Shane McClanahan gave the Tampa Bay Rays a major reason for optimism despite Saturday's heartbreaking loss to Baltimore. The left-hander threw five scoreless innings and touched 99 mph, providing the clearest sign yet that he could return to ace form and transform Tampa Bay's postseason rotation.
The Tampa Bay Rays picked up one of their most heartbreaking losses of the season on Saturday night against the Baltimore Orioles, after falling 3-2 in extra innings.
However, despite the loss, there was one major positive that must be taken into context: Shane McClanahan looked like himself again, and that could be a much more important thing than one loss down the stretch.
In just his second start since returning from the injured list, McClanahan threw five scoreless innings, allowing only four hits and one walk while striking out five.
Even more encouraging was the velocity.
McClanahan touched 99 mph on a strikeout during the game on Saturday. Another positive sign for a pitcher who is looking to be 100% following the injury.
He threw just 74 pitches, but building up his workload will be the next step.
For Kevin Cash and the Rays, getting McClanahan back anywhere close to his best could completely change what this pitching rotation looks like heading into October.
Tampa Bay has already received strong production from its pitching staff throughout the season, but McClanahan can provide something different.
He's a pitcher who can take over a postseason game and If the Rays can get even close to the version of McClanahan they had before his recent injury issues, suddenly the ceiling for this rotation becomes much higher.
Saturday provided the first real glimpse that he might be getting there. Unfortunately, the Rays couldn't finish the job for him.
Tyler Wells followed McClanahan with two scoreless innings, putting Tampa Bay exactly where it wanted to be entering the eighth inning.
Then Kevin Kelly finally looked human.
Kelly allowed a two-run home run to Samuel Basallo that tied the game before Bryan Baker eventually allowed the game-winning run in extra innings.
It's easy to look at the bullpen following a loss like this and become concerned, but there shouldn't be much reason to panic about Kelly.
Before Saturday, he hadn't allowed an earned run since July 7. He had gone well over a month without surrendering one before making a mistake against Basallo.
That's going to happen.
Kelly has been one of Tampa Bay's most reliable bullpen arms this season, and one bad pitch shouldn't suddenly erase everything he has done.
The same can be said for Baker, who has been one of baseball's best closers throughout the year. In fact, entering Sunday, he leads MLB with 36 saves.
In reality, Saturday went almost exactly how the Rays would draw it up.
McClanahan gave them five scoreless innings. Wells handled the next two. Tampa Bay then turned the game over to Kelly and Baker with a lead. That's the postseason formula that Erik Neander has certainly envisioned in his head.
It just didn't work this time.
The Rays will look to avoid a sweep on Sunday as they take on the Baltimore Orioles one more time this regular season. First pitch is scheduled for 1:35 pm Eastern.
