Rays SP Shane McClanahan providing pitching need as Junior Caminero displays power again
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Tampa Bay Rays slugger Junior Caminero continues to capture the MLB spotlight.
Generating a home run in his sixth straight game Wednesday, Caminero appeared to overshadow a Shane McClanahan pitching performance that the streaking franchise needs to remain the AL East frontrunners. Over the past week, the Rays went from trailing the New York Yankees by three games in the division to establishing a multi-game advantage.
Caminero connected on a two-run shot three batters into the matchup at Kauffman Stadium. With McClanahan delivering six shutout innings and three relievers taking care of business, Caminero's 24th homer of the season was all the scoring the Rays needed, earning a 4-0 victory.
With Rays manager Kevin Cash utilizing an "opener" every fifth start, the rotation may need additional starting arms to help maintain its postseason pursuit. With the trade deadline approaching Aug. 3, a series of MLB insiders consider the Rays' rotation as the franchise's biggest in-season need.
Rays slugger Junior Caminero overshadows SP Shane McClanahan
Caminero's six-game homer streak is the league's first since Rafael Devers' 2024 effort. At 22 years old, he's also the youngest player to accomplish the feat in MLB history, topping Ken Griffey Jr.
With Caminero compiling the big league's third-best offensive season, amassing a 159 wRC+, the breakout slugger continues to help mask the starting staff's deficiencies.
The Rays entered Wednesday with the No. 9-ranked team ERA (3.78), but outside of McClanahan and Griffin Jax, the rotation's other members have often come up short, ranking 13th in starters' innings.
Cash may need the front office to add another starter or two to help relieve the relief corps.
With Wedneday's win, the Rays (50-33) have captured seven straight and moved 3.5 games ahead of the Yankees, who have dropped seven in a row.
With Caminero creating new power numbers, the Rays' rotational shortcomings have not slowed their divisional rise.
So far.
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