding three starts. With Rich Hill having been dealt to the Mets ahead of the trade deadline and with Tyler Glasnow (elbow) recently ruled out from making a late-season return after undergoing Tommy John surgery, the Rays will likely count on McClanahan to be a stabilizing force near the top of the rotation as the team prepares for a potential playoff run. |
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| Aug 1 2021 | McClanahan (5-4) won Sunday's 3-2 contest against the Red Sox, allowing one run on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts in six innings. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan limited a potent Boston lineup to a single run and really only encountered trouble in the fourth inning, when Hunter Renfroe homered, and he was able to work out of a two-on one-out jam. The successful outing marks consecutive quality starts for the rookie left-hander, and McClanahan went six innings while allowing one run or less for only the second time in 16 starts. |
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| Jul 28 2021 | McClanahan (4-4) took the loss Tuesday as the Rays were downed 4-3 by the Yankees, giving up three runs on nine hits and three walks over six innings. He struck out six. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The rookie wasn't especially sharp, tossing 60 of 89 pitches for strikes, but he pitched well enough to earn his third quality start of the season -- all of which have come in his last six outings. With the Rays letting McClanahan work a bit deeper into games, he's posted a solid 3.34 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 38:12 K:BB through 32.1 innings over that stretch. |
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| Jul 21 2021 | McClanahan (4-3) picked up the win in Tuesday's 9-3 victory over the Orioles, allowing one run on four hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out seven. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The rookie was sharp, tossing 65 of 93 pitches for strikes, and a double by Anthony Santander in the second inning provided the only loud contact off McClanahan on the night. While he hasn't completed six innings in any of his last three starts, the lefty also hasn't given up more than three earned runs in an outing since June 2. McClanahan will carry a 3.88 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 78:22 K:BB through 65 innings into his next appearance. |
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| Jul 10 2021 | McClanahan didn't factor into the decision in Friday's 7-1 win over the Blue Jays, allowing one run on four hits and three walks over four innings. He struck out five. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: In a matchup of exciting young hurlers (Alek Manoah and McClanahan), neither pitcher lasted until the fifth inning. Tampa Bay's rookie lefty tossed 58 of 91 pitches for strikes in an inefficient outing, but he did strike out at least five batters for the fourth straight start. McClanahan will take a 4.05 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 71:21 K:BB through his first 60 big-league innings into the All-Star break. |
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| Jul 3 2021 | McClanahan (3-3) took the loss against Toronto on Saturday, giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits and two walks in 5.1 innings while striking out five. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The only run McClanahan allowed while actually in the game was a solo home run by George Springer in the second inning. He departed in the sixth with a pair of runners on base, both of which came around to score after reliever Matt Wisler entered the game. The 24-year-old McClanahan has shown well as a rookie, logging a 66:18 K:BB in 56 innings overall while limiting opponents to three runs or fewer in each of his last five starts. He's scheduled for a return matchup against the high-powered Blue Jays next week. |
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| Jun 26 2021 | McClanahan (3-2) allowed three runs on four hits and a pair of walks over six innings while striking out seven to earn the victory over the Angels on Saturday. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The Angels were only able to get to the rookie hurler in the third inning, picking up all three of their runs on doubles by Shohei Ohtani and Anthony Rendon. McClanahan has provided back-to-back quality starts while posting a 15:3 K:BB in those two outings. In 11 starts overall, McClanahan owns a 4.09 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. His next start lines up for next Saturday against Toronto. |
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| Jun 21 2021 | McClanahan pitched six innings of one-run ball, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out a career-high eight in Sunday's loss to the Mariners. He didn't factor into the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan delivered the best game of his young rookie season, getting to six innings for the first time this year and ringing up all eight of his strikeouts on sliders and curveballs. The only real damage done against him was a third-inning solo homer by Luis Torrens. McClanahan now owns a 4.03 ERA and 54:14 K:BB over 44.2 innings and is in line for another favorable matchup against the Angels over the weekend. |
