Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen won't be on a short leash in his first start of the second half of the season, which is scheduled for July 22 against the Chicago White Sox. In an effort to keep Rasmussen's workload down this year after he had elbow surgery in 2023, the Rays limited the 29-year-old to no more than three innings in each of his final three starts of the first half. Tampa could put the brakes on Rasmussen again later this year, depending on how many innings he's at, but to begin the second half, fantasy managers should feel comfortable rolling him out there in starting lineups. He should definitely be in there for a plus-plus matchup next week against the White Sox. Rasmussen has only 77 strikeouts in 91 1/3 innings over his 19 starts in 2025, but he's limited the damage and is sporting an impressive 2.86 ERA and 1.03 WHIP.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen continued his strong start to the season in a 3-2 victory over the Miami Marlins on Sunday. While Rasmussen did not factor into the decision, he picked up a quality start with six innings of two-run ball. He yielded six hits, struck out three, and walked one in the contest. Sunday's outing marked the first time Rasmussen allowed a run since May 11. He carried a streak of 23 straight scoreless frames into the game, but Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez snapped it in the first inning with an RBI single. Although Rasmussen has not exceeded six innings in any start this year, he has recorded a highly effective 2.22 ERA with 59:14 K:BB over 69 frames. The 29-year-old will face a formidable New York Mets offense on Saturday.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen was dominant once again on Tuesday, shutting out the Texas Rangers for five frames in a 5-1 win. Rasmussen was electric in this one, allowing just one hit and walking none while punching out eight. It was his fourth straight outing without allowing a run, a stretch of 23 innings. The only negative is that the Rays haven't extended Rasmussen at all this year, with his most pitches thrown being 86. The 29-year-old will have to remain uber-efficient in order to keep racking up quality starts and wins, which can be a tight line to walk. Still, he's been excellent at that so far this year, going 5-4 with a 2.14 ERA, 0.87 WHIP, and 56 strikeouts in 63 IP. Rasmussen should be rostered and started in all leagues right now. His next start is a juicy one, as he gets the Miami Marlins at home on Sunday.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen pitched a quality start and earned the win in Wednesday's 5-0 victory over the Twins. He didn't allow a run over six innings, allowing only one hit and one walk while striking out five. This is now the third straight start where he has pitched six shutout innings. In that 18-inning span, he's allowed nine hits and one walk while striking out 13. The 29-year-old has been as steady as they come, with only one start this season in which he allowed more than three earned runs. He'll carry a 2.33 ERA into his next outing, which is lined up to be against the Rangers.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen pitched six scoreless innings in his team's 3-1 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. He allowed four hits, issued two free passes, and struck out three to earn his second straight win and quality start. The Oregon State product was solid again, yielding exactly four hits and no runs in each of his last two starts. He's done a decent job limiting hard contact, but it's at least mildly concerning that he's toed the rubber six straight times without piling up double-digit swinging strikes. He had a paltry three on Friday. Still, he's been effective -- letting up three earned runs or fewer in all but one of his ten appearances. Rasmussen will carry a 3-4 record into his next outing, a home matchup with the Minnesota Twins early next week.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen threw six scoreless innings in his team's 4-0 win against the Miami Marlins. The 29-year-old righty yielded four hits and struck out five to collect his first quality start of 2025 -- improving to 2-4. Two of the four hits against him came in the first inning (singles), but he quickly shut it down and would settle in for a few frames before allowing a double in the fourth and sixth. Rasmussen has been solid through nine starts, bolstering a 2.93 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 46 innings (40 strikeouts). That's pretty much what we've grown to expect from him, though it's worth mentioning that his strikeout rate is down a bit (22.2%) and he's affording opponents his highest average exit velocity (90.8 MPH) and xBA (.269) since 2021. He'll square off against the Toronto Blue Jays at home next week.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen threw his first live batting practice session of the spring on Wednesday and is working on a five-day starter's schedule. Rasmussen recovered from his third right-elbow surgery last year and rejoined the Rays as a reliever in August. The 29-year-old former sixth-round pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2018 out of Oregon State University appeared in 16 games (four starts) in 2024 and looked good with a 2.83 ERA (1.35 FIP), a 1.08 WHIP, one save, 35 strikeouts and six walks in 28 2/3 innings. There's no guarantee Rasmussen will actually be included as part of the Rays' Opening Day rotation, though, and he's appeared in only 24 games (12 starts) over the last two seasons due to injury. Given all of his elbow injuries over the years, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Rasmussen retreat back to the bullpen, especially since he looked so good in relief in his return in 2024.

