CINCINNATI -- Has Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan finally put the debate as to who will be the AL’s starting pitcher at the All-Star Game to bed?

It certainly seems that way. And his argument may be even more convincing after his most recent outing against the Reds at Great American Ball Park on Friday night, even if he received a no-decision in the 2-1 loss in 10 innings.

After a rocky third inning highlighted by a 423-foot home run to Brandon Drury -- another player who may hear his name called as a reserve during Sunday’s All-Star Selection Show -- it seemed Cincinnati had a shot to stamp McClanahan with a rare road loss.

But the lefty returned to form shortly after and delivered six innings of one-run ball while striking out eight. He finished having thrown 95 pitches before manager Kevin Cash made the decision to pull his ace from the game with the score tied, 1-1.

“I felt good,” the sophomore big leaguer said. “I don't know what the heck happened those first three innings, I just couldn't get into a groove. I told myself, ‘You have to snap out of it, [my] team deserves better.’”

He snapped out of it by retiring the final 10 batters of his outing, half of which came via punchout.

“Just had to fill up the strike zone,” McClanahan said of his fourth-inning adjustment. “I wasn't doing a good job of that [in the first three innings], I fell behind, walked two batters and the [home run on a 3-0 count] … that was my own doing.

“I think those last three innings were more of a reflection of who I am as a pitcher.”

So let’s break it down. How dominant has he truly been this season?

Friday’s outing marked the 11th consecutive start in which he dealt at least six innings, recorded at least seven strikeouts and allowed two earned runs or fewer, marking the longest such streak in AL history.

He also dropped his AL-leading ERA to 1.73, and opposing batters have hit just .178 off of him this season, also the lowest in the AL. On top of that, he has a K/BB ratio of 7.42, well ahead of the next closest pitcher, Jameson Taillon of the Yankees (6.73).

“[McClanahan] was awesome,” Cash said. “Two really good starting pitchers throwing, going toe-to-toe. Shane got burnt on a 3-0 pitch by Drury, who’s had a big year to date, and we were able to get one on a big RBI by Ji-Man [Choi], but other than that you can understand why there wasn't a ton of scoring or hitting. Both pitchers had pretty electric stuff.”

Reds starting pitcher Luis Castillo, who allowed just one run over seven innings, showed respect for McClanahan after facing off against him for the first time in his career.

“The Tampa Bay Rays are a really good team as well. To face someone like their pitcher is really emotional,” Castillo said. “To be part of these starts have been really great for me.”

Castillo’s teammate Kyle Farmer shared a similar sentiment.

“First time facing McClanahan and he did a good job,” Farmer said. “Good fastball. Doesn’t really throw his fastball as much as I thought he was going to, but good breaking ball stuff. He kept us off balance all game.”

McClanahan entered Friday’s contest with 101 strikeouts on his offspeed and breaking balls, ranking first in the big leagues.

While McClanahan may stand as the frontrunner for the AL Cy Young Award, he can first set his sights on making his first All-Star Game, one that he very well may find himself starting. Of course, a case can be made for two-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander and Blue Jays sensation Alek Manoah, among others. That decision, however, is out of his hands.

“For me it’s just a testament to the hard work and the consistency and the day-to-day things that I try and do at this field,” McClanahan said. “Like I said, day one my ultimate goal is to help this team win a lot of ballgames and help this team stay in the fight. I think that’s what I’m most proud of, is the consistency of trying to do that for this team.”