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| Jun 15 2021 | McClanahan (2-2) allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out four across five innings to take the loss Tuesday against the White Sox. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The only major damage McClanahan allowed was a solo home run to Adam Engel in the fifth inning. He did have to regularly work with runners on base, though his final line was skewed as four of the knocks against him were infield hits. The outing was also positive as McClanahan managed to complete five innings after working only a combined 6.1 frames across his last two starts. For the season, McClanahan has a 4.42 ERA with 46 strikeouts across 38.2 innings. |
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| Jun 9 2021 | McClanahan did not factor in the decision Wednesday versus Washington despite giving up three runs on five hits and three walks over three innings. He struck out four. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw was wildly inefficient in the start, needing 77 pitches -- 45 of which were strikes -- to retire nine batters. He was stung by a pair of long balls and could have had an even worse stat line if not for Washington stranding five runners in his three innings. This was the second straight poor outing for McClanahan, who has given up a total of seven runs and 10 hits over his past 6.1 frames. He'll try to get back on track in his next start, which is tentatively slated for Tuesday on the road against the White Sox. |
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| Jun 2 2021 | McClanahan (2-1) allowed four earned runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six across 3.1 innings to take the loss Wednesday against the Yankees. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan ran into trouble early in the game when he surrendered a two-run homer to the fourth batter he faced in the opening frame. He ran into trouble again two innings later, and he ultimately exited the game with one out in the fourth inning with the bases loaded. McClanahan had shown the ability to work deeper into games prior to this start, as he recorded at least 15 outs in each of his last three outings. Now 30.2 innings into his major-league career, McClanahan has a 4.11 ERA with 38 strikeouts and nine walks. |
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| May 27 2021 | McClanahan (2-0) allowed three hits and no walks while striking out six across five scoreless innings to earn the win Thursday against the Royals. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan needed only 63 pitches to record his 15 outs, and he's now completed at least five innings in three consecutive outings. In addition to the efficiency, he was also extremely deceptive and racked up 16 swinging strikes to back up his six punchouts. McClanahan has gotten off to a strong start to his big-league career, maintaining a 3.29 ERA with a 32:7 K:BB across 27.1 frames. |
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| May 22 2021 | McClanahan allowed one earned run on four hits and two walks while striking out four across five innings in the win over the Blue Jays on Saturday. He did not factor into the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan allowed his only run to score in the first inning on a two-out double by Teoscar Hernandez. The rookie has struggled with retiring batters with two outs, but got away with minimal damage Saturday. It was a good bounce back performance from his last outing against the Mets in which he allowed four runs on a pair of long balls. The 24-year-old has a 4.03 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP with a 10.5 K/9 in 22.1 innings this season. |
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| May 15 2021 | McClanahan (1-0) allowed four runs on six hits in 5.1 innings with seven strikeouts and one walk, earning the win in Saturday's 12-5 victory over the Mets. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The flame-throwing lefty yielded two home runs on sliders down the middle, which accounted for all four runs. Saturday was the longest, albeit highest runs allowed, start of the season for McClanahan, who pitched exactly four innings in each of his first three appearances. The young southpaw boasts elite stuff and has the potential to be a dominant starter once he improves his command of it. |
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| May 9 2021 | McClanahan allowed four hits and two walks while striking out five in Sunday's victory over Oakland. He did not factor into the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: As in his previous two outings, McClanahan struck out five over four innings, and he did so Sunday while allowing three runs. The lefty threw 50 of 80 pitches for strikes and tossed first-pitch strikes to 13 of 18 batters. He has now allowed five earned runs over his first twelve big-league innings while registering a 15:4 K:BB. The rookie's vast array of pitches and high velocity should keep him in the conversation for staying in the Rays' rotation. |
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| May 4 2021 | McClanahan completed four scoreless innings against the Angels on Tuesday, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out five. He did not factor in the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: For the second straight start, the rookie dazzled but was not allowed to go deep enough to qualify for a win. As in his previous outing, McClanahan struck out five over four innings, and he did so Wednesday without allowing a run. The southpaw issued two walks but demonstrated solid control, throwing 44 of 63 pitches for strikes and tossing first-pitch strikes to 11 of 16 batters. He has allowed only two earned runs over his first eight big-league innings while registering a 10:2 K:BB. Those numbers make a compelling case for McClanahan to stay in the rotation, and he should grow as a fantasy asset as he increases hit pitch count. He's tentatively projected to start again this weekend at Oakland. |