The Tampa Bay Rays are working to finalize a multi-year contract extension for right-hander Drew Rasmussen as he plans to return to a starting role in 2025. If the deal is finalized, Rasmussen will get a $500,000 signing bonus, a $2 million salary in 2025, $5.5 million in 2026 and an $8 million option for the 2027 season. His option includes escalator clauses based on health and innings pitched. The incentives make a lot of sense, as the 29-year-old has already had three elbow surgeries in his pitching career. Rasmussen has showed flashes as both a starter and reliever for Tampa, although his whiff rates have been much more impressive as a reliever. In five big-league seasons, Rasmussen has a sharp 2.95 ERA and 1.09 WHIP while striking out 301 and walking 82 in 310 2/3 innings over 99 outings (50 starts). Rasmussen is a big injury risk but is also worth a late-round flier as he transitions back to a starting role.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen will be the opener for Wednesday's contest against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park and is likely to go only two innings. The plan is for left-hander Tyler Alexander to serve as the bulk reliever, although manager Kevin Cash told reporters in Seattle that depending on the game situation with a day off coming on Thursday, the Rays could go with a full bullpen game and use several relievers. This will be Rasmussen's third opening assignment of the year, but fantasy managers will want to avoid the 29-year-old, even against the light-hitting Mariners. Alexander, a 30-year-old southpaw, would be the better streaming option in deeper leagues, but he's also not recommended. In 17 outings (seven starts) this year, he holds a 5.22 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with only 69 strikeouts in 81 innings of work.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen (elbow) was spotted with the team in St. Louis for their series opener against the hosting Cardinals on Tuesday, and he's expected to be activated ahead of Wednesday's game. Rasmussen is set to return to the Rays as a long reliever to manage his workload, which should build him up toward getting back into Tampa Bay's rotation next year. He will be making shorter appearances on less rest, allowing him to return to the big leagues from last year's right flexor strain quicker than he would be able to as a starter. Unless the 29-year-old righty draws spot starts here and there, Rasmussen won't feature an abundance of fantasy upside, despite putting up a 2.62 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 47 strikeouts and 11 walks over 44 2/3 innings in 2023.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen (elbow) tossed two scoreless innings for Triple-A Durham on his minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday, giving up three hits and recording one strikeout. It was Rasmussen's first relief appearance, foreshadowing his likely role upon returning as a versatile, multi-inning reliever for the Rays. He made shorter appearances on less rest, which should allow him to return to the big leagues quicker than he would as a fully built-up starter. The 29-year-old started his rehab assignment with Durham on July 21 by throwing a perfect 15-pitch first inning (11 strikes) with one strikeout and touching 98.8 mph with his fastball. He had another scoreless inning last Wednesday, giving up a hit while striking out one and throwing 11 of his 16 pitches for strikes. Rasmussen's fastball also topped out at 98.3 mph, so he's getting close to a return.

Tampa Bay Rays right-handed pitcher Drew Rasmussen (elbow) pitched a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout in his first rehab outing for Triple-A Durham on Sunday. Rasmussen reportedly touched 99 mph on the radar gun with his fastball in an encouraging appearance. The 21-year-old is working his way back from an internal brace procedure a year ago. He already has a nice big-league track record and could be used as a reliever for the Rays at some point this season before potentially rejoining the starting rotation in 2025.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (elbow) is slated for a live batting practice session on July 2, and the club is planning for him to start a minor-league rehab assignment after the mid-July All-Star break. Rasmussen is looking to take the next step in his throwing progression from last year's right flexor strain, and he's on course to be an option for the Rays sometime later this summer. He'll likely need at least four or five rehab appearances, so fantasy managers should not be expecting him to be available until the middle of August in a best-case scenario. The 28-year-old right-hander did record a 2.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 47:11 K:BB over 44 2/3 innings in Tampa Bay's rotation last season, so he's someone to consider stashing once he gets closer to his 2024 debut.

