Drew Rasmussen to COMMAND ALDS Game 1 for Tampa Bay Rays

0:00This is the Lockdown Podcast Network celebrating 10 years of your team every day. Instagram teen accounts have automatic protections for what teens see and who can contact them. Plus, time management tools. And Instagram will continue adding built-in safety features to help create age-appropriate experiences. Learn more about teen accounts and Instagram's ongoing work to protect teens online at Instagram.com slash teen accounts. Kevin Hart here in this Cashbacking season. I'm getting scary amounts of cash back on all my Halloween stuff. Hello, Kevin. No, no, no, no. I know what this is. Do you like scary movies? Have you seen my movies? Yeah, big fan just wanted to know what you cashed back down with Chase Freedom. Oh, man. Now I cash back on pumpkins, cash back on costumes, cash back on candy. So are you having a Halloween party?

1:01I am, but I'm definitely not inviting you. Yeah, I get that. All right, scary guy. I'll see you around. It's Cashbacking season with Chase Freedom. Cards issued by JP Morgan Chase Bank and a member of FDIC. Confirming the obvious Drew Rasmussen is your game one ALDS race starter. You are locked on race. Your daily Tampa Bay race podcast part of the locked on podcast network. Your team every day. He's Elysys Simbrano and I'm Kevin Weiss and today's episode is brought to you by Fan Duel. It's time to put your knowledge to the test with college football pickup from Fandall, download the Fandall app and play college football pick them for free only on Fan Duel. Later on today's show, we've got some bull pin and outfield injury updates for the playoffs. In a few minutes, it's time to make our ALDS breakout stars predictions. But to start, the 2026 opening day race starter will be taking the mound on Saturday.

2:07And that's right. No one expected any different. It is Drew Rasmussen. As good as Freddie Perolta has been in the month of September and since coming to the race, it would take a whole heck of a lot to unseat the track record and consistency and availability and pure dominance of Drew Rasmussen. So I think we're all in agreement that we are comfortable, very comfortable with 10B and our number one. And then possibly the starter for a game five, although let's hope it doesn't get to that for the race. No, no, let's hope not. But yeah, I think there are very few things that any group of people can agree to something 100%. If you're looking at race fandom, I think when you said who is the best race player ever, I think we get a 100% there. If nobody's cheeky enough to say something else, we all would say Evan Michael Angoria, he's the best ever.

3:12I think this is also maybe as close to 100% as who should be starting game one for the race in the playoffs. It's Drew Rasmussen. And it is Drew Rasmussen because again, two time all start. And back to back here, see when 16 and five. And in how many innings? Oh, yeah, that's right. 172 innings. He had 174 strikeouts. He had an ERA plus of 159 and ERA of 267. Oh, and you like FIP. That's a two eight to oh, you like WIP. .913. That's the lowest in the American league. And the strikeout to walk ratio again, 5.44 best in the American league. It's obviously the choice to be made, but it's just it gets you a little bit more hyped up for the playoffs when you have these little baby steps that need to be taken. And now you know, okay, Drew's taken the ball. It is confirmed by Kevin Cash. Yes. And what's crazy, maybe not crazy or totally unsurprising because the assumption is that whenever Drew Rasmussen is pitching for the race, he's going to have an ERA sub three.

4:22But this year, he pitched more innings than ever. And yet his numbers were better than prior years. So he is showing that he has the length in the stamina to go deep in a ball games and from start one to start 30 plus. He's good to go. So that should bring up an interesting question as to if he's rocking and rolling in the assumption is he will be able to do that in the ALDS. Are the rays going to get cutesy and take him out early or are they going to let the drew rest mustn't train ride for 105 pitches 110 pitches, maybe allow him to get a little bit more than he can. So if he's cruising after 5, do they give him a 6th? If he's cruising after 6, do they give him an opportunity for the 7th? So I would just like to see how long the leash is and will be for Drew Rasmussen because we've certainly seen the capability from him that he's not just a vibe and dive guy or 6 and dive guy.

