TAMPA \u2014 Drew Rasmussen is meticulous in his preparation and planning, accounting for just about every contingency. <\/p>\n
But this one was out of his control.<\/p>\n
He already had put three zeroes on the scoreboard when Tuesday\u2019s game was delayed by rain with the Rays batting in the bottom of the third inning.<\/p>\n
Since recovering from his third major elbow surgery (the result of a May 2023 injury), returning to the team in August as a reliever then rejoining the rotation this season, Rasmussen has received special handling, whether he wanted it or not.<\/p>\n
So, as he huddled in the Steinbrenner Field weight room with team staff as the rain fell, he knew there would be a limit to how long he\u2019d be allowed to sit out before being taken out.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were talking it through, we had kind of a drop-dead time where, if we got there with the delay my night was going to be over,\u201d Rasmussen relayed. <\/p>\n
The window was 40-45 minutes, about the duration of even the short delays.<\/p>\n
But this was a quick shower, and despite a staff that is mostly new to this rain stuff after working at Tropicana Field, Dan Moeller and Mike Deubel\u2019s crew had the tarp on and off in record time, and the game restarted 17 minutes later.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was happy,\u201d Rasmussen said. \u201cIt was incredible how well they kept that field in shape and gave us the opportunity to play quickly. … just the opportunity to go back out after the delay, because it was short enough, and they got it ready in time, It was great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen receives high-fives from teammates after retiring the Rangers during the fifth inning. [\u00a0JEFFEREE WOO | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n
Plus, he had more work to do.<\/p>\n
By the time he was done, Rasmussen had thrown five dazzling, dominant innings, setting up the Rays for a 5-1 victory that was their 10th in their last 13 games and 15th in 23.<\/p>\n
The performance ran Rasmussen\u2019s scoreless streak to 23 innings, the longest current stretch in the majors for a starter and 1 \u2154 off Alex Cobb\u2019s franchise record; increased his winning streak to four; lowered his ERA to 2.14; and included eight strikeouts, six looking, including to four consecutive batters.<\/p>\n
During the streak, Rasmussen has allowed a .132 average (10-for-76) with 21 strikeouts and just three walks.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is on one incredible run right now,\u201d Rays manager Kevin Cash said. \u201cAnd he did it (Tuesday) with a delay. That\u2019s not easy for any pitcher to sit down, get out of there. They\u2019re so routine-oriented. So it took him out of his routine, but it did not affect him whatsoever.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Explore all your options<\/a><\/p>\n Nothing seems to be slowing Rasmussen, except maybe the rules the Rays have in place to keep him healthy for a full season with a 150-inning workload.<\/p>\n He\u2019d worked six innings in each of his previous three starts and thought he might get a chance to do that again Tuesday. <\/p>\n But he\u2019d already thrown 79 pitches (not having exceeded 86 at any point), sat through the delay and knew some Rays relievers needed work.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re trying to take care of me, right?\u201d Rasmussen said. \u201cJust my first year back in the rotation. So, it was an opportunity to cut an outing a hair short, just to A) protect me, but B) get some other guys some innings.\u201d<\/p>\n As it was, Rasmussen became the first in the pitching-rich history of the franchise to record four consecutive starts of five or more innings. <\/p>\n The combination of how well Rasmussen is throwing his full repertoire \u2014 two fastballs, a cutter, a curveball and a sweeper \u2014 and the command he has of them has been special.<\/p>\n \u201cA really impressive pitcher that is locked in and executing,\u201d Cash said. \u201cThe fastball command and the action to it has been just a big weapon for him. And I think after he establishes that early, in probably the first three-four hitters, people have to kind of really overcommit to that. Then it opens up the breaking ball, whatever breaking ball he wants to throw.\u201d<\/p>\n Watching Rasmussen from centerfield has been fun, said rookie Kameron Misner, whose looping second-inning home run down the line that escaped Texas leftfielder Wyatt Langford and the FanDuel TV cameras but was confirmed on replay review gave the Rays a 1-0 lead.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s easy,\u201d Misner said of playing behind Rasmussen. \u201cI don\u2019t get any balls. It\u2019s awesome. It\u2019s cool being able to stand in centerfield and see his pitches and see how he pitches and the shapes of them. It\u2019s pretty cool to watch.\u201d<\/p>\n From third base, Junior Caminero \u2014 who homered for the fifth time in his last six games and 14th this season, and swiped home as part off a double steal in a three-runs-on-two-hits sixth inning \u2014 also enjoys the view.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been doing a tremendous job,\u201d Caminero said via team interpreter Eddie Rodriguez. \u201cWe are there just waiting for something to happen to support him. He\u2019s been getting great starts, and hopefully it\u2019ll continue like that.\u201d<\/p>\n How good has Rasmussen been?<\/p>\n \u201cRight now, it\u2019s really elite,\u201d Cash said. \u201cElite level. The combination of the stuff and the command are allowing him to put up all these scoreless innings and limit damage. There\u2019s just not many hard-hit balls. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s on just an impressive run right now that I don\u2019t think any of us want to get in the way of.\u201d<\/p>\n \u2022 \u2022 \u2022<\/p>\n Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter<\/a> to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.<\/p>\n Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast<\/a> to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.<\/p>\n Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X<\/a> and Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\nThe grounds crew rolls away the tarp to uncover the field before the start of Tuesday’s game between the Rays and Rangers at Steinbrenner Field. [\u00a0JEFFEREE WOO | Times\u00a0]<\/p>\n