Drew Rasmussen has made the Rays’ Game 1 decision look a whole lot simpler.
After another sharp outing against the Texas Rangers on Saturday night, the right-hander strengthened his grip on the spot Tampa Bay would hand to a starter if the MLB postseason began tomorrow. Rasmussen went seven innings in the Rays’ 6-3 extra-inning win, giving up just one earned run and three hits while striking out seven and walking none.
That kind of line has become familiar. More than that, it has become dependable.
The Rays have spent much of the season juggling their rotation, and the uncertainty around it makes Rasmussen stand out even more. Shane McClanahan is back on the injured list.
Freddy Peralta, acquired at the trade deadline, has started to settle in but still has more proving to do. Nick Martinez has been steady, but Rasmussen keeps separating himself from the pack.
If Tampa Bay had to line up its postseason rotation right now, Rasmussen would seem to be the obvious choice to take the ball in Game 1. And based on how he’s pitched, there’s a strong case that shouldn’t change if the Rays keep moving through the ALCS or even the World Series.
Saturday also showed why Tampa Bay feels better about its pitching depth than it did earlier in the year.
Tyler Wells may be becoming one of the most important deadline additions the Rays made. With Bryan Baker unavailable and the bullpen already under pressure, Wells was asked to cover the final six outs and handled it cleanly. He tossed two scoreless innings, struck out three, and kept the automatic runner from scoring in the bottom of the 10th.
Liam Hicks added to the night as well, driving in a run with an RBI single in the eighth inning.
For the Rays, that’s the encouraging part: Rasmussen is making the top of the rotation choice easier, while deadline pickups like Wells and Hicks are giving Kevin Cash more reliable options in the bigger spots. If Peralta keeps trending the right way, Erik Neander’s deadline work could look even better.
For now, though, Tampa Bay is still focused on wrapping up the American League East. The postseason rotation can wait. When that conversation does come, Rasmussen has already done enough to put himself at the front of it.
In Other News...
Rays Suddenly Have A Catching Decision That Could Matter To Miami
The Rays have put themselves in a much better spot behind the plate in a hurry, and Caden Bodine is a big reason why. The prospect has moved through four minor league levels in one season, flashing both the kind of bat and defensive skill set Tampa Bay has long needed from its catchers. For a franchise that has too often had to patch together offense at the position, that kind of rapid rise is notable on its own.
Add in the arrival of Liam Hicks in a trade, and suddenly the Rays have real depth and a decision to make as they look toward the next few seasons. It is the kind of competition that can help a club, especially one that has spent years trying to get more production from its catching group, and it also gives Tampa Bay another layer to consider as the season turns toward the stretch run and the wider implications around the division, including Miami, come into view. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Cleavingers Slide Leaves Rays Watching One Small Detail
Garrett Cleavingers season has followed a familiar reliever arc for long stretches, but the August break in performance has been hard to miss. His ERA and FIP climbed sharply after a strong first half, even though the underlying shape of his delivery and his command metrics have stayed largely intact, leaving the Rays to sort through why the results suddenly turned south.
One answer seems to be hiding in the margins of where his fastball has lived. The pitch has drifted from its usual glove-side lane toward the arm side, and a higher BABIP has only made the damage look worse. If Tampa Bay can get the catchers setup nudged back into a better spot, theres hope Cleavinger can rediscover the fastball location that made him so effective earlier in the year. [Read more 🡒]
Aaron Judges Return Creates A New Problem Rays Fans Should Watch
Aaron Judge is back on the Yankees roster after being activated from the injured list, and his return matters well beyond New York. The slugger has not been in the lineup since May 31, and the Yankees are easing him back into action rather than throwing him right into a full workload, with the club trying to balance his health against its push toward October.
For the Rays, that creates a familiar kind of problem: one of the games most dangerous bats is suddenly back in the division, but not necessarily all the way back to normal yet. Judge skipped a minor-league rehab assignment, so his timing and workload will be worth tracking right away, especially for Tampa Bay as it keeps tabs on a rival that could look a lot different once he is fully settled in. [Read more 🡒]