AL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: GUARDIANS VS RAYS

October 11, 2026

Drew Rasmussen

Tropicana Field

Tampa Bay Rays

Workout Day Press Conference

Q. Just leading into this game, what was the preparation like where you're obviously having dual tracks where you've got to worry about the White Sox and the Guardians?

DREW RASMUSSEN: After we won last, what was it, last Wednesday, I mean, I immediately went into breaking down Cleveland, just in case there was a chance that they didn't get back to Cleveland last night. Get it done because then I could switch my focus all to Chicago had Chicago won one of those two games at home.

And I mean, shoot, I just started Chicago yesterday, but then watching how the game was unfolding, very quickly pivoted back to Cleveland.

Q. You've spoken several times about how important it was to come home and how this fan base has reacted to you guys, but especially comparing to where you were this time last year and having to play out of that stadium, how poignant are moments like tomorrow for you?

DREW RASMUSSEN: We got to see it last week, just how much the game of baseball means to this community, but also just their support for us.

Unfortunately, I think our fan base takes more grief than they deserve, but I mean they care, they're deeply invested. And just the way they turned out last week was unbelievable and I'm expect to go see the same thing this week.

Q. We've seen so many amazing classes of pitching that have come through here with Cash, Snyder and this whole organization. But what is it about this group in particular that's so different?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Everybody is unique in their own way, for starters. But then I do think we have, shoot, we create a lot of funny angles. You know, you're talking about like how Kevin Kelly delivers the baseball, and I mean it's just phenomenal stuff out of a weird slot. Seymour, very similar, just the stuff is off the charts. Probably those two probably don't get the credit they deserve because they don't throw 100, but that's okay. We understand how valuable and just how good their stuff is internally.

So then on top of it we do have power stuff, probably, arguably the guy with the best command in all of baseball is in our starting rotation as well.

So I think there's a lot of different ways that we can come at a lineup, and there's a lot of different looks that we can show them.

And so I mean it's just one of those things. We've got premium stuff, we've got premium command, we've got different looks that we can throw at you from a release-point standpoint from extension, from release height. And it just creates a lot of different angles.

Q. Can you talk about where you watched the game last night? And how actively were you watching with Game 1 in mind? Were you bouncing back and forth?

DREW RASMUSSEN: I was incredibly invested last night, beyond just wanting to know who it is we were going to be facing. One of my best friends in Major League Baseball plays for the Cleveland Guardians. So getting to watch him do his thing yesterday. And I guess end up ultimately scoring as the winning run, really cool to see.

It's a fun opportunity to get to compete, obviously, at this time of year. But also being able to take in a game like that of that magnitude as a fan is special.

Q. Were you at home?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Yes.

Q. Can you talk about where you're feeling where you're at coming off the last two starts, about as good as you have been all season, how kind of hope to carry that momentum into this outing?

DREW RASMUSSEN: You're going to hate this answer because it's so boring. But it's preparation and execution. That's what this game is. Right now we're feeling prepared. I guess tomorrow we'll see how well we execute.

Q. You mentioned last time your heart rate was kind of through the roof the first couple innings. What did you learn about managing your adrenaline and your emotions in an atmosphere like this?

A. Yeah, you don't necessarily have to try to harder just because it's the postseason. I think that was a mistake I've made earlier in my career. I think about my start in Boston in the '21 ALDS, where you get to this stage and you sit there and you go, okay, now I have to be something more and something bigger, something better. And that's just not true.

It's funny I wish I could go back and tell a younger version of me that exactly what you've done to get to this point is the exact same thing that will provide success moving forward.

So like I said, I think the ultimate lesson that I learned was that you don't have to be anything greater than what you already are.

Q. Since you alluded to it, can you touch on facing Steven Kwan?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Yeah, we're going to see him in about 27, 28 hours.

Q. And the respect for Jose Ramirez and the challenges that you faced him many times over the years?

DREW RASMUSSEN: We'll start with Jose. It's crazy that we can probably all acknowledge he's a top-10 player in the entire world, and yet I think he's the most underrated player in all of baseball. What he can do from both sides of the plate is special, how he plays third base, his ability to run, they're all off the charts.

He is one-of-a-kind talent that definitely alarms go off when you're going into starting your scouting and that kind of stuff. He's the first person I started with. You're definitely mindful of where he's at in the lineup.

We saw it last night. His ability to change the outcome of a game with one swing, it's phenomenal.

Then Steven, man, there's not enough great things I could say about the kid. He's perfect. He's unbelievable. He's one of the greatest human beings in the entire sport.

And to have the opportunity to compete against him at this level is a ton of fun, but our relationship and just the opportunity to see him and congratulate him to getting to this stage, it's all so special.

Q. Risking the preparation-execution answer again, but --

DREW RASMUSSEN: It's probably coming.

Q. -- the fact that you're pitching Game 1 of the ALCS, we've talked about how you guys believed in spring training you could get deep, many others didn't, do you have to balance that, too, or do you kind of accept your four wins from the World Series kind of thing?

DREW RASMUSSEN: In all honesty, counting things down, it's kind of poison, right? Our job's to go out there and do our job every single day regardless of what the circumstances are.

You say we're only four wins away. That sounds like we're counting down just getting "to" the World Series. But our expectation is to go out and play at our highest level every given day. It's not necessarily that we're sitting here looking at how this next week could unfold. I think in our clubhouse, at least, all we're trying to do is play the best game we can tomorrow.

If we can do that five or six times over the next week, I think we'll be satisfied with where the results are.

Q. You talked about Jose Ramirez being a top-10 player and the most underrated player in the game. A lot of people would say the same about you as a pitcher -- top-10 pitcher, most underrated pitcher in the game. Do you feel any of that storyline changing somewhat during this postseason, the way people have been recognizing what you're capable of?

DREW RASMUSSEN: I don't know. I just go out and I try to do my job to the best of my abilities. That's up for debate outside. I could really care less where people would rank me.

Like, my job's to go out and compete for the Tampa Bay Rays to the best of my capabilities. At the end of the day, or I can't ever guarantee you outcomes, I can't guