On Wednesday, the Tampa Bay Rays‘ American League Division Series opponent was confirmed: the New York Yankees, after their 9-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 2 of their American League Wild Card Series, completing the sweep.
Earlier in the day, though, the Rays announced their starting pitcher for Saturday’s ALDS opener: Drew Rasmussen.
The decision is no surprise, as the 31-year-old has been the anchor of Tampa Bay’s starting rotation and the epitome of consistency this season.
Over 30 starts in 2026, Rasmussen went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA and 0.91 WHIP over 172 innings. He recorded 174 strikeouts against just 32 walks while holding opposing hitters to a career-low .199 batting average. Rasmussen’s numbers ranked among MLB‘s best, as he finished tied for second in wins, third in WHIP, fifth in batting average against, and seventh in ERA.
His stellar campaign earned him All-Star honors for the second consecutive season, following a great 2025, in which he posted a 2.76 ERA over 31 starts.
Yet despite Rasmussen’s regular-season success, Saturday will be his first postseason appearance since the Rays’ 2022 American League Wild Card Series against the Cleveland Guardians.
He did not play in Tampa Bay’s last postseason appearance in 2023 because of a right elbow flexor strain that required season-ending surgery.
Over three career postseason appearances (one start), Rasmussen owns a 5.79 ERA and 1.50 WHIP over 4.2 innings.
None of those games were against the Yankees, but Rasmussen has had success against them this season. Over four starts against New York in 2026, Rasmussen gave up seven runs over 22 innings, with six coming in his July 9 start, when he lasted just 2.1 innings. That outing was Rasmussen’s most runs allowed in a game this season and his shortest.
Aside from that single poor performance, Rasmussen’s other three regular-season starts against the Yankees were all quality starts.
Nonetheless, Tampa Bay is turning to its ace for Saturday’s ALDS opener. He will go against either Carlos Rodón or Gerrit Cole, though the Yankees have not decided who will start Game 1, according to The Athletic‘s Chris Kirschner.
Either way, the Rays will look to set the tone and take a 1-0 series lead over New York behind Rasmussen on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. ET.
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