TAMPA — Drew Rasmussen’s return to the Rays’ rotation as a traditional starter went well in Monday night’s 6-1 win over Pittsburgh.
Rasmussen threw five shutout innings, allowing only two hits with zero walks and four strikeouts, throwing 46 of his 70 pitches for strikes, including a stretch of 11 straight first-pitch strikes.
“He as much as anybody is committed to the strike zone,” manager Kevin Cash said. “I think he knows that he can get outs with the best of them in the zone. He doesn’t have to expand. And once he does establish it, like he did (Monday), you’ll start seeing guys go out of the zone and chase when he needs it. But he was outstanding.”
Rasmussen was making his first traditional start in close to two years, since a May 11, 2023, game at Yankee Stadium. In between was an elbow injury, a third major surgery, a return to the Rays in August 2024 as a two-inning max reliever and opener, a communal decision to return to starting, a contract extension and an encouraging spring.
Rasmussen said he didn’t consider Monday a big step, more a return to normalcy, albeit with a soft five-inning cap the first month or so of the season.
“It’s something that I’m comfortable doing,” he said. “It’s something that I’ve done quite a bit in my life. ... Really the only difference is knowing how long you’re going to have to go. And although we had the idea that it was going to be five tonight, it is one of those things that it’s just the length that really changes things.”
Under the lights
Though some of the seating areas seemed dark, the review from players on both teams was no real issues with the Steinbrenner Field lights for the first night game.
Rays manager Kevin Cash said it didn’t seem any different than any other stadium with some concern around twilight “but other than that, it looks very bright from my vantage point.‘’
Rightfielder Jake Mangum said he talked with second baseman Brandon Lowe and “It was better than what we were anticipating. Saw the ball fine. ... In the (batter’s) box, I didn’t hear anyone say that they couldn’t see it, so it felt bright out there.‘’
Bat men
Three Rays (Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz, Jonny DeLuca) used bats with the new torpedo-shaped barrels Sunday that have become a major topic of conversation throughout the league, and there are several in the bat rack for others to give them a try.
Cash said he has no preference on the matter.
“I hope they work,” Cash said. “If we hit homers with them, then I’ll start encouraging it a lot.”
Baz’s day
Tuesday’s story line seems intriguing.
Shane Baz pitching for the first time against the Pirates team that drafted him 12th overall in 2017, paid him $4.1 million to sign and then just more than a year later traded him to the Rays, with Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows, for Chris Archer.
But not to Baz.
“I’m more just thankful for them taking a chance on me out of high school,” he said Monday. “It’s cool. I’m trying not to look into it too much, trying to just treat it in like another game.”
Baz’s dismissal of the drama is for good reason though.
To him, the bigger accomplishment was just being on the Rays’ opening-day active roster and in the rotation for the first time since debuting in September 2021.
“It’s my fourth (opening day) now, but it’s my first one healthy,” Baz said. “It’s not how you envision it, but I’m just happy that I can be part of the club on opening day and get the ball every five days and see what I can do.”
Baz debuted in the majors in September 2021 at ...
