Rasmussen gave up one run over 3.1 innings with six strikeouts and no walks in Sunday's spring training win over Pittsburgh. He has added a new pitch, a sweeping slider, this spring. "It's pretty unique, the action on it, so we're hoping that really plays for him," Rays manager Kevin Cash told the Tampa Bay Times.

EDGE Analysis

Rasmussen looks set for the regular season and is expected to make his first start April 10 against Baltimore. Rasmussen excelled when he moved into the starting rotation late last season with Tampa Bay, holding hitters to a .171 average as a starter (.239 as a reliever) and posting a 4.5 BB% starting (11.8% relieving).