Rasmussen (2-4) earned the win against the Marlins on Saturday, allowing four hits and no walks while striking out five over six scoreless innings.
Rasmussen needed only 81 pitches to complete six frames for the first time this year. While Saturday marked his first win since his season debut March 31, the 29-year-old has allowed three earned runs or fewer in eight of nine starts. He'll carry a 2.93 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 40:10 K:BB across 46 innings into a home matchup with the Blue Jays next weekend.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Allows two homers in loss
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Rasmussen (1-4) took the loss against the Brewers on Sunday, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts over five innings.
Rasmussen surrendered back-to-back home runs in the fourth inning and was charged with his third straight loss. He's now allowed three earned runs or more in four of his past five outings and hasn't recorded a win since his season debut. Still, the 29-year-old owns a solid 3.38 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 35:10 K:BB across 40 innings and lines up for a favorable matchup with the Marlins next weekend.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Takes loss in short outing
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Rasmussen (1-3) yielded three runs on five hits and two walks over 4.1 innings Tuesday, striking out two and taking a loss against the Phillies.
Rasmussen was not very effective Tuesday, but all the damage against him came during the second inning. He gave up a solo shot to Kyle Schwarber followed by Alec Bohm's two-run homer. Rasmussen completed at least five innings in each of his first six starts but has yet to finish six frames in any outing this year. Despite some recent shakiness (10 earned runs over his last 14.1 innings), he still owns a 3.09 ERA with a 32:9 K:BB through 35 innings. Rasmussen is currently lined up for a home matchup with the Brewers this weekend.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Tosses five innings in loss
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Rasmussen (1-2) took the loss Wednesday against the Royals after allowing three runs on six hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out three.
For the sixth time in as many starts to begin the season, Rasmussen hurled at least five innings Wednesday. However, the right-hander gave up a season-high six hits and fanned a season-low three. The Rays appear to be monitoring Rasmussen's workload after he missed nearly 15 months from 2023 to 2024 following elbow surgery, considering the hurler has yet to reach the 90-pitch mark in any of his six outings this year. He sports a 2.64 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 30:7 K:BB over his first 30.2 innings of the campaign.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Pitches five innings once again
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Rasmussen allowed four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five in five innings Thursday against Arizona. He didn't factor into the decision.
Although Rasmussen did yield a season-high four runs and five hits, he still pitched at least five innings in his fifth straight start to open the campaign. The right-hander also gave up his first homer, a leadoff solo shot in the fifth frame to Tim Tawa, but it's been a steady beginning to the season overall. Rasmussen will be looking to reach the 90-pitch marker for the first time this year in his next start, which is poised to come versus the Royals at home. He boasts a 2.10 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 27:6 K:BB over 25.2 innings.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Takes loss despite strong outing
Rotowire
Rasmussen (1-1) took the loss against the Yankees on Friday, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out seven across 5.2 innings.
Rasmussen put together another strong performance Friday, tossing 84 pitches (58 strikes) while generating 17 whiffs and fanning seven batters for a second straight game. The RBI single that he gave up to Trent Grisham in the second inning was Rasmussen's only blemish, but he still came away with the loss due to the lack of run support from the Tampa Bay offense. Rasmussen has allowed only two runs across his four outings and sports a 0.82 WHIP and 22:5 K:BB in 20.2 innings. He's in line to face the Diamondbacks on the road next week.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Strikes out seven in no-decision
Rotowire
Rasmussen did not factor into the decision in Saturday's 5-4 loss to Atlanta, allowing four hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over five scoreless innings.
Rasmussen was sharp, generating 10 whiffs on 80 pitches and exiting with a 2-0 lead before the Rays' bullpen let it slip away. He has been dominant to open the season, posting a 0.60 ERA, 0.73 WHIP and 15:2 K:BB across 15 innings. The only knock on the 29-year-old so far is his workload, as he has yet to pitch beyond the fifth frame in any of his three starts. Even so, he'll aim to stay hot in a home matchup with the Yankees next week.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Posts another great start
Rotowire
Rasmussen allowed one run on three hits and a walk while striking out four in five innings Sunday against the Rangers. He did not factor in the decision.
Rasmussen was fantastic again Sunday and was able to generate a ton of weak contact with his cutter. The Rangers managed just three singles against him, though two of them came in the third, leading to a run. Rasmussen's command continues to be a strength of his. Up until his fourth-inning walk, the 30-year-old righty had not walked a batter in six straight starts. He'll look to keep it rolling in a home start versus Atlanta next weekend.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Shines with five two-hit innings
Rotowire
Rasmussen (1-0) picked up the win after allowing two hits and no walks in five scoreless innings Monday against the Pirates. He struck out four.
Rasmussen was sharp in his season debut Monday, scattering two singles against a Pittsburgh lineup that offered little to no resistance. The right-hander made just four starts (16 appearances) a year ago after missing most of 2023 due to an internal brace procedure, but he should serve as a full-time member of Tampa Bay's rotation this season. Rasmussen's next appearance is slated to come this weekend in Texas, which would be a tougher test.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Seems to have rotation spot
Rotowire
Rasmussen threw 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out three in Friday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.
