New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays

There is a phrase Shane McClanahan occasionally repeats when discussing his lofty expectations, one he brought up again Tuesday afternoon in the Rays clubhouse while discussing the high standard he sets for himself. “If I’m here,” McClanahan said, “why not find out how good I can be?” That was his mentality when he made himself one of the game’s best young starters and a two-time All-Star in 2022 and ‘23. After losing two and a half seasons to significant injuries, that mindset has guided McClanahan back to the top of his game. After breezing through six shutout innings in his last start, McClanahan one-upped himself by holding the Yankees scoreless for 6 1/3 innings in the Rays’ 3-0 win on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. “Everything he did tonight was pretty spectacular,” manager Kevin Cash said of McClanahan. The left-hander struck out five, didn’t issue a walk for the second straight start and pitched into the seventh inning for the first time since June 16, 2023. Now, he will head into the All-Star break with a 2.83 ERA in 17 starts. The numbers are there. The stuff’s back. But does McClanahan think he’s fully returned to form? “Close,” he said. “I think this is a time for reflection for myself and \[to\