Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Out until middle of next year
Rotowire
Manager Kevin Cash said Saturday that Rasmussen (elbow) will undergo an internal brace procedure and won't return until the middle of next season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Rays had previously hoped that Rasmussen would be able to return late in this season after he hit the 60-day injured list with a right flexor strain in mid-May, but that won't be the case. The righty will avoid undergoing Tommy John surgery for the third time in his career, but not by a wide margin. The internal brace alternative is a similar surgery and carries a recovery time that's at best only somewhat shorter.
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: To 60-day IL with flexor strain
Rotowire
Rasmussen was placed on the 60-day injured list by the Rays on Friday with a right flexor strain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Rasmussen just tossed seven shutout innings against the Yankees on Thursday, but evidently he must have felt something in his elbow and/or forearm after the outing. He's hoping to avoid surgery, per Topkin, but will be facing a lengthy absence regardless. Rasmussen has already had Tommy John surgery twice. It's a major blow to a rotation that has already lost Jeffrey Springs to Tommy John surgery and is still awaiting the season debut of Tyler Glasnow (oblique). Taj Bradley has struggled in his last few starts at Triple-A Durham but could still be an obvious candidate to replace Rasmussen in the Tampa Bay rotation.
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Dominates across seven innings
Rotowire
Rasmussen (4-2) earned the win against the Yankees on Thursday, with seven shutout innings while allowing two hits. He struck out seven.
For the second time this month, Rasmussen stifled the Yankees. He tossed 5.2 shutout innings Saturday and has not allowed a run in 21 career innings against the Yankees. The righty has been excellent for the first-place Rays this season with a 2.62 ERA. For the first time in his career, he is striking out more than a batter per inning, with 47 punchouts in 44.2 innings.
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Takes no-decision against White Sox
Rotowire
Rasmussen allowed three runs on nine hits while striking out three over five innings against the White Sox on Sunday. He did not walk a batter nor did he factor into the decision.
The White Sox got to Rasmussen in the opening frame with a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly. He faced little resistance through the order until the sixth inning, during which he allowed a leadoff base hit before Yasmani Grandal sent one over the wall in center to put the Sox ahead 3-2. Rasmussen's day would conclude abruptly following the home run ball. It was just the second homer he's allowed this year, but he's been knocked around quite a bit, allowing at least eight hits in three of his last four outings while failing to surpass five innings. The 27-year-old has been hit or miss in six starts this season and now owns a 3.66 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 34:9 K:BB over 32 innings. He's lined up to take the mound in a divisional clash with the Yankees next weekend.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Drew Rasmussen: Falls to Houston
Rotowire
Rasmussen (3-2) took the loss Tuesday, allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks over 4.2 innings against the Astros. He struck out five.
Rasmussen worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning and held Houston off the board over the first four frames. However, he'd stumble in the fifth, allowing five runs on six hits en route to a 5-0 loss. Rasmussen has held the opposition scoreless in three of his five outings this year, though he's allowed 10 runs over his other two starts. The 27-year-old right-hander has a 3.33 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 31:9 K:BB through 27 innings this season.
