New York Yankees' Boogeyman Continues to Haunt Them

The New York Yankees dropped Game 1 of their Division Series matchup against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday night, falling 1-0 courtesy of a gem from Drew Rasmussen.

No one should be surprised.

Rasmussen entered the opener with 11 career outings against the Yankees under his belt. During those performances, he posted a 1.81 ERA.

Outside of one game back in July in which New York chased Rasmussen in less than three innings, the Yankees have been unable to touch the right-hander.

That continued Saturday evening, as Rasmussen took a no-hitter into the eighth inning — which Austin Wells broke up and then ruined with a baffling baserunning blunder — and finished with 10 strikeouts on the affair.

Given that New York will certainly see Rasmussen again if this series extends, his dominance against the Bronx Bombers is a problem they can't seem to solve.

Gerrit Cole pitched well enough, going five innings and allowing a solo home run to Jonathan Aranda for the only run of the game. The bullpen also did a terrific job holding down the Rays' offense.

But unfortunately, the Yankees' bats couldn't get anything going.

Some relief will come over the next couple of games because, well, Rasmussen won't be on the mound, but suddenly, those 18 runs that New York scored in two games against the Boston Red Sox feel like a distant memory.

The Rays do not yet know who will be on the bump in Game 2, but it could be Freddy Peralta, whom they acquired from the New York Mets at the MLB trade deadline and has actually had a nice run in Tampa Bay.

The Yankees will be featuring Cam Schlittler, so they have to feel pretty good about their chances. Max Fried or Carlos Rodon will then go in Game 3.

But at some point, if New York is going to beat the Rays and move on to the ALCS, it will have to figure out a way to crack Rasmussen.

Rasmussen is good against everyone. He isn't specifically a Yankee killer ... but he does seem to take it up a notch when he sees pinstripes.

The Yankees' offense is good enough — even without Aaron Judge — where it should be able to decode any pitcher. Rasmussen just seems to be New York's kryptonite.

We'll see if the Yanks can bounce back in Game 2, but even if they do, Rasmussen looms.