The Tampa Bay Rays have spent this season forcing people to look twice, and that includes the conversation around their rotation. Picked by plenty of outlets to finish last in the AL East before Opening Day, they now own the best odds to win the division title. And tucked inside that rise is a starter ESPN’s David Schoenfield says keeps getting overlooked.
That pitcher is Drew Rasmussen.
Schoenfield called Rasmussen “the most underrated pitcher in the majors,” and the numbers back up why he’d land in that conversation. Rasmussen is 11-5 with a 2.75 ERA in 22 starts, and he’s closing in on a sixth straight season with an ERA under 3.00.
He has already earned his second All-Star selection this year and has quietly grown into one of the better starters in the sport. If the postseason started today, he’d be Tampa Bay’s obvious Game 1 choice.
The only real cloud here is health. Rasmussen threw just 73.1 innings in 2023-24 after dealing with a right elbow flexor strain, and he later had an internal brace procedure. That history is why every inning matters.
“The Rays have pushed Rasmussen pretty hard this season, with all but three of his starts coming on four or five days of rest,” Schoenfield added. “They can't really afford to let up since they want to win the division and avoid the wild-card series, but keeping him healthy for October is certainly a huge priority.”
Tampa Bay will have to keep an eye on his workload down the stretch. Rasmussen has become too important to lose for any length of time.
In Other News...
Rays Add Infield Help As A Roster Squeeze Suddenly Hits
The Rays are adding another layer to an infield mix that suddenly needed one, agreeing to a major league deal with utility man Jorge Mateo after his release from Atlanta. For Tampa Bay, the appeal is clear: Mateo brings defensive versatility and the kind of baserunning that can change the feel of a game, while also giving the club some much-needed cover as it sorts through the bottom of the roster.
The move comes as the Rays create room on the 40-man roster, with Ben Williamson heading to the injured list and the next step likely forcing another shuffle in the infield. Tampa Bay has been navigating these kinds of roster squeezes all season, and this one could open the door for Mateo to fill an immediate role while the Rays wait to see how the rest of the group settles. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Could Have One More Late Season Boost In Store
The Rays have spent most of the season operating with the kind of depth that makes October feel close already, and a deadline addition in Liam Hicks only added to the sense that this roster is still capable of finding another gear. With the best record in the American League, Tampa Bay is also in position to keep looking inward, and the organization has several prospects on the radar as the club considers ways to bolster both the lineup and the pitching staff down the stretch.
That next wave could come from a group of young players who have handled minor league responsibilities well enough to stay in the conversation as the season winds on. The Rays are weighing those options with an eye on late-season needs, and the possibility of another boost keeps their final weeks worth watching even after an already strong regular season. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Just Strengthened The Scariest Part Of Their Long-Term Outlook
The Rays did not just pad a contender at the trade deadline, they managed to do it without emptying the cupboard. Already sitting atop the American League standings, Tampa Bay came out of the deadline still widely viewed as the club with the top farm system, according to Baseball America, a rare combination for a team trying to win now and plan for later.
For a franchise that has long built its edge on squeezing value out of every roster move, that is the unsettling part for everyone else in the league. The Rays added help, kept most of their premium young talent intact and left themselves positioned for more than just a short October run, which makes the next few seasons look every bit as uncomfortable for opponents as this one. [Read more 🡒]