Tampa Ray Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen (elbow) had a season-ending internal-brace procedure for a right-flexor strain on July 24 of last year. Rasmussen, who has previously had two Tommy John surgeries, is doing well in his rehab and is scheduled to throw in an extended spring game around May 20. President of baseball operations Erik Neander said before the season that Rasmussen could return to the big-league staff in the final months of the season. Rasmussen was put on the 60-day injured list back on Feb. 20. The 28-year-old should remain on the waiver wire in single-year fantasy leagues. The former sixth-round pick in 2018 by the Brewers out of Oregon State had a 2.84 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with a 125:31 K:BB in 28 starts covering 146 innings in his last full season in the majors in 2022.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitchers Jeffrey Springs (elbow) and Drew Rasmussen (elbow) are both scheduled to throw in an extended spring game around May 20. The Rays' rotation is arguably ruined by injury more than any other in baseball, but at least two of their key arms are progressing toward a return at some point later this summer. Springs is likely closer to doing so in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, and barring any setbacks, he could be in line to rejoin Tampa Bay's rotation by July's All-Star break. Rasmussen, on the other hand, is a weaker stash in fantasy leagues because his return from a hybrid internal brace procedure last July is not expected to arrive until the final months of the year. Over his last three seasons (196 innings), Springs owns a 2.53 ERA (3.14 FIP), 1.03 WHIP, and 231:49 K:BB and can be stashed in deep competitive leagues.

The Tampa Bay Rays placed right-hander Drew Rasmussen (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Tuesday to make room on the 40-man roster for the signing of infielder Amed Rosario. Rasmussen won't return until the second half of the 2024 season after having an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow last July. The 28-year-old looked great for the Rays in eight starts last year before getting hurt, posting a 2.62 ERA (2.54 FIP) and 1.05 WHIP with 11 walks and 47 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings pitched, but fantasy managers are going to have to wait until later this year to get another look at him. He's already had two Tommy John surgeries in his career, too, so expecting Rasmussen to pick up where he left off in 2023 would be pretty foolish.

Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander is expecting left-hander Jeffrey Springs (elbow) to return around July or August this year, with right-hander Drew Rasmussen (elbow) returning sometime after that. Springs had Tommy John surgery in late April of last year, so when the 31-year-old does return, he'll most likely be on a strict innings limit to close out the season. He only made three starts in 2023 but was excellent, allowing only a run while striking out 24 in 16 innings. Rasmussen had an internal brace procedure on his elbow in July and probably won't pitch much in the second half in 2024 when he does return. The 28-year-old was solid with a 2.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 47 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings over eight starts last year before his injury, but fantasy managers are going to have to wait until 2025.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (elbow) will undergo an internal brace procedure and won't return until the middle of next season. The organization was hopeful that Rasmussen could make a return this season. The right-hander has been sidelined since the middle of May due to a right flexor strain. He will avoid Tommy John surgery, but will still undergo a similar surgery. The recovery time for this surgery is slightly shorter, but Rasmussen still won't pitch until at least mid-season in 2024.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen (elbow) has been placed on the 60-day injured list. This is shocking news after Rasmussen seemed fine after throwing seven scoreless innings on Thursday. The Rays have already placed Rasmussen on the 60-day injured list, which is never a good sign. Team president of baseball operations Erik Neander said they plan to shut down Rasmussen from throwing for eight weeks. Possibly, Rasmussen is heading in the same direction as fellow teammate Jeffrey Springs, who recently had Tommy John surgery. The loss of Rasmussen is obviously a big blow to both fantasy managers and the Rays rotation. Hopefully, the right-hander hasn't suffered a season-ending injury.

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Drew Rasmussen had a fantastic start on Thursday, shutting down the New York Yankees in an 8-2 win. Rasmussen threw seven solid frames, allowing just two hits and no walks while striking out seven. He probably could've gone further, as he threw just 76 pitches, but we all know how the Rays operate by now. It was the second scoreless outing in a row for the 27-year-old after going through a bit of a rough patch in mid-late April. He is now 4-2 with a 2.62 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, and he has a 47:11 K:BB ratio over 44 IP. He pitches for a great team and has been fairly dependable so far, but he might not earn the number of wins you'd expect since he doesn't often go far into games. He's still a very good fantasy option, though.