Rays' Shane McClanahan: Starting Thursday against A's

McClanahan was added to the Rays' taxi squad Wednesday and will be called up to start Thursday's game against Oakland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McClanahan will make his regular-season debut Thursday after he allowed one hit and no walks while striking out seven in three scoreless innings this spring. The southpaw flashed triple-digit heat in Grapefruit League play and posted a 3.17 ERA in two minor-league seasons, but he hasn't yet pitched above Double-A in the regular season. Juan Toribio of MLB.com reported this winter that the Rays view McClahanan as a starter, and Topkin relays the 24-year-old will be used as a true starter rather than an opener Thursday.