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Rays' Shane McClanahan to start Game 1 of ALDS

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 10/5/21

The Tampa Bay Rays don't yet know who they'll be facing in the upcoming American League Division Series, but they've confirmed who will get the ball for the opener on Thursday.

Per The Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Rays manager Kevin Cash has confirmed that left-hander Shane McClanahan will start Game 1 against the winner of Tuesday's wild-card matchup between the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox held at Fenway Park. Additionally, rookie right-hander Shane Baz is Tampa Bay's starter for Game 2, while Cash also said it's "highly likely" Drew Rasmussen will start Game 3:

Rollin' with Shane² pic.twitter.com/eLB9aumnkt
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 5, 2021

McClanahan, 24, ended the season at 10-6 with a 3.43 ERA across 25 starts. Baz, 22, was only called up from Triple-A Durham in September and went 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA in three starts.

Assuming Rasmussen takes the bump for Game 3, he'll enter the playoff rotation having gone 4-0 with a 2.44 ERA in 10 starts and 20 total appearances with Tampa Bay. The 26-year-old joined the Rays via a trade from the Milwaukee Brewers in May.

As for Tuesday's game between the two hated rivals, Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez won't be playing because of a sprained left ankle he suffered this past Sunday.

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