Drew Rasmussen Fantasy Stats

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen gave fantasy managers a sour finish to an otherwise excellent first half, allowing six runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings against the Yankees on July 9. That one start raised his ERA from 2.78 to 3.26. The rest still looks clean: a 0.95 WHIP, 98 strikeouts in 99 1/3 innings, and only 17 walks. The new changeup is doing real work. Rasmussen barely used it last season, but the pitch is up to 12.2% usage with a .178 xwOBA and 38.9% whiff rate. His strikeout rate has climbed from 21.7% to 25%, while the walk rate has dropped from 6.3% to 4.3%. The elbow history and likely 170-inning cap remain the concern, not what he is doing on the mound. If the Yankees blowup softened the price, buy.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen was at his best on Wednesday at Tropicana Field in the team's 7-5 win over the division-rival Boston Red Sox. Rasmussen was dominant, tossing seven shutout innings with only two hits allowed, one walk, and a career-high 13 strikeouts to earn his sixth win of the season and lower his ERA on the year to 2.71. The 30-year-old veteran threw 66 of his 97 pitches for strikes and induced 20 swings and misses. Rasmussen is having a strong season for the first-place Rays, but he has been nearly unhittable of late, posting a 1.80 ERA, 0.64 WHIP, and 32:4 K:BB in 25 innings over his last four starts, putting up scoreless appearances in three of those outings. He'll be put to the test in his next scheduled start on the road against the defending World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers, but with the way he's been pitching of late, it's hard to recommend benching him. Rasmussen is no stranger to arm injuries, but when he's been healthy, he's been money for Tampa, posting an ERA under 3.00 in each of his four full seasons with the team.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen picked up his third win of the season on Monday, allowing three earned runs across six innings of work in his team's 8-5 win over the Toronto Blue Jays. Rasmussen allowed four hits and a walk while striking out six. The 30-year-old is off to a strong start to the year, as he's pitched to a 3.16 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP with 43 strikeouts across 42 2/3 innings (eight starts). With a 4.1% walk rate, Rasmussen's command is arguably the best of any starting pitcher in baseball. However, fantasy managers may want to think about selling high on Rasmussen. While the 30-year-old reached 150 innings in 2025, he's already undergone two Tommy John surgeries and one internal brace procedure so far in his career. Given his extensive injury track record, cashing in on Rasmussen at a high point in his value could be the right move.

The hope is that Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen (personal) will come off the paternity list to make his next start on Sunday against the division-rival New York Yankees, manager Kevin Cash told Ryan Bass. Nothing is set in stone, though, and Rasmussen's next start is to be determined. If it happens, it would push left-hander Shane McClanahan to Tuesday in a very favorable fantasy matchup against the Chicago White Sox. Right-hander Nick Martinez is in line to make the start on Saturday against the Yankees with Rasmussen still on the paternity list. Rasmussen, who has already had a couple of elbow reconstructions, left the team earlier this week for the birth of his child. He has looked good so far in his first two starts in 2026, allowing three runs (two earned) while walking only one and fanning 10 in 10 innings of work. However, he'll face a pretty big early-season challenge in the hot-hitting Yankees if he makes the start in Sunday's series finale.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (personal) could make his return to the mound on Saturday, according to Marc Topkin. There was hope that Rasmussen could pitch on Friday, but it sounds like the earliest that he'll be back is on Saturday. The right-hander is currently on the paternity leave list, but should be activated in the near future. In the meantime, the Rays will turn to left-hander Steven Matz for the series opener against the New York Yankees on Friday. Fantasy managers should check back for an update, but it sounds like Rasmussen should be ready to go this weekend.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who is away from the team right now for the birth of his child, could return to the team's starting rotation on Friday against the New York Yankees, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. The 30-year-old was scratched from his scheduled outing against the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday after his wife went into labor. At the latest, Rasmussen will rejoin the team on Saturday for the weekend series against the Yankees. After being named an All-Star for the first time in his career in 2025, Rasmussen is off to a good start in 2026 after two starts, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits (two homers) while walking just one and striking out 10 in 10 innings pitched. Rasmussen is looking to take the next step in his seventh year in the big leagues, but he'll have a pretty big challenge on his hands against New York in his third start of the season after he comes off the paternity list.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen (personal) has been scratched from his scheduled start on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs with his wife, Stevie, expecting the couple's second child, according to Ryan Bass. Mason Englert will serve as the opener on Tuesday against Chicago. Rasmussen will eventually be placed on the paternity list, which will allow him to be away from the team for up to three days. The 30-year-old veteran will likely make his next start this weekend against the New York Yankees in a tough matchup. After being a first-time All-Star in 2025, Rasmussen is off to a good start in 2026, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits (two homers) while walking one and striking out 10 in 10 innings of work. Englert, 26, won't be a viable DFS play as an opener in what is likely to be a bullpen game for the Rays. This will be Englert's third career start in 76 appearances, and he's already allowed four earned runs with two homers allowed in three innings out of the Rays' bullpen.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen, who has been named the team's Opening Day starter in 2026, is a pretty good bet to see a career-high in innings pitched this year, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Rasmussen exceeded expectations in his first full year back from Tommy John surgery in 2025, going 10-5 with a 2.76 ERA (3.84 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, and 127:37 K:BB in 150 innings over 31 starts to become a first-time All-Star. For obvious reasons, the Rays closely monitored the 30-year-old's workload, and he still set a new career high in innings. Rasmussen has already had three serious elbow surgeries, dating back to his college days, but barring an injury this year, he should easily surpass the 150-inning mark he set in 2025. With more volume comes higher fantasy upside for Rasmussen, who is ranked as RotoBaller's No. 44 fantasy starting pitcher in 2026.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen will take the hill on Opening Day on March 26 against the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Rasmussen gets the nod after exceeding expectations last year in his first full season back from right-elbow surgery. The 30-year-old veteran was a first-time All-Star in his sixth year in the big leagues and went 10-5 with a 2.76 ERA (3.84 FIP), 1.02 WHIP, career-high 127 strikeouts, and 37 walks in 150 innings pitched over 31 starts. Still, fantasy managers need to remember that Rasmussen has had three elbow surgeries in his career. The Rays could loosen the leash a bit in terms of his workload in 2026, but they will still probably be somewhat cautious, given his injury history. You can't argue with Rasmussen's results when he's been healthy, though, as he has the fourth-best ERA among all pitchers in the last five years. He has a decent floor as a No. 4 starting pitcher in fantasy.

On a per-inning basis, Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen was one of the best hurlers in the big leagues in 2025. Across 150 innings (31 starts), the 30-year-old posted a 10-5 record with a 2.76 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, and 127 strikeouts. However, volume remains a problem for Rasmussen's fantasy outlook, as he averaged fewer than five innings pitched per start. He also struck batters out at just a 21.7% clip, which means he will leave fantasy managers wanting in the strikeout category unless he can greatly increase his innings workload. On the bright side, 2025 was Rasmussen's first season after throwing just 73 1/3 combined innings across 2023 and 2024 due to injury. With a full season of health under his belt, Tampa Bay may look to push him closer to 175 innings in 2026. However, Rasmussen has already undergone three major elbow procedures in his career, so he carries significant injury risk. Fantasy managers can rely on Rasmussen for excellent ratios when healthy, but may be wise to temper expectations for his workload volume heading into 2026.