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| May 3 2021 | McClanahan is scheduled to start Tuesday's game against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The flame-throwing lefty had a workload restriction in his first MLB start last week against the Athletics, but he dazzled over his four innings, generating five strikeouts and inducing 15 swinging strikes among his 59 pitches. The outing was enough for McClanahan to earn a second start, but he may need to keep performing at a high level in order to ensure he becomes a fixture in the rotation. Tampa Bay didn't formally shift to a six-man rotation to make room for McClanahan; instead, Rich Hill and Michael Wacha were deployed as tandem starters in Sunday's game against the Astros. |
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| Apr 29 2021 | McClanahan allowed two earned runs on five hits and no walks while striking out five across four innings Thursday against the Athletics. He did not factor into the decision. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan flashed plenty of swing and miss stuff in his first major-league start, as he generated 15 swinging strikes on only 59 pitches. He relied equally on his fastball and slider, averaging 97.4 mph with the former pitch. Manager Kevin Cash told the media that McClanahan would be used as a traditional starter while in the big leagues, though his role moving forward has yet to be finalized formally the club. |
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| Apr 28 2021 | McClanahan was added to the Rays' taxi squad Wednesday and will be called up to start Thursday's game against Oakland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan will make his regular-season debut Thursday after he allowed one hit and no walks while striking out seven in three scoreless innings this spring. The southpaw flashed triple-digit heat in Grapefruit League play and posted a 3.17 ERA in two minor-league seasons, but he hasn't yet pitched above Double-A in the regular season. Juan Toribio of MLB.com reported this winter that the Rays view McClahanan as a starter, and Topkin relays the 24-year-old will be used as a true starter rather than an opener Thursday. |
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| Mar 16 2021 | McClanahan was optioned off the active roster Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: There are plenty of reasons to get excited about McClanahan, who flashed triple-digit heat this spring and owns a career 3.17 ERA with a 31.6 percent strikeout rate in the minors. He's yet to pitch above Double-A and has only made four starts at that level, however, so it's no surprise he'll begin the year off the active roster given the Rays' wealth of potential starters. He could certainly fill an important role at some point this season, either as a starter or multi-inning reliever, but it's not yet clear exactly when his name will be called. |
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| Mar 4 2021 | McClanahan, who fired a scoreless first inning in Wednesday's Grapefruit League win over the Pirates, hit 101 mph on the radar gun during his impressive outing, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. "There was also a lot of strikes, which I'm more happy about," McClanahan said. "I've been feeling good. The guys here put me in a good position to be healthy and to be ready to compete, day in and day out, so I think that's just the result of being prepared." | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan isn't embellishing with his remarks about location, as he found the strike zone with eight of his 10 pitches. In addition to the triple-digit heater, McClanahan also deployed his slider with great effectiveness, raising expectations further about what he might be able to accomplish in 2021 as a left-handed bullpen option for manager Kevin Cash. The southpaw is trying to render his struggles two seasons ago at Double-A Montgomery -- his highest stop in the minors to date -- irrelevant by making a strong enough case for an Opening Day roster spot in spring training. |
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| Feb 20 2021 | Manager Kevin Cash relayed Saturday that pitching coach Kyle Snyder was extremely impressed with McClanahan's fastball velocity and breaking ball in a recent bullpen session, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The southpaw made his big-league debut in the postseason against the Yankees last October, and he heads into spring training firmly in the mix for a bullpen role. McClanahan's last minor-league stop was Double-A Montgomery back in 2019, when he scuffled to an 8.35 ERA and 1.99 WHIP over a modest four-start sample that covered 18.1 innings. McClanahan also made quite the impression on bullpen catcher Misha Dworken, who labeled the session as good as any he's ever caught. |
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| Oct 6 2020 | McClanahan made his major-league debut out of the bullpen in the Rays' Game 1 loss to the Yankees on Monday. He allowed one hit and one walk before recording the final out of the ninth inning. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty made history in the opener of the ALDS, becoming the first pitcher ever to make his major-league debut in the postseason. Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com noted that nine of McClanahan's 15 pitches were clocked at 98-plus miles per hour. Obviously he has a lot to prove and this run is mostly just about getting his feet wet, but McClanahan appears to have a bright future as a starting pitcher. He could be part of that mix as early as 2021 and should be rostered in most dynasty leagues. |
