GameDay Preview: Shane McClanahan Back on Mound as Rays Seek 11th-Straight Win
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The Tampa Bay Rays are still undefeated, winning 10 straight games to start the season in record fashion. They look for No. 11 on Tuesday night when they take on the Boston Red Sox at 6:40 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field.
The Rays are rolling over their rotation, with ace Shane McClanahan making his third start of the season. He's 2-0 already, with a nifty 1.50 earned run average. He beat Detroit 4-0 on Opening Day, and won at Washington 7-2 last Wednesday. The Rays swept the Tigers, Nationals and Oakland A's in three-game series, and then won their first American League East game on Monday night, beating the Boston Red Sox 1-0 in that many people said was their first real game against a decent team.
The two teams meet again on Tuesday, and McClanahan said that even though he appreciated the intensity of AL East games, he's still just going about his business like he always does.
"Nothing really changes. You still just go out and play your brand of baseball,'' . We've got a great group of guys and we'll keep putting our best foot forward.''
McClanahan pitched six scoreless innings in his debut, but gave up two runs at Washington. He walked four batters, tying a career high, ''which is something I hate,'' he said. "I hate walks.''
But for McClanahan, who will turn 26 at the end of the month, he worked his way out of trouble to get his second win. Experience mattered in plowing ahead, even without his best stuff.
"I was pleased with the way it went. It wasn't easy but I got the job done,'' McClanahan said. ''At the end of the day, that's the most important thing, winning games for this team.
"I was proud of myself. I don't think last year me, or two years ago, would have gotten through six innings. The experience definitely played a part in that, learning to deal with adversity when things aren't going your way.''
McClanahan and all of the Rays' pitchers have benefited from an explosive offense that leads the majors in runs scored (76). The run support is great, he said, but it's still all about making good pitches.
"It wouldn't say it takes pressure off us, but the offense is absolutely clicking,'' the left-hander said. "Part of what we do is, no matter what, we have the same mentality out there, to put up zeroes whether they're putting up two runs or 20.
"It's fun to be in this clubhouse, regardless of the streak, to be honest with you. I've been very lucky parts of four seasons in the big leagues that we have a bunch of good guys and we've won a lot of games.''
The Rays will face Boston starter Garrett Whitlock, who is making his season debut. He had hip surgery last season and is just now ready to go. He has made two rehab starts, so he should be stretched out well enough to give the Red Sox some innings.
Here are the starting lineups for Tuesday night's games:
Boston Red Sox
- Kiki Hernandez, SS
- Rafael Devers, 3B
- Justin Turner, DH
- Masataka Yoshida, LF
- Rob Refsnyder, CF
- Alex Verdugo, RF
- Christian Arroyo, 2B
- Bobby Dalbec, 1B
- Connor Wong, C
Tampa Bay Rays
- Yandy Diaz, 1B
- Brandon Lowe, DH
- Randy Arozarena, LF
- Wander Franco, SS
- Luke Raley, RF
- Isaac Paredes, 3B
- Francisco Mejia, C
- Josh Lowe, CF
- Vidal Brujan, 2B
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