A day after short start, McClanahan (back) lands on IL
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SEATTLE -- When Shane McClanahan took the mound on Friday at T-Mobile Park, he’d already accumulated the type of résumé that made him a strong candidate to start at this very venue 11 days later in the All-Star Game.
Instead, he’ll be on the sidelines if invited to his second straight Midsummer Classic.
Tampa Bay’s star left-hander was placed on the injured list ahead of the Rays’ game against the Mariners on Saturday with mid-back tightness, one day after the issue resurfaced in an abbreviated, three-inning start. In a corresponding move, lefty Jalen Beeks was recalled from Triple-A Durham.
“I really would not put any of our thoughts into any All-Star anything,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “We want our players to, if they are recognized and good enough to be All-Stars, that's a totally separate discussion. We've got to prioritize his health above everything.”
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McClanahan had regained the fastball velocity on Friday that had diminished in his June 22 start against the Royals, when the issue first surfaced. But despite averaging 97.5 mph on his heater, he still labored in Seattle, needing 66 pitches to get through the third inning while surrendering a season-high-tying four earned runs, all in the second inning, against a scuffling Seattle offense. He also gave up five hits and three walks.
Postgame, after the Rays stormed to 15 unanswered runs following his exit, McClanahan described the situation in frustration.
“Obviously, I don't know what it is -- yet, at least,” McClanahan said Friday. “I mean, I don't think anyone's really overly too concerned. I mean, my arm felt really good. I was throwing 99 mph, so that was good to see, but obviously, something is not, you know, 100 percent right, and we're going to do whatever we’ve got to do to get that right.”
If all goes well with his recovery, McClanahan would be in line to start the Rays’ third game out of the break in Kansas City.
“I think that’s very reasonable,” Cash said of the prospect of his ace making that start.