Drew Rasmussen’s sharpest October outing yet came with a bittersweet backdrop for a pair of fellow Beavs. His Game 5 gem in the ALCS helped push Tampa Bay past Cleveland in six games, ending the Guardians’ run and sending the Rays on to the World Series.
For Travis Bazzana, his first taste of the American League Championship Series was a mixed bag. The 2024 No. 1 pick finished the series 4-for-21 and never got his on-base percentage above .300, but he still found a few moments to carry forward.
In the late stages of Game 5, with Cleveland already trailing badly, Bazzana launched his first postseason home run and finished 2-for-3 that day. Even with the exit, the Guardians can still feel encouraged about the shape of their franchise after Bazzana’s first MLB season.
Steven Kwan didn’t quite look like the hitter who surged in the second half of the regular season. He hit .244 in October after sitting above .290 in the final weeks of the regular season, though he did scrape together two hits in a tight Game 5 while Rasmussen was dealing for Tampa. Kwan ended the ALCS with seven hits overall.
Now Rasmussen is headed to the biggest stage of his career, though he’ll have to wait one more day than expected to get there. Manager Kevin Cash announced yesterday that Nick Martinez will start Game 1 Friday night so Rasmussen can get an extra day of rest after the heavy workload he’s carried this postseason. That pushes Rasmussen to Game 2 on Saturday night.
The move lines up Tampa Bay well if the series goes deep, since Rasmussen could also be in line to start Game 6. He was ice-cold in Game 5 of the ALCS, working seven innings and allowing one earned run on four hits in a 3-1 win over Cleveland. For the postseason overall, he has struck out 23 batters in 21 innings and given up just three runs.
Also worth noting: former Oregon State head coach Pat Casey, who guided the program to all three of its national titles, is now a consultant to player development and high performance for the Milwaukee Brewers.
In Other News...
Oregon State's Freshman Breakout Is Changing Everything For The Beavers
Jesse Legrees arrival has turned Oregon States season into one of the most surprising stories in the country. The freshman wide receiver has given first-year head coach JaMarcus Shephard a true go-to weapon, and the Beavers 5-2 start has been built in large part on a passing game that now has a clear centerpiece. What makes it even more striking is the company Legree is already keeping, with his early production landing him in the conversation with some of the most notable freshman receivers college football has ever seen.
For Oregon State, the next question is how long this can keep going and how high the ceiling really is. Legree is already drawing national attention in the Heisman race, which says as much about his weekly impact as it does about how quickly he has become the face of the Beavers offense. The numbers are eye-catching enough on their own, but the bigger issue for Oregon State is whether this breakout stays on its current pace as the schedule tightens and the stakes climb. [Read more 🡒]
Boise State Just Got A Huge Playoff Opening To Protect
James Madisons perfect run is over, and with it came a major shift in the Group of Six playoff race. The Dukes had been building a case as the team to beat for the lone non-power conference spot in the College Football Playoff field, but the loss to Appalachian State opened the door wider for Boise State and tightened the squeeze on the rest of the pack, including Oregon State and New Mexico.
For Oregon State, the path now looks even more crowded, and the margin for error keeps shrinking with every passing week. The Beavers still have a chance to stay relevant in the race, but their remaining schedule leaves little room for a slip if they want to keep pace with Boise States momentum and avoid getting left behind in the final Group of Six scramble. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon State Just Landed A Huge Win In Jesse Legree Saga
Jesse Legrees decision gave Oregon State a major boost heading into the next chapter of its offense. The freshman standout and CBS Sports All-America selection had already become one of the most productive receivers in the country, and his return gives the Beavers a proven centerpiece as they continue building under new general manager Eron Hodges and head coach JaMarcus Shephard, who both helped recruit him after tracking his high school tape.
Legree made the announcement from his home gym, ending a period when his future had started to draw plenty of attention. For Oregon State, keeping him in the fold matters well beyond one offseason, because he is not just a promising young target but a player who has already shown he can change the shape of a passing game and raise the ceiling for everything around it. [Read more 🡒]