Tampa Bay Rays must see Pitching Matchup on Thursday

The Tampa Bay Rays and Kansas City Royals will finish a three-game series with a Thursday matinee at Tropicana Field.

The Royals took the first game of the series, snapping the Rays 11-game win streak. The Tampa Bay Rays bounced back on Wednesday with a 2-1 walk-off win in the 10th inning.

This afternoon a couple of young guns will start for the Rays and Royals, in a can’t miss pitching matchup.

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Shane McClanahan will get the start for the Tampa Bay Rays

Shane McClanahan will be making his sixth start for the Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon, looking to build upon his 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

McClanahan has been slowly stretched out by the Tampa Bay Rays, pitching only four innings in his first three starts. In his last two starts, Shane has pitched five innings or more in both. His longest start of the season was 5.1 innings against the New York Mets, in which he picked up his first MLB win.

Along with his steller strikeouts per nine innings, McClanahan carries a 4.03 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and an ERA+ of 96.

McClanahan has been nothing short of electric so far in 2021, and is someone Rays fans should be excited to watch. However, he will be opposed by another member of the 2018 MLB Draft Class.

Brady Singer will get the start against the Tampa Bay Rays

The 18th pick of the 2018 MLB Draft will start for the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, Brady Singer. Singer was selected out of the University of Florida after three incredible seasons with the Gators.

The Leesburg product will likely have lots of friends and family in attendance on Wednesday to watch the righties’ first career start at Tropicana Field.

Singer carries a 2-3 record into the Wednesday start with a 4.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 9.2 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, and 112 ERA+, well over league average.

Singer is coming off his second win on the young season after beating the Detriot Tigers on May 22nd. Singer went 6.1 innings in that start, allowing three runs on six hits, striking out six.

Why Tampa Bay Rays fans should watch

This is going to be a fun game to watch, need I say more? You have two 2018 first-round draft picks squaring off, and not to mention, two Florida guys.

As I mentioned, Singer was born in Leesburg, Florida, about two hours from Tropicana Field. He attended the University of Florida, so Gator fans, who double as Rays fans, should be excited.

Shane McClanahan was born in Cape Coral, Florida, just over two hours from Tropicana Field, however two hours south, rather than Singer who is from two hours north.

McClanahan attended the University of South Florida, just 31 miles from Tropicana Field.

Florida sports fans and baseball fans all around should be locked into this matchup. Two guys who look to be feature aces of their teams squaring off in a great matchup.

What more could you want on a Thursday afternoon?