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| Sep 29 2020 | McClanahan (knee) will be on the Rays' playoff roster, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The lefty is evidently past the hyperextended knee he was dealing with at the Rays' alternate site. He's yet to appear in a major-league game but could get the chance to do so for the first time in the playoffs. He's hasn't even pitched in a game at the Triple-A level and has made just four Double-A starts, struggling to an 8.35 ERA. His overall 3.36 ERA and 30.6 percent strikeout rate in 120.2 minor-league innings are strong marks, however. |
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| Sep 5 2020 | McClanahan suffered a left knee hyperextension covering first base in a game at the Rays' alternate site and will miss about two weeks, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: McClanahan does not appear to be dealing with any sort of long-term issue, but the injury could cost him any shot to make his big-league debut before this season comes to a close. |
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| Jul 13 2020 | McClanahan was impressive in Sunday's simulated game while facing the foursome of Yandy Diaz, Hunter Renfroe, Mike Brosseau and Joey Wendle, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: The hard-throwing southpaw fired 10 of his 15 pitches for strikes and recorded a swinging strikeout of Wendle while keeping the velocity on his four-seam fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s. McClanahan received ample praise from both catcher Mike Zunino and manager Kevin Cash, with the latter noting McClanahan's stuff "would play in any league and in any inning" when referencing the possibility of the 23-year-old's chances of working as either a starter or reliever at some point this coming regular season. The path to such an opportunity isn't completely clear at the moment, but there is apparently at least some chance McClanahan sees regular-season action in 2020 despite not yet having pitched above Double-A ball. |
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| Jul 8 2020 | McClanahan could debut in the majors this year as a reliever, Josh Tolentino of The Athletic reports. | ROTOWIRE RECOMMENDS: His top obstacle to reaching the majors is the fact he is not yet on the 40-man roster. Tampa Bay's 40-man roster might be the strongest in baseball, but if a player moves to the COVID-19 injury list or the 60-man injured list, that player would no longer count against the 40-man roster, which could open a spot for McClanahan. While the talented southpaw will be developed as a starter long term, he can regularly touch 100 mph with his fastball and has a plus curveball, which makes him an appealing bullpen weapon in the short term. |
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| Jul 6 2018 | McClanahan, the 31st overall pick in the 2018 first-year player draft, signed with the Rays on Friday, Joey Knight of the Tampa Bay Times reports. | The MLB deadline for signing draft picks was 5pm ET on Friday, and the Rays apparently just beat the clock in inking the left-hander. McClanahan was 5-6 with a 3.42 ERA as a redshirt sophomore with the University of South Florida in 2018. Despite the fact he's already gone under the knife for Tommy John surgery -- which took place back in 2016 -- McClanahan is still thought to offer plenty of upside virtue of an upper-90s fastball that helped him rack up 120 strikeouts over 76.1 innings for the Bulls last season. Although terms were undisclosed, Knight reports that the Rays were thought to have signed the first-round pick for an amount near his slot value of $2.22 million. He'll next report to the Rays' GCL Rookie-level team to begin his professional career. |
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| Jun 4 2018 | The Rays have selected McClanahan with the 31st overall pick in the 2018 first-year player draft. | The top college lefty in this year's class, McClanahan boasts a fastball that routinely touches triple digits and more risk factors than most actuaries would be comfortable with. He has a 3.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and a 120:48 K:BB in 76.1 innings as a junior at South Florida, illustrating his dominance in the strikeout department, as well as a lack of control over his electric arsenal. In addition to his monster fastball, McClanahan has a changeup that realistically projects as a plus pitch and a slider that is a decent third offering. Adding to the risk already associated with a player who throws that hard and can struggle to throw strikes, McClanahan measures in at only 6-foot-1, 173 pounds, so it's easy to envision his body breaking down over a full MLB season. He also already has Tommy John surgery on his resume, which wiped out his entire 2016 season. The Rays may decide to fast-track McClanahan to the majors as a reliever, as he could be truly dominant getting four or five outs a couple times each week. He would have fantasy value in such a role, and while he would have more value as a frontline starter, there is too much working against him for that to be considered a likely outcome. |
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