Rays come up with a work-share plan for Drew Rasmussen, Joe Boyle

MINNEAPOLIS — Here’s one way to look at the significant change to the Rays pitching plans they unveiled Sunday:

They had two problems — in the good-kind-to-have category — that they found a way to solve with one move.

Drew Rasmussen, making a somewhat unprecedented return to the rotation after a third major elbow surgery, had done well enough during the first half of the season that he was ahead of the pace for the 150-innings limit the team had set for him.

Joe Boyle, the hard-thrower acquired in December from Oakland, was continuing to dominate at Triple-A Durham, but there was no space for him in the big-league rotation.

So the Rays came up with a plan.

Rasmussen would continue to start on his normal turn but make abbreviated appearances — kind of a like a multi-inning opener— so he can contribute throughout the season and potentially the postseason. Sunday, he worked two innings, throwing 32 pitches.

Then Boyle would take over — in baseball jargon, piggybacking — and work like he was starting, typically in the four-six-inning range. Sunday, he went five innings, throwing 95 pitches, 14 at 99 mph.

Rasmussen, who often praises the Rays for their “incredible” handling of him, said he understands the move.

“I think it does two things,” he said. “It lets us get the Joe Boyle experience, which is electric. And then also allows me to just stay on routine as well as limit some of the innings for this year.

“When they brought the idea to me a couple days ago, it was something I’m on board with, obviously, because I think they are always looking out for my best interest.”

Manager Kevin Cash wouldn’t say how long the Rays would use this pairing, but it’s expected to last for at least a few turns through the rotation, so likely past the All-Star break.

Rasmussen, who has thrown 89 ⅓ innings over 18 starts, said he was told it wouldn’t be for the whole season.

Boyle, who was used behind an opener in his last Durham outing on June 29, was truly happy just to be with the big-league team and open to this assignment.

“I feel good about it,” he said. “I’m just glad I got the opportunity to come up here and pitch. I’m glad they gave me the call.”

In 15 games at Triple A, he was 6-4 with a 1.85 ERA and 96 strikeouts over 73 innings, allowing 41 hits and 31 walks. Boyle, 25, also knew it wasn’t his call when he got that call.

“I was just ready,” he said. “Just keep putting my head down and working hard and just waiting for them to tell me where to go, not focusing on things outside of my control.”

Between an April 13 spot start against Atlanta and Sunday’s outing, Boyle has thrown 10 innings for the Rays, allowing three unearned runs, two hits and three walks while striking out 14.

The combination of power and size (6-feet-8, 250 pounds) is impressive, evident by the high-octane fastball and nasty splits and sliders that Cash said generate “unorthodox” swings.

Said Rasmussen, “It’s diesel, and it’s awesome, and it’s very fun to watch. I love getting the opportunity to do it.”

Streak-buster

Brandon Lowe had to settle for sharing the franchise hitting streak record with Yandy Diaz at 20 games. Lowe struck out in his first at-bat Sunday, then left for precautionary reasons after feeling discomfort on his left side.

That seemed like a tough way to lose the streak and chance for the record, but Lowe was happier that the Rays pulled out the 7-5, 10-inning victory.

“I’d trade it for a win,” he said. “That’s perfectly OK with me.”

Infield issues

The Rays planned to start the game with Jose Caballero at shortstop, Lowe at second and Taylor Walls on the bench, knowing Ha-Seong Kim remained sidelined, but markedly improved, from his right calf issue.

But shortly before first pitch, Caballero was scratched due to right arm soreness. So, Walls stated at shortstop — and hit a homer. Then Lowe left in the third inning due to left side tightness. He was replaced by Caballero, who despite the soreness had a busy day — a double, two key bunts, an error and several key plays in the field.

“I’ve got to buy Cabby a dinner or something,” Lowe said.

Lowe said he doesn’t expect to be out long, that leaving the game was more to prevent a severe injury: “It feels very precautionary, as it’s a little sore. Let’s just get off of it for a little bit and let it rest up.”

Kim ran, played catch and took swings in the cage. Cash said the Rays were “really encouraged” with his progress and felt he was close to returning.

Still, that could the leave the team short on infielders for Monday’s game.

Miscellany

Sunday was the Rays’ seventh straight game at Target Field decided in the final at-bat. … Outfielder Chandler Simpson has gone 42 plate appearances without striking out. … Right-handed reliever Peter Strzelecki, a USF product, signed a minor-league deal and will join Durham. He has pitched parts of three seasons in the majors (5-6 with a 3.44 ERA in 77 games) and was released last week from Pittsburgh’s Triple-A team.

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Rays come up with a work-share plan for Drew Rasmussen, Joe Boyle

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