5:33He can go deeper than 6 innings and hold his own. Let's not get cute in the playoffs. Let's not get cute in the playoffs. This is a guy if you're still thinking no Drew Rasmussen, we can't get a little. He's made of he's made of glass like I know some people jumped me in April when I said hey, maybe you should leave him in for one more inning and see what happens. Everybody jumped at me like, why are you thinking and then the next outing he won 7 innings and then the next outing he won 7 innings and then the next one almost 6 and then the next one 7 innings. Guess what people he is healthy. This guy's a horse. 17 games this season out of his 31 start 17 games. He went 6 innings or more that's 55%. So more than half of the season he can give you 6 or more. In fact out of those 31 games, 8 of those he went exactly 6 and then 9 games he went longer than 6 innings. So I don't want to hear the oh no we got to keep no this is a guy that is as consistent and as dominant as any race picture whether we have seen in this franchise history.

6:47You have to put almost in stone 6 innings at least from Drew and guess what if that pitch count is rather friendly like he knows how to do. I'm going to see you in the seventh like I trust Drew Rasmussen with 83 pitches. Evan more than I do almost everybody in that bullpen at zero pitches. Yeah and you know that he's not going to walk guys he's going to do everything that needs to be done and that's going to be the question. I mean maybe it's also contingent on what the score is if the race are up by one or down by one or they're up by a couple runs or down by a couple runs. What is the math equation or the calculus with that decision but I appreciate that the race gave us this nugget a little bit early on. I know they are being very hush hush about the roster and really no big need to reveal it at this juncture but putting it out in the press in the media.

7:47I mean it's kind of the worst kept secret that Drew Rasmussen was going to be your number one starter but I think it really just shows how much confidence and trust that they have in Drew Rasmussen. And the thing that really stands out if you read some of the articles is one his preparation in attention to detail and how that spreads across the rest of the pitching staff like he is he is doing as much scouting seemingly in as much background work on who is opponents going to be as the analytic staff like he's going to be doing as much as he does. I'm going to watch the last six games. I'm going to watch pitchers who have a similar rep for twer to mine and see how the hitters match up with that so he is definitely beyond the talent in the team. He also has the mindset to put in the effort that makes a difference that maybe a guy like Todd Bradley could have learned from at some point in time but it's a separator.

8:49Yeah, it's a separator like you're in the mount everybody's got talent everybody can can can flip a curve ball, you know, some better than others but like that extra work of picking up that one single sheet that they leave in your locker. It shouldn't be that difficult to take a gander, scan it a little bit right, you know, it's a study guide. Oh my God, we had a test today. Yeah, you had a test yet to prepare four days in advance. You had four days to look at that. And that's exactly what he said is he treats every start as like a test. And that's how it should be. I mean, you shouldn't walk it be lack of days of call for four days and then it's start day. And it's like, okay, now I'm going to pick up. What's that piece of paper is it? Oh, it's underneath the Jordan's like, no, bro, like that should not be what's happening. So drew, I mean, an NBA and Duane have done a really good job at every drew start. And sometimes when they pan to him in the dugout saying this guy is a perfectionist like he wants to be out there perfectly. If he has a seven inning,

9:51shuddy outing, but he walked one guy during the press conference during the questions that Ryan Basson and others are going to ask him, he's going to mention that walk. This is the perfect type of guy. And I know Kevin, we were talking before we had record tell the folks what you found out about drew Rasmussen. So what I found out is that drew S. Mousin has a franchise best 271 ERA and his B war of 15.8 is fourth most by a pitcher in team history. And yet somehow some way I feel like there's not enough discussion steered towards the idea that drew S. Mousin is one of the greatest pitchers in race franchise history. And just around baseball, one of the greatest starting pitchers period. Like is that Kim, Bobby talking to you? That's been Bobby. He's he's trying to send me a voicemail right now for one reason or another. But drew S. Mousin, I don't know if it's because he kind of minds his own business. And maybe it's just because it's the race.

