After dropping their second consecutive double-digit loss, this time 11-1 against the Blue Jays — and their fourth consecutive loss overall — the Tampa Bay Rays will try to get back on the winning side of the ledger with Shane McClanahan on the mound.
I don’t have much to say about Friday night’s game, so I’ll let Rays Manager Kevin Cash do all the talking.
We’re a good team that’s not playing very well.
— Kevin Cash
He said it better than I could without getting mad or frustrated.
The only highlight I’ll talk about came late in the game when Brett Phillips took the mound to pitch. After a comical bullpen session, Phillips sprinted to the mound and proceeded to throw gas — a 94 mph fastball — followed by a handful of mid-40’s eephus pitches. The right-hander allowed one run on two hits and two walks, which is less than Luis Patiño, who was optioned back to Triple-A Durham after the game.
To be expected, but at the end of the day, he picked us up. Appreciative of that. It’s never comforting to put a position player out there, but applaud Philly for understanding. He was right at it and would expect that he was going to have some fun with it.
— Kevin Cash
The New What Next
Shane McClanahan (3-2, 4.09 ERA) will take the mound Saturday, pitching opposite of Ross Stripling (3-4, 4.27 ERA).
Shane McClanahan pitched six strong innings against the Angels on Saturday, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out seven. McClanahan recovered from a 36-pitch, three-run third, and threw just 51 pitches in the other five frames combined. All four hits came in the third inning, yet three of the four hits were “lucky,” in that the xBA on them was under .250. All told, the southpaw threw 87 pitches (64 strikes, 74% Str%, 10 swings and misses, 16% SwStr%) and leaning heavily on his fastball and slider combo while also mixing in 11 curveballs and three changeups. McClanahan now owns a 4.09 ERA and a 3.74 FIP on the season, with a 3.81 K/BB and a 1.26 WHIP across 50-2/3 innings.
Ross Stripling allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three across five innings against the Orioles on Sunday. Stripling had posted quality starts in each of his last two turns, but he had to settle for a loss and a no-decision in those outings. While he didn’t last long enough to earn a quality start Sunday, he picked up his first win since the start of June. Across his last seven outings (40-1/3 innings), he’s posted a 2.45 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP. Overall, Stripling owns a 4.27 ERA and a 4.38 FIP on the season, with a 3.78 K/BB and a 1.24 WHIP across 65-1/3 innings. In his lone outing against Tampa Bay on May 24, he blanked the Rays on two hits across seven strong innings. Key Matchups: Brandon Lowe (1-3, 2B, BB), Manuel Margot (6-16, 2 2B, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB), Joey Wendle (2-2, 2B)
You can read about the series on our preview, while the starting lineup and Noteworthiness are below.
Rays 7/3/21 Starting Lineup
- Lowe 2B
- Margot RF
- Franco SS
- Choi DH
- Arozarena LF
- Díaz 1B
- Wendle 3B
- Zunino C
- Kiermaier CF
- McClanahan LHP
Noteworthiness
— The Rays have reinstated INF Taylor Walls (right wrist tendinitis) from the 10-day Injured List. As I mentioned above, Patiño was optioned to Durham last night to clear room on the 26-man roster.