A potenial playoff matcup in March

LAKELAND, Fla. – The pre-season is reserved for preparation and conditioning. Occasionally, there is a meeting of two pitchers which would draw considerable attention and is reserved for a September stretch run or post-season match.

When a pair of elite left-handers took the mound before 6,026 Joker-Merchant Stadium here on March 9, the baseball gods could only imagine what might transpire during a critical part of the season,

Because this particular encounter transpired in the middle of spring training, the potential to foreshadow a memorable encounter vanished.

In this match-up, the Tampa Bay Rays sent Shane McClanahan, who was a potential Cy Young candidate and two-time AL All-Star game selectee when he last took the mound in August 2023 in a major league game at Yankee Stadium. Since, McClanahan accepted the challenge of rehabilitation, the desolation of recovery during the past two summers, and the isolation of recovery from Tommy John surgery and triceps issues.

On the other side of the white line stood Detroit lefty Framber Valdez, who signed a three-year, $115 million deal during the recent off-season. In eight seasons with Houston, Valdez went 81-52 in 166 starts, and an ERA of 3.36. Not included was a 7-6 mark for 16 post-season starts and a 4.34 ERA.

One of the premier free agents on the market this past offseason, the presence of Valdez, along with Tarik Skubal, the reigning Cy Young award winner, could help the Tigers create the most effective 1-2 starters in the majors.

For the March 9 encounter, the shadow of October, though present, was not a legitimate consideration.

“What is today, March 9,” asked McClanahan. “Look, Framber is a great pitcher and it’s cool to go against one of the best in the game. There is a great deal of respect there. It’s cool to watch those guys go about their work. I hope to pick up something from them.”

For the principals, the match up, about the halfway mark of spring training, retains little meaning.

“I’d love to have any matchup for October, but right now this is a March match-up,” said Rays’ manager Kevin Cash before the March 9 game. “I hope there is no additional significance put into this game.”

On the mound … For McClanhan and his attempt to regain stature on a major league mound, the outing against Detroit was encouraging. He passed the 40-pitch mark and finished with 41. Though he surrendered one run in the first inning and a two-run homer to John Peck, the Tigers’ second baseman, McClanahan declared his outing a success.

“(The March 9 game) was fun and it’s always good to get out there,” McClanahan said. “I’m trying to work on some stuff, build confidence, and earn trust. Results do not indicate how things went for myself, but I thought I had a good day.”

The start for McClanahan was not ideal.

On four pitches, he walked centerfielder Wenceel Perez to start the game. Perez immediately stole second on rookie catcher Blake Sobel and scored on a single to left off the bat of Riley Greene. In the second, Auston Slater lead-off with a double, and then Peck drilled a two-run shot over the right field fence.

Still, the Rays saw things they liked.

“Good build up for Shane,” said manager Kevin Cash, referring to the 23-pitch count in McClanahan’s first start this spring. “He mentioned to (pitching coach Kyle Snyder) that it’s been a while since he had to pitch through a tough inning, and we’ll take that as a positive. His stuff was in line the way we like it and where we would like this to be.”

The reference from Cash was the Tigers’ second inning. In this frame, McClanahan allowed two extra-base hits and tossed 23 pitches. In his two outings this spring, McClanahan’s 6.23 ERA is misleading. That’s because he has been limited in innings and pitch count.

McClanahan will likely go next Sunday at home against Pittsburgh, and Cash said his pitch count will be elevated to about 50. At this point, he is scheduled to start against the Brewers in Milwaukee on Tuesday, March 31 in the fifth game of the season. That puts McClanahan in the rotation to start the Rays’ home opener on April 6 against the Chicago Cubs.

For Valdez, his intelligent use of pitches was apparent. Mixing in curves, breaking down and in to hitters, that was complemented by a fastball in the mid-90s. The design is to keep hitters guessing, and that evident.

In four innings of work, Valdez turned in an effective 53-pitch count and one earned run. He walked none and fanned six hitters.

 On the diamond … in that March 9 game, the Rays and Tigers ended in a 4-4 tie. The deadlock left Tampa Bay with a spring mark of 6-10-1, and Detroit reached 3-8-2. … DH Will Simpson, hitting clean-up for Tampa Bay, went 3-for-4 and a two-run homer in the sixth. … Shortstop Carson Williams turned in a 2-for-3 afternoon with a double and a solid single to center off Detroit starter Framber Valdez. Through games of March 9, Williams was hitting .368 and Cash remarked, “(Williams) has put together a pretty solid spring. Talking with (Detroit manager A.J. Hinch after the game), A. J. referenced good swings against a really good pitcher.” … Following a home game against the Minnesota Twins on March 11, the Rays have only four more games scheduled for Port Charlotte. These include March 15 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, March 17 against the New York Yankees, March 20 against the Boston Red Sox, and March 21 against the Minnesota Twins. The Rays then open the season on Thursday, March 26, in St. Louis against the Cardinals.

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