10:58But he is, it seems like he's not getting talked about like a pitcher that has a 267 ERA and 172 innings pitched should have. Maybe it's just because he doesn't have 200 strikeouts or something like that. But here's his opportunity in the ALDS in prime time facing the Yankees or the Red Sox time will tell who that opponent is as we're recording. But that is that'll be a showcase moment of, oh, I didn't realize that drew S. Mousin was this good. This is the perfect platform to make it known to other people that might not be tuned in as daily as we are. Right. Say, oh, you know, an Iowa fan of the Cubs could see the rise and be like, oh, that drew S. Mousin. It's really good. Oh, and then looks at the disambition. Oh my god, it's really good. I don't think that we should be there already. I think they should already know. But always October does that extra awareness factor that people get.

11:59And guess what? Awareness factors goes both ways because we're talking drew S. Mousin. How about we talk about a new race breakout star this year? Welcome to your most rewarding NFL season ever only on Fandall. How rewarding are we talking more rewarding than a touchdown with time expiring more rewarding than an 18 point comeback. Maybe even more rewarding than an alignment catching a touchdown. The Season Fandall is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all new Fandall Rewards club featuring exclusive offers surprises and more this season Fandall is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all the all new Fandall Rewards Club featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and much more. Every week, check the Fandall app to see what's waiting for you. There's nothing quite like a game-winning play when everything comes down to the final seconds.

13:04That feeling is what makes football so much fun, and Fandall is adding another layer of excitement with rewards and surprises throughout the season. So make this your most rewarding season ever with Fandall. Visit fandall.com to get started. Again, that's fandall.com to get started. Instagram, Tena counts have automatic protections for what team C and who can contact them. Plus, time management tools. And Instagram will continue adding built-in safety features to help create age-appropriate experiences. Learn more about Tena counts and Instagram's ongoing work to protect teens online at instagram.com slash Tena counts. Thank you so much for tuning in to Locked On Rays and making us your first

14:07listen every single day. Take out the opponent. I don't care who the Rays are facing on Saturday, and then we have to win three games against them. I don't care about it. Let's talk about the possible Rays October Breakout stars. I have a game for you to play with me, Kevin. But first, I gotta go back to 2008. Let's take the time, machine back to 2008. I think Glee was like a big thing back then. The main two players, carrying that October power were both Evan Longoria and BJ Upton. One guy was a rookie at 22 years old, and the other guy was supposed to be the starting shortstop in 04. That was not to be. He became a really good centerfielder instead. In his age 22 season, Evan had an amazing six-hole runs in that October, but the slash line was a little bit underwhelming. 194 batting average, 254 on base, 532 slug, 786 op.

15:12So the op was definitely carried by that slug. Yeah. In on the other side, BJ not only had more home runs with seven home runs, but the slash line was heftier. 288 batting average, 333 on base, a 652 slug. That's almost a 1.0 PS. Yeah. He had a heck of an October in 2008, 985 op. In 2020, a guy that only had 99 played appearances in the regular season, became a race legend in October. That's Randy Adosarena, who had 10 home runs, and a slash line of 377, 442, 831 slug, and an op of 1.273. You saw Randy, he was going to touch base. That's basically how it came down in that 2020 October. Right. Okay. The game is, Kev. Pick a player, any player,

16:13and you will tell me what they will do in either the LDS or the whole playoffs, if they will have one memorable moment, if they'll have a whole playoff run, I want you to tell me that breakout star. They could have some playoff experience like Yandidea, Cedric Mullins, Jorge Mateo, very little like Junior Caminero and Jonathan and that, or they could be completely blank on that playoff history. So who do you pick and why? Well, first off, a couple things I don't think anybody will get to Randy Adosarena's numbers, not within the next 50 years, perhaps. So we're probably looking at something in between Longgo and BJ Optin and sometimes we forget how good BJ Optin was in that playoff appearance as a 23 year old. I will give you, I guess,

