Published: June 26, 2009 11:45 pm      

McClung to make first start of season today

Today stands to be a memorable day for Seth McClung.

The Greenbrier East graduate and current Milwaukee Brewer will make his first start of the season tonight against San Francisco. McClung has been a long reliever all season but gets the nod as the Brewers continue to contend in the NL Central.

“I am very excited about the opportunity to return to the rotation,” McClung said Friday. “At the same time I am not overly happy. I must remain focused to make sure I make the most of this situation.”

The Brewers were one game back of St. Louis in the Central standings heading into Friday’s series opener against the Giants. McClung has played a big role in that, enjoying easily his best season as a big leaguer.

In 28 appearances, the 6-foot-6 right-hander is 3-1 with a 3.24 earned-run average. As successful as he has been out of the pen, McClung has no apprehension about becoming a starter again.

“No, this is something that I personally and professionally want,” he said. “It is also the role that I have been given on this team.”

McClung, who has increased his running program to increase his stamina, has no doubt that he can go deep into the game. His highest pitch count this season is 48.

“I am confident that I can push myself to 100 pitches, but I have to let the coaching staff do their job on that decision,” he said.

McClung wore several hats last season as the Brewers made a run to their first postseason appearance in 26 years. He began the year as a reliever before joining the rotation in May. In July, he and Dave Bush were part of an experiment by then-manager Ned Yost in which McClung started only on the road and Bush at home.

Eventually, McClung was sent back to the bullpen. He made an emergency start against Cincinnati in September.

All told, McClung was 4-4 with a 4.24 ERA in 2008.

Two rotation spots came open last week when Bush was placed on the disabled list and Manny Parra was demoted to Triple-A Nashville. Mike Burns was called up from Nashville and allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings in a 6-4 loss to Minnesota on Thursday.

McClung has a 4.50 ERA over four innings in two career relief appearances against the Giants.

Before he takes the mound, McClung will be on national television today when he appears on the baseball magazine program “This Week in Baseball.”

McClung’s holiday baseball academy, held in Beckley in December, will be featured on the show, which airs nationally every Saturday on Fox before its game of the week. Locally, the program will air at 3:30 p.m.

This will be McClung’s second appearance on TWIB. He was featured on the program after having Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow during the 2003 season.

— E-mail: gfauber@

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