Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander indicated Tuesday that he doesn't expect Rasmussen (elbow) back until well into the second half of the season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Neander listed July or August as a timetable for Jeffrey Springs (elbow) and added that Rasmussen's return isn't expected until sometime after that. The right-hander underwent an internal brace procedure in July and probably can't be counted on as an impact fantasy option again until 2025.

Rasmussen (elbow) signed a one-year, $1.8625 million contract with the Rays on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

A right flexor strain put an early end to Rasmussen's season in May, and the 28-year-old righty underwent an internal brace procedure in July that will cause him to miss the first half of 2024. Rasmussen has been a key part of the Rays' rotation since joining the team in 2021, but his fantasy value going forward will be dependent on how well he's able to perform post-injury.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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 very wide margin. The internal brace alternative is a similar surgery and carries a recovery time that's at best only somewhat shorter.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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 would still seem to be an obvious candidate to replace Rasmussen in the Tampa Bay rotation.

Rasmussen (4-2) earned the win against the Yankees Thursday, with seven shutout innings while allowing two hits. He struck out seven.

EDGE Analysis

For the second time this month Rasmussen stifled the Yankees. He tossed 5.2 shutout innings on 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.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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 let up 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.

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.

EDGE Analysis

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 ten 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.

Rasmussen (3-1) picked up the win Wednesday, allowing three hits and three walks over five scoreless innings in an 8-0 victory over the Reds. He struck out seven.

EDGE Analysis

The right-hander got staked to a 6-0 lead before he set foot on the mound, but Rasmussen gave Cincy no glimmers of hope, firing 51 of 78 pitches for strikes before hitting the showers. The 27-year-old rebounded nicely from a shaky outing against the Blue Jays, and Rasmussen will take a 2.01 ERA and 26:7 K:BB through 22.2 innings into his next start, likely to come next week at home against the Astros.

Rasmussen (2-1) gave up five earned runs on eight hits and four walks while striking out four in 4.1 innings Friday in Toronto. He took the loss.

EDGE Analysis

After dominating a couple rebuilding clubs (Oakland and Washington) in his first two starts, Rasmussen faced a much tougher challenge against a strong Jays lineup in a hitter-friendly park and it showed in the box score. Rasmussen should still provide plenty of fantasy value over the rest of the season, but this outing showed that he's not a must-start regardless of the matchup and ballpark.

Rasmussen (2-0) earned the win Sunday, allowing one hit and no walks over seven scoreless innings against the Athletics. He struck out eight.

EDGE Analysis

Rasmussen has had a pair of favorable matchups to begin the season, as he struck out seven in six scoreless frames against the Nationals on Monday prior to Sunday's gem against Oakland. Regardless of his opponents, he's allowed just three baserunners while striking out 15 in 13 scoreless innings to earn back-to-back wins. The righty posted a 2.84 ERA and 1.04 WHIP over 28 starts last year, and he's shown no signs of slowing down in 2023. Rasmussen tentatively lines up for a slightly tougher test on the road against Toronto his next time out, but he's still a solid fantasy play given his dominance over his first two starts.