Drew Rasmussen will start Game 1 of the ALDS for the Tampa Bay Rays after finishing 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA and AL-best 0.91 WHIP. The Rays ace will take the mound Saturday at Tropicana Field as Tampa Bay begins its chase for its first World Series title.
The Tampa Bay Rays have made their decision on who will get the start for the very first game of the postseason.
By no surprise, Drew Rasmussen is getting the ball for Game 1 of the ALDS.
And considering what he's done this season, there really wasn't much of a decision to make. Rasmussen finished the regular season 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA across 172 innings and 30 starts. His 0.91 WHIP led the American League, so did his 5.44 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
And now the guy who started Opening Day for Tampa Bay gets the ball to start the postseason.
"I wish I could say it's just baseball, but obviously there's just a little bit more to it, a little bit more excitement, a little bit more adrenaline," Rasmussen told the media.
This will only be Rasmussen's fourth postseason appearance and second playoff start.
But I don't think Tampa Bay could feel much better about the guy taking the mound.
Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder called Rasmussen "the standard."
Veteran pitcher Nick Martinez called him "the perfect pitcher you want to build a team around."
Rasmussen was also depended on when Tampa Bay needed to clinch the American League East last week in the second half of a doubleheader against the New York Yankees. He exceeded expectations, something he has done all season, going 7 scoreless innings to pick up the first division title for Tampa Bay since 2021.
With him being named the Game 1 starter and the way the ALDS is scheduled, Rasmussen could potentially come back to pitch in Game 4 if needed for Tampa Bay.
The rest of the rotation has yet to be announced for the ALDS, nor has the playoff roster been released for Tampa Bay. However, Freddy Peralta is expected to start Game 2, and Nick Martinez is expected to start Game 3.
With the option of putting Griffin Jax and Ian Seymour in the bullpen, plus the potential return of Tyler Wells, the Tampa Bay Rays' pitching staff should be at full strength, except for Shane McClanahan, who is still recovering from injury.
Add in Bryan Baker, who led MLB in saves this season, and you're looking at one of the most dangerous pitching units in all of baseball.
Rasmussen will lead his Rays into Game 1 on Saturday at Tropicana Field against the winner of the AL Wild Card round between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