17:22an A and a B as far as a big time playoff moment. I don't know. Something is speaking to me that it could be a guy like Cedric Mullins, whether it is a game winning home run, whether it is laying down a sacrifice, but that scores the winning run, stealing a key bag or scoring on a wild pitch or making a great catch in center field. Just that testy veteran that kind of underperformed in the regular season, but comes out of his shell in the postseason and stands out. So I will throw him in the fire. And then as the most obvious choice ever, I'm going to root for Junior Caminero to have that breakout postseason because he just seems primed and destined for it. Everything that he's done this year, everything that he's done last year. We've seen what he can do

18:29as an all star in a home run, Derby participant. And we've seen some recent big moments with walkoffs. I think this postseason is tailor made for Junior Caminero to make his imprint and really stamp it down as not just the franchise player for the raise, but a superstar in all of baseball to be talked about like a show a Otani or an Aaron judge to be in those types of conversations. Now the key will be you're going to have to have some help in assistance around Junior Caminero because if teams are looking in circling his name on the lineup card, we're not going to let Junior Caminero beat us. Whatever we do, we cannot let Junior beat us. Well, that's where Yandhi's going to have to beat you. That's where Johnny Deluca is going to have to beat you. Johnathan Aron does going to have to beat you. Liam Hicks is going to have to beat you. So as long as the

19:35supporting parts step up and do their part, that will allow Junior Caminero to thrive a little bit, but I could also see a scenario where he just doesn't really even get an opportunity to hit just because of the name brand that he's created over the last two years. So I guess I will go back to my first point of Sedrig Mullins as a guy and just out of curiosity, I am interested to see how some of these guys, many of these guys offensively who don't have any postseason experience, what happens to them in this enhanced moment? Like are they are they going to shine or are they going to shelter a little bit? I can tell you right now, Kevin, I have a view into the future and I can tell you that one guy that hasn't taken a single played appearance in October is going to shine and that guy is called Victor Mesa, Junior. If you look at his last 30 games,

20:40316 average, 374 on base, a 571 slug, six home runs. That's pretty sweet, but you go, you know what, what about his last 15 games? Oh, he's gotten better. Yes, he has 326 404 630 slug. Oh man, what about his last seven games? Maybe he didn't end the season rather toasty. Oh no, he got better, 364 417 591. This is a guy that hasn't had a single October moment. This is my race break out star. I agree with Cedric Moons having a big game. I think he can do something really cool. Alla Jordan Luplo, Grains, Flam game 2. I think Moons has the capability for it, like a game saving catch, a plot twist defensively or laying down a bun with a hit run, something like making the last out of the game on a catch, something like that. Something you can remember, like Cedric Moons can

21:40do that, but I think Victor Mesa, Junior, not saying the Junior can be that or can because obviously, yes, but he might just be shielded because he's not going to get the opportunity. So it's going to be up to everybody else. All other nine guys or all other eight guys in lineup plus the bin spots to contribute, I would think. You've got to feed it. That lineup needs to be fed and not just by the one big monster in the middle of the lineup with Junior. So Victor is my pick here for this game, but we want to hear from you guys. What is your pick to be the breakout star? Maybe you don't see him coming, Johnny DeLuke, Ryan Velay. They don't have any October experience. Or is it a guy like Yandidias who you look at Yandidias as October's and they're not great. Yandid hasn't had a big playoff moment yet. Like his numbers are not great. In fact, if you look at it, it's rather

22:41disappointing when you kind of give you Brandon Lau vibes to some extent. I think he's been shielded from those accusations because of Brandon Lau. So maybe that's your pick on the YouTube comments. Is that Yandidias is going to be your breakout star in October. But leave it down because maybe we can riff a raffer with that. No, I overall though, again, if not, Junior Caminero, I think Victor Mesa, Jr. is a terrific pick. And consider the guy hasn't even played 100 major league games. And yet, what he's done this year in 2026 with the raise 79 games played 2.9 more. He really has pretty similar skill set as Randy Aros Arena. He can hit homers. He can steal their bag. He can get you a double or triple. And then plus you add the defense component as well. And he he does give off the appearance of like an energy confidence guy. Like now that he's having success,