Rasmussen continues to ramp up, with Friday's outing marking his longest of the spring. He's been in a battle for the rotation spot for the last month, though Joe Boyle was demoted to Triple-A Durham on Saturday while Shane McClanahan (triceps) won't be ready to begin the season. That seemingly sets up Rasmussen to occupy a rotation spot.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Progresses to four innings
Rotowire
Rasmussen allowed three earned runs on five hits while striking out six and walking none across four innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.
This marked Rasmussen's second official spring start, though he completed three innings in a live batting practice session March 9. In addition to impressively striking out six batters, this was something of a milestone for Rasmussen as he hadn't completed more than two innings since May of 2023. Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Rasmussen is operating as a starter, but it remains unclear how the Rays will sort out their starting rotation to begin the season.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Two innings in spring debut
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Rasmussen threw two scoreless innings during which he allowed one hit and one walk in Monday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta.
Rasmussen has dealt with elbow injuries across the last two seasons, severely limiting his innings. However, he's still being stretched out as a starter this spring and managed 29 pitches in his spring training debut. Per Adam Berry of MLB.com, manager Kevin Cash has stated the team will use common sense when monitoring Rasmussen's workload, which could mean he is initially used in shorter stints or his turn through the rotation is occasionally skipped.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Prepping as starter
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Rasmussen threw live batting practice Wednesday and is preparing for the season as a starter, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rasmussen has been limited to only 24 total appearances across the last two seasons due to elbow issues, and he didn't pitch more than two innings in any outing in 2024 after returning to the mound in early August. However, he'll be set to work on a five-day starter's schedule throughout spring, something he believes will keep him healthier rather than potentially pitching back-to-back days out of the bullpen. Tampa Bay has a solid five-man unit with Shane McClanahan back after missing all of 2024 due to Tommy John surgery, so Rasmussen may need a strong spring performance combined with some luck to earn a rotation spot to begin the year.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Agrees to contract extension
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The Rays and Rasmussen avoided arbitration Tuesday by agreeing to a two-year, $8 million contract extension, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The deal also includes an $8 million club option for 2027, which could escalate to as high as $20 million if Rasmussen reaches all of his health and innings pitched incentives. There's a $500,000 buyout attached to the option, so the right-hander is guaranteed a total of $8.5 million with the extension. Rasmussen looked sharp in 2024 in his return from an internal brace procedure, holding a 2.83 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 35:6 K:BB over 28.2 innings. He is expected to return to the rotation full time in 2025, though he will have significant workload restrictions in place after totaling just 80.2 frames since the start of the 2023 season.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Opening Saturday's game
Rotowire
Rasmussen will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Saturday's game versus the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rasmussen has put up a 2.79 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 19.1 innings this season. He'll likely be asked to work the first one or two innings of Saturday's contest before turning the game over to Tyler Alexander, who is expected to work in bulk relief.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Serving as opener Wednesday
Rotowire
Rasmussen will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Wednesday's game against the Mariners.
Rasmussen will be making his third start of the season, but as was the case on the previous two occasions, he'll likely be limited to one or two innings. Tyler Alexander is expected to be deployed as a bulk reliever behind Rasmussen.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Opening Sunday's game
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Rasmussen will serve as the Rays' opening pitcher for Sunday's game against Arizona, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rasmussen will make his second start of the season Sunday, though he's expected to pitch just one or two innings before handing the ball off to bulk reliever Tyler Alexander. Since completing his recovery from an internal brace procedure and returning from the 60-day injured list Aug. 7, Rasmussen has given up three earned runs on six hits and no walks while striking out six over five innings.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Cleared for '24 debut with Tampa
Rotowire
The Rays reinstated Rasmussen (elbow) from the 60-day injured list Wednesday.
Rasmussen is expected to vie for a spot in the Tampa Bay rotation in 2025, but he'll be operating as a reliever down the stretch of the current season while he makes his return from the internal brace procedure he underwent last July. Though Rasmussen had a pair of Tommy John surgeries on his resume before he underwent his latest elbow operation last summer, he didn't seem to have much trouble regaining velocity or control during his rehab assignment. Over his five appearances at Triple-A Durham, Rasmussen gave up seven runs on 11 hits over 7.1 innings, but his 8:0 K:BB was encouraging. He's expected to operate as a one- or two-inning reliever for the Rays and will likely be eased back in with low-leverage work, though he could eventually push for usage in higher-leverage spots.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Set for activation Wednesday
Rotowire
The Rays will activate Rasmussen (elbow) from the 60-day injured list prior to Wednesday's game in St. Louis, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rasmussen has completed the long rehab from an internal brace procedure on his right elbow and is slated to serve as a one- or two-inning reliever for the Rays down the stretch, per Topkin. The right-hander allowed seven runs over 7.1 innings during his minor-league rehab assignment but also had an 8:0 K:BB and touched the upper-90s with his fastball. While the Rays will manage Rasmussen's workload in the final two months as a reliever this season, the plan is for him to return to a starting role in 2025.
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Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Nearing return
Rotowire
Rasmussen (elbow) is getting close to returning from the injured list, MLB.com reports.
Rasmussen made his fifth rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Saturday and completed two innings while allowing two runs. Despite the fact that he has allowed seven earned runs across his last 3.1 frames, the Rays are expected to activate Rasmussen in the coming week. He is set to work out of the bullpen.
