I think McClanahan is the first lefty starter UConn has faced all season. In this case , they are going right to the top of the class with McClanahan, who could be the overall top pick in the upcoming draft.
With the expected return of Zac Susi to his catching spot, this would also be a good time to keep Thad Phillips and his hot right handed bat in the lineup. I half expect him to replace lefty swinging Chris Winkel at 1B against McClanahan.
UConn has a big problem at the bottom of the batting order that has not gone unnoticed. The focus has been on Conor Moriarty and the horrible slump that has taken his season batting average below 150. The problem is twofold, as Mike Woodworth is also hitting well under the fabled Mendoza Line. It’s tough to have two hitters like this in any lineup. The problem gets compounded as these two are both UConn’s best defensive options at 3B and 2B. If this non hitting continues, I would expect Christian Fedko to get more starts in the infield, especially since he could soon be losing some of his DH time to Phillips. It becomes a pick your poison type of thing, less than stellar defense versus a lack of offensive production. At the very least I would hope that we should start seeing more pinch hitting at the bottom of the order when UConn is behind in a game and with Moriarty and/or Woodworth coming up.