23:48I don't it's almost like he's too young and naive to fail in the postseason. Like he might not even realize how big the moment is. Which kind of goes back to my point about Drew Rasmussen is, you know, maybe some of the reason why he's not been talked about in the likes of others is because the race haven't made the playoffs the last couple of years. But I think that's, you know, Victor Mesa, Jr. He is like so many other players on this race roster riding a high. And he probably doesn't have as much of a scouting report as a Yandhi Diaz, for example, in Iran. Caminero because he's just he's been around for a couple of cups of coffee, but he's been very impressive this year with the race. And you can hide. You can hide a little bit in the lineup when you have Aran that Caminero, Yandhi Hicks, you start to be like the fifth guy that might they might look at, you know, but oh, Chandler Simpson's there. So like, okay, so maybe you're the sixth guy. So like he is really able to hide in a great way because it's not like high because, oh, he's

24:56the speed guy. Oh, no, he's just a power guy. No, he's both. Yeah. So it's going to be really fun to see him in the playoffs. Well, honestly, last thing on this, some of it could be whoever is hitting when Chandler Simpson is on base, that could be the guy that really does some special things. But like, as we know, Chandler is going to take so much attention and focus and create pressure for the defense and the battery of the pitcher and catcher that the guy at the plate, that's a prime time moment for you to do something special. I don't know. I mean, look, depending on what the situation is, there could be several hitters that get that opportunity where Chandler's on first, second, or third, but you got to make the most of it when you have that. Yeah, you do. And you got to get the most out of your bullpen in lineup. And guess what, if people are hurt, let's get the best out of them because we've got some updates regarding three players.

25:59Instagram, teen accounts have automatic protections for what teens see and who can contact them. Plus, time management tools. And Instagram will continue adding built-in safety features to help create age-appropriate experiences. Learn more about teen accounts and Instagram's ongoing work to protect teens online at Instagram.com slash teen accounts. And the winner by knockout is Kennedy. Kennedy, bring it on.

27:01Thank you so much for listening to The Locked On, right? And making it as your first listen every single day part of the Locked On podcast and your team every day seems like optimism, rain supreme with some IEL candidates and injured players. Kevin, your buddy Kevin Cash said that lefty reliever, Garrett Clevenger and Tyler Wells, who were on the IEL as the regular season ended, they both looked really good. And I am quoting Kevin Cash there looked really good. They threw into his day's scrimmage game and he says, very encouraged by the way they threw their velocities were in line in as healthy pictures. They bounced back. It felt good today. They both are likely to throw again in another scrimmage that they'll have on Thursday. So, Kevin, to you, these bullpen updates, how do you take them? Well, I take them as that's kind of been the idea over the last couple of weeks is, yeah,

28:04these guys are on the IEL, but the expectation more or less is that one or both of them will be available. I mean, if I'm being honest, like probably most everybody else, you're probably more pepped up and excited for what Tyler Wells can bring to the playoff roster as compared to Garrett Clevenger, which I'm going to ask a question here and shoot me if needed, but a healthy Garrett Clevenger. Does that really, based on the season he's had this year? Does that really engender a bunch of excitement and pomp and circumstance? Like it's not like I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I, I, I said, I'm going to leave him for the playoff roster. I can answer that question. Look, if you guys haven't taken a look at the ALDS roster draft episode we did with WTS Speed Sports Director Evan Kloski. Well, what are you waiting for? Pause this video and go to that one right now.

