by Team Del Genio
Sunday, May 31, 2026When we last saw Shane McClanahan, he had an 11-2 record for the Tampa Bay Rays. In 115 innings across 21 starts, he posted a 3.29 era and a 1.18 whip. Yet he injured his arm in mid-August, which resulted in him going under the knife for the second time in his career with Tommy John surgery. He first had the surgery done in 2016 in his freshman year when he was pitching in college for South Florida. The surgery would keep him out for the rest of 2023 as well as the entire 2024 season.
The southpaw hoped to return to the majors last year. After pitching in spring training, nerve issues developed in his final start in the Grapefruit League in March. He eventually had surgery to address that malady, which kept him out for the entire year.
McClanahan returned to the mound for Tampa Bay for spring training this year. In 13 innings, he posted a 2.08 era with 15 strikeouts. Yet the velocity on his fastball was still down two to three miles per hour from his 96.8 miles per hour rate in 2023. That ranked in the top 90th percentile.
McClanahan struggled with his control early on this year, yet in his previous seven starts heading into the showdown against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, May 31st, he had not walked more than two batters. His elite fastball is probably a thing of the past, yet the 28-year-old has quickly transitioned into the crafty left-hander mold. He had not allowed an earned run in five of his previous six starts. During that span, he has a 1.12 era and a 0.88 whip. His stuff remains very good. His four-seam fastball remains effective at 95.4 miles per hour, ranking in the highest 66th percentile. He is throwing that pitch 36.2% of the time. It sets up his good change-up that he throws 30% of the time. McClanahan then mixes in a slider 22% of the time and a curveball 12% of the time. This mix was getting a whiff rate on 28.9% of the strikes he is registering, ranking in the highest 77th percentile.
He got a plum assignment against an Angels team that is averaging only 3.8 runs per game in the last month with a .221 batting average, a .293 on-base percentage, and a .370 slugging percentage in those 27 games. Los Angeles was averaging 4.3 runs per game this year, and the Rays had won nine games in a row at home against American League opponents who were not averaging more than 4.4 runs per game.
McClanahan gave up only one earned run in five innings against the Angels, with Tampa Bay winning by a 5-1 score. He only threw 70 pitches as the Rays continued to limit his workload (as they also do with Drew Rasmussen). His control remained outstanding as he threw 51 strikes and did not walk a batter.
In 2023, McClanahan was throwing his four-seamer 42% of the time. He was striking out 25.8% of opposing hitters. His strikeout rate is down to 24.6% this year. Yet the ground ball rate on the batted balls put into play against him has risen from 44.2% to 47.0% from his increased reliance on breaking balls.
McClanahan begins June with a 6-2 record in eleven starts with a 2.45 era and a 1.02 whip in 55 innings. He has 53 strikeouts and just 19 bases-on-balls. While the loss of velocity from 2023 probably removes him from the previous conversations where he was in the mix for being one of the very best pitchers in MLB, the left-hander still has plenty of talent to be very effective at this level. He should not be dismissed.
Good luck - TDG.
The southpaw hoped to return to the majors last year. After pitching in spring training, nerve issues developed in his final start in the Grapefruit League in March. He eventually had surgery to address that malady, which kept him out for the entire year.
McClanahan returned to the mound for Tampa Bay for spring training this year. In 13 innings, he posted a 2.08 era with 15 strikeouts. Yet the velocity on his fastball was still down two to three miles per hour from his 96.8 miles per hour rate in 2023. That ranked in the top 90th percentile.
McClanahan struggled with his control early on this year, yet in his previous seven starts heading into the showdown against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, May 31st, he had not walked more than two batters. His elite fastball is probably a thing of the past, yet the 28-year-old has quickly transitioned into the crafty left-hander mold. He had not allowed an earned run in five of his previous six starts. During that span, he has a 1.12 era and a 0.88 whip. His stuff remains very good. His four-seam fastball remains effective at 95.4 miles per hour, ranking in the highest 66th percentile. He is throwing that pitch 36.2% of the time. It sets up his good change-up that he throws 30% of the time. McClanahan then mixes in a slider 22% of the time and a curveball 12% of the time. This mix was getting a whiff rate on 28.9% of the strikes he is registering, ranking in the highest 77th percentile.
He got a plum assignment against an Angels team that is averaging only 3.8 runs per game in the last month with a .221 batting average, a .293 on-base percentage, and a .370 slugging percentage in those 27 games. Los Angeles was averaging 4.3 runs per game this year, and the Rays had won nine games in a row at home against American League opponents who were not averaging more than 4.4 runs per game.
McClanahan gave up only one earned run in five innings against the Angels, with Tampa Bay winning by a 5-1 score. He only threw 70 pitches as the Rays continued to limit his workload (as they also do with Drew Rasmussen). His control remained outstanding as he threw 51 strikes and did not walk a batter.
In 2023, McClanahan was throwing his four-seamer 42% of the time. He was striking out 25.8% of opposing hitters. His strikeout rate is down to 24.6% this year. Yet the ground ball rate on the batted balls put into play against him has risen from 44.2% to 47.0% from his increased reliance on breaking balls.
McClanahan begins June with a 6-2 record in eleven starts with a 2.45 era and a 1.02 whip in 55 innings. He has 53 strikeouts and just 19 bases-on-balls. While the loss of velocity from 2023 probably removes him from the previous conversations where he was in the mix for being one of the very best pitchers in MLB, the left-hander still has plenty of talent to be very effective at this level. He should not be dismissed.
Good luck - TDG.
