AL DIVISION SERIES: YANKEES VS RAYS

October 2, 2026

Drew Rasmussen

Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Workout Day Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We'll get started with All-Star Drew Rasmussen.

Q. Drew, just knowing it's going to be the Yankees, the success you've ahead against the team, how much are you anticipating the match-up and what are you expecting out of Game 1 here?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Success. I can also think about my last outing here. I don't know that's necessarily the route we'll be going. Obviously, a team we play a lot. Team that neither side really has a whole lot of secrets.

I mean, shoot, I feel like every time we play them, it's a tight game, it's a dog fight. I'd say that's probably what should be expected.

Q. Drew, just what does it mean to be the first starter for your team to step out there, set the tone, and then what is it going to mean to walk out there and see this building probably sold out, at least that's what Kevin just told us.

DREW RASMUSSEN: I mean, as far as the first starter goes, it's an honor, that's for sure. Also, you know, there's a lot of really good arms in that room. So it is cool, but I don't really think -- I think they could have gone a number of different routes.

I mean, we talk about playing Boston here in '21 and we're just trying to get guys ready. It's the loudest building I've ever heard. And so trying to get young guys ready because it's one of the coolest experiences they're going to have up to this point.

Ultimately, just excited for them to get to see it packed out. That's for sure.

Q. Drew, you guys, a couple guys have talked about how it feels like it's been a while since you've been in the playoffs, missing it the past two years. What about this team, seems like everyone talks about it wasn't just making it back in. It wasn't even just winning the division. It's the confidence of a deep run. What makes you feel that that's what this team is capable of?

DREW RASMUSSEN: I mean, there's a couple different reasons. I feel like the starting staff has been really good. It's a good place to start.

Our leverage guys in the bullpen, they've been nails for us for 162 games. Then just the variety of ways, I think we probably play some of the best defense in all of Major League Baseball. That's, arguably, our biggest strength is how good a defense we play. Then just the variety of ways we can score. We hit homers, we steal bases, we bunt. We hit for average with runners in scoring position.

So I think just being, like, multifaceted is probably the reason we've had the success up to this point, but it's also a reason I could easily see us having success moving forward.

Q. You pitched in some big games. You've been an All-Star. We were talking to Tyler Wells. He says a lot of people make the playoffs bigger and, yes, it's important, but it's still baseball. Is your route and the routine changes a little bit. We're doing interviews here. Do you try to keep the same routine and try in your mindset like it's still baseball?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Yeah. Obviously, the atmosphere might be a little bit different. But, I mean, I'm a pretty big believer that, you know, it comes down to two things: Preparation and execution.

I mean, to this point, I've done everything in my power to prepare the exact same as I would any other start. And then tomorrow, it's just about execution.

Q. Drew, this building has been home field advantage all season long. You all have home field advantage throughout the rest of the playoffs. How excited are you to be on the mound for this team to feel the energy of that fan base here and what will be a presumably sold-out crowd and how much will it provide a jolt for you guys, do you feel, this postseason?

DREW RASMUSSEN: We've played well here up to this point. I think there's comfort in being here for us. Obviously, you get to sleep in your own bed. On top of that, we come to a clubhouse that we're familiar with, we're comfortable with. Then just taking the field, it's one of those things that you just have the opportunity to understand the sights, the sounds, what a ball looks like coming out of a pitcher's hand. What the backdrop looks like for a pitcher looking at home plate. There's a familiarity we've gotten comfortable with, and obviously have played well here to this point.

Q. Drew, the two No. 1 seeds are you and Milwaukee. You started there. Freddy was there for a long time. How much did the time that you spent in Milwaukee help get you ready for this? How similar are the organizations in your mind?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Yeah, the organizations ran very similarly, especially when you look to see who the GM is over there and where it is he came from.

But, I mean, clubhouse vibes are very similar. Murph and Cashy might go about it differently, but expectations are the same. From scouting and development, both organizations do a great job. From there, the product on the field is shown over the last eight to ten years that I can think of, the quality of the front office, the scouting departments, the R&D and development teams. And then as well as the talent that they've gotten in the door.

Q. Drew, what if I told you that Drew Rasmussen that came off the third major elbow surgery that the road back would bring you to be an All-Star and starting Game 1 of an ALDS?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Obviously, the last two years have gone well and I'm proud of that. It's funny. I remember in 2017, and my wife can confirm this, I was coming off my second elbow surgery. She continuously asked, what are we going to do? My answer was, I'm going to be a Major League Baseball player.

That turned out to be true. How naive I was, but I think that's also a good thing.

Coming off of 2023, when I got hurt and gotten surgery, the same question was asked, what are we going to do? Very similarly, my answer was, hey, I think I'm pretty good at this game. I'm going to rehab to the best of my efforts, maybe start to make changes in my diet and how I go about things in the weight room and putting emphasis of what I do on the field, not just being so strict to my routine that I have to lift heavy because it's this day. You know, now it's, hey, can I listen to my body, can I find times to maybe recover a little bit more, as opposed to push it in the weight room or, hey, maybe I was going to plan on going and doing this for my running, but that doesn't seem like the smartest thing now.

But I think the confidence in who I am on the mound, I don't think that ever wavered. And so, obviously, I've been incredibly blessed, and I probably couldn't have seen my career unfolding the way it has the last couple of years, but I don't think it was ever from a lack of confidence.

Q. Drew, you mentioned your routine. We all know the way you prepare. With the uncertainty of Aaron Judge on the other side, do you approach it as if he'll be in there?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Yeah, I was going to say, I've done my deep dive on Aaron Judge. I think we make the assumption he's in there until he's not.

Q. A similar vein, you saw the Yankees, pitched against them last week. Is that one of those, does it help, does it hurt? Is it both? How do you view your advantage, their advantage?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Shoot, I think I've started against them ten times in the last two years or eight times in the last two years. Like I said, with our two organizations, there are no secrets. They know who I am. They know how I operate. On the flip side, like I said, I'm a pretty big believer it's me versus execution, not me versus the New York Yankees. So we'll have a game plan going in and we'll do our best to execute it to the best of our abilities.

If we have to tweak some things or change on the fly, I've got the best pitching coach in baseball so that makes life a lot easier.

Q. Talked about the potential for the big crowd and the way you guys have played here. How much of a home field advantage do you think the Tropicana will be in the postseason?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Yeah, like I said, we're comfortable here. This is our home. And on top of it, I know online, I always get to see about someone's complaining about the catwalk. Someone's complaining about the roof. Someone's complaining about something or another. Obviously, we've adapted to it very well, so it's just one of those things that we have a familiarity with this place. We're comfortable in this building. So I think it could be a real advantage, that's for sure.

THE MODERATOR: Drew, thanks so much. Appreciate it.

DREW RASMUSSEN: I appreciate only the local guys asking questions. That's sick.