29:09And then finish this one. But we had an extended talk about Brody Hopkins. And we basically, we all know the pros. We all know the cons. Evan is going, citing with the pros. I think we both were like very hesitant and went with the cons and we wouldn't have not drafted him. You're telling me Garrett Clevenger and your apprehensive about him. I'll answer it this way, Kev. You thought I was apprehensive of a Brody Hopkins? Give me Brody Hopkins over Garrett Clevenger. I'm sorry. I just, I can't, I trust Brody because of this stuff aspect more in the playoffs than Garrett Clevenger. And I'm already anxious and nervous when Brody's going to be in the mound because I don't know if he's going to find this tri-zone. But with Garrett Clevenger, he doesn't have Brody stuff to get away with mistakes. Because when he puts it in this tri-zone, it's either out of there or it

30:12becomes a rally. And guess what? With the three-batter minimum, that can, that, the game can get away from you rather quickly, why? Yeah. And the other concern too. And I guess you could also extend this to Tyler Wells. We're already, I mean, there's the obvious questions of, will the rays be rusty going into the ALDS having upwards of a week off? Well, how many additional weeks have Garrett Clevenger and Tyler Wells had all? Look, we can talk about how great a guy looks in a scrimmage. A scrimmage is just that. It's a glorified practice. Yeah. And maybe the metrics look fine. But when you get in the real life environment where the moment counts and matters and there's a different teams color Jersey, you're facing in front of a full stance. I don't know. So you're with me. You would rather have Brody than Garrett on the. Yeah. I'd rather have,

31:16at this point, I think you and Evan Klosski have given a cogent argument that, you know, if it's between Garrett Clevenger and Brody Hopkins, give me Brody Hopkins. If it's between Garrett Clevenger saying, Hey, Garrett Clevenger is not healthy. Let's throw Ty Johnson in there. I'd be fine with that. I would take Stephen Mads over Garrett Clevenger because Stephen Mads is pitched somewhat recently and he's been doing this last six, seven years. Not, not, not, I like, I like that hot take of yours. So because it's two guys that have had issues. But we'll see what happens. We'll see what happens with Wells and in Clevenger. I mean, the ALDS roster will actually come out in a couple days. Yeah. So it'll be fun. But you need a lefty. That's what he and C Mords for. There you go. I like that too. Okay. And, you know, obviously you got Cam Booser too. Last but not least, real quick on this Chandler Simpson. He missed the last two games Saturday and Sunday against the Phillies because he had a sole right foot after fouling off a ball. He didn't play

32:20in the Tuesday's, scrimmage. People don't freak out. Cash said, he felt much better on Wednesday. And he did some work on the field. Some work on the field. What does that work? Well, they weren't specific. He is expected to play Thursday in the scrimmage that they'll have and good to go on Saturday. Give me your 30 second reaction on this. Just make sure he's close to as 100% as possible. That takes a couple extra Advil, a Torridale shot, whatever it is. You need him in the lineup. Even if he can't run at 100% capability, say it's at 90%. I would still take a 90% running Chandler Simpson up against pretty much everybody. Plus the added factor of his extremely, extremely rare bat to ball skills. So that's the crazy thing about baseball is just a foul ball off your foot can unravel everything, but it looks like it, it looks like he should be good to go. Will he be

33:25100% time will tell we'll have to see in the game on Saturday. There we go. All right. On that note, that'll do it for today's episode of Lockdown Rays. Now in video, we send you to the first ever 24-7 YouTube channel on MLB and on audio. Check out Lockdown MLB Game Night for your second lesson. Stay safe and we will talk to you on Friday. Instagram, teen accounts have automatic protections for what teen see and who can contact them. Plus time management tools. And Instagram will continue adding built-in safety features to help create age-appropriate experiences. Learn more about teen accounts and Instagram's ongoing work to protect teens online at Instagram.com slash teen accounts. It's not just electric. It's Toyota Electric and during Toyota's easy choice sales

34:28going electric is easier than ever. Right now, save instantly on a new Toyota EV with special incentive programs for first-time EV buyers and prior EV owners. Choose the sleek busy, the adventurous busy woodland or the sporty CHR. But don't wait, these special savings won't last. We make it easy. Toyota, let's go places.