This page may contain affiliate links. If you click and sign up, make a deposit, or place a wager, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Fans seven over six one-hit frames
Rotowire
Rasmussen (1-0) earned the win Sunday against the Yankees, allowing one hit and striking out seven batters without issuing any walks over six scoreless innings.
Rasmussen was activated from the family medical emergency list just in time to start Sunday's contest, his first since becoming a dad to his second child. The 30-year-old showed no signs of rust, twirling a gem in his return to the mound. The right-hander surrendered just one hit, walked nobody and struck out seven. His latest masterclass brings his season numbers down to a 1.13 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, 17 strikeouts and one walk in 18 innings pitched.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Activated ahead of start
Rotowire
The Rays reinstated Rasmussen (personal) from the family medical emergency list ahead of his scheduled start Sunday against the Yankees at Tropicana Field.
Rasmussen will be returning to the hill for his third start of the season and his first appearance since April 1. He had been previously been scheduled to start this past Tuesday against the Cubs, but he was scratched due to the imminent birth of his child. The Rays then placed Rasmussen on the paternity list before transferring him to the FME list Saturday, but he'll now be ready to pitch as Tampa Bay goes for a sweep of the Yankees. Tampa Bay optioned lefty Joe Rock to Triple-A Durham in order to reopen a spot on the 26-man active roster for Rasmussen.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Moved to FME list
Rotowire
The Rays transferred Rasmussen (personal) from the paternity list to the family medical emergency list Saturday.
The move gives Rasmussen the option of spending an extra day away from the team, though he's still slated to start in Sunday's series finale against the Yankees, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Jesse Scholtens was recalled from Triple-A Durham to replenish the Rays' rotation after Joe Boyle (elbow) was placed on the 15-day IL, and he could start Sunday if Rasmussen is not available.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Lined up to start Sunday
Rotowire
Rasmussen (paternity) is tentatively slated to rejoin the Tampa Bay rotation Sunday versus the Yankees, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Rasmussen remains on the paternity list, but he'll need to be activated Saturday, and the hope is that he'll be ready to go for Sunday's series finale. If that happens, Shane McClanahan would be pushed back to make his next start Tuesday against the White Sox following the team's off day Monday. Rasmussen has permitted two runs with a 10:1 K:BB over his first 10 innings this season.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: May be cleared to start Saturday
Rotowire
Rasmussen (personal) is on track to be activated from the paternity list no later than Saturday and could start the Rays' game that day against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Tampa Bay placed Rasmussen on the paternity list Wednesday, and he looks set to spend the maximum three days away from the team before rejoining the club Saturday. Steven Matz will draw the start in Friday's series opener, but Rasmussen could slot back into the rotation later in the weekend.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Goes on paternity leave
Rotowire
The Rays placed Rasmussen (personal) on the paternity list Wednesday.
Rasmussen had been slated to start Tuesday's game against the Cubs, but he ended up being scratched hours before first pitch after his wife went into labor sooner than anticipated. Tampa Bay didn't have a player available to replace Rasmussen on the roster Tuesday and opted to wait until Wednesday to deactivate him, with Jesse Scholtens now being recalled from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Rasmussen will rejoin the Rays no later than Saturday, and he'll likely be in line to make a start at some point during the team's weekend home series versus the Yankees.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Scratched from Tuesday's start
Rotowire
Rasmussen was scratched from his scheduled start against the Cubs on Tuesday due to the imminent birth of his child, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The right-hander will presumably be placed on the paternity list soon, which will allow him to be away from the team for up to three days. It's unclear when exactly the Rays plan to re-insert Rasmussen into the starting rotation, but his next outing seems likely to come this weekend versus the Yankees. Mason Englert is starting in his place Tuesday as Tampa Bay is opting for a bullpen game.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Fans eight in no-decision
Rotowire
Rasmussen allowed two runs (one earned) on two hits and a walk across five innings Wednesday against the Brewers. He struck out eight.
Rasmussen matched his 2025 season high with eight strikeouts Wednesday. The right-hander has been sharp in two starts to open the 2026 campaign, allowing just two earned runs on six hits across 10 innings. Rasmussen will look to keep it going in his next outing, tentatively scheduled to come next week at home against the Cubs.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Hurls five strong innings in opener
Rotowire
Rasmussen didn't factor into the decision Thursday against the Cardinals, allowing one run on four hits and no walks in five innings. He struck out two.
It was a strong season debut overall for the right-hander, who was able to throw 73 pitches. It's worth noting that Rasmussen tossed 83 pitches in his final start of spring training a week ago, so it might have been a bit of a surprise to see him get pulled when he did Thursday. The Rays were careful about his workload in 2025 -- Rasmussen reached the 90-pitch mark just twice in 31 starts last season -- so his pitch count will remain worth monitoring early on this year.
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Sharp in first spring outing
Rotowire
Rasmussen allowed one hit in two scoreless innings during Monday's Grapefruit League game against Boston. He struck out three.
Rasmussen was very sharp in his first appearance of the spring, tossing 16 of his 23 pitches for strikes. Tampa Bay has already announced that Rasmussen is tabbed to start Opening Day, and the hope this season is that the Rays won't scale back his workload the way they did during the second half of last year. The right-hander should also benefit from the team moving back to pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field in 2026.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Named Opening Day starter
Rotowire
The Rays have named Rasmussen their Opening Day starter, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rasmussen was excellent in 2025 in his first full season back from elbow surgery, collecting a 2.76 ERA and 127:37 K:BB over 150 innings covering 31 starts. He had his workload carefully monitored last season but should have the reins loosened in 2026. That said, given that Rasmussen has undergone three major elbow surgeries, he's unlikely to ever be a workhorse. His Opening Day assignment will come March 26 in St. Louis.
Rasmussen didn't factor into the decision Thursday against Baltimore, allowing two hits and two walks across 2.1 scoreless innings. He stuck out three.
Making his final start of the season, Rasmussen was pulled after recording one out in the third inning, putting him exactly at his 150-inning limit for the season. While Rasmussen failed to make it past five innings in any of his final five outings, the right-hander had a strong campaign overall, posting a 2.76 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP and 127 strikeouts across 31 starts.
10:47
10:30
0:40
1:09
9:52
15:21
9:29
1:29
11:22
9:07
10:59
0:52
1:47
0:48
0:46
0:52
0:47
8:07
9:50
