Tampa Bay Rays Announce Likely Return Date For Injured Ace Shane McClanahan

The Tampa Bay Rays are expecting ace Shane McClanahan back this weekend in the first series out of the All-Star break.

The Tampa Bay Rays are anticipating good news on the injury front this weekend as ace Shane McClanahan is expected to be activated from the injured list.

He was hampered by a bad back in each of his last two starts and ultimately went on the injured list, missing the All-Star Game as well.

The following update comes from the Rotowire fantasy baseball portal:

Rays manager Kevin Cash said last week that he's confident McClanahan (back) will be ready to return from the 15-day injured list when first eligible to start Sunday's game in Kansas City, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

ANALYSIS
McClanahan was placed on the IL with mid-back tightness July 1, one day after he was limited to a season-low three innings in a start in Seattle. The injury kept him from making his final turn before the All-Star break and also prevented him from pitching in the Midsummer Classic, but he was able to play catch last week without any discomfort and has presumably continued to improve in the days that followed. McClanahan may throw a bullpen session Thursday or Friday before the Rays officially confirm that he'll take the hill for the final game of the series in Kansas City.

McClanahan's return is big news for a Rays team that limped into the All-Star break, having lost seven of its last 10 games. As a result, the Rays lead over the Orioles in the American League East is down to just 2.0 games.

McClanahan is 11-1 this season with a 2.53 ERA. 

The Rays and Royals will play on Friday night at 8:10 p.m. ET to start the second half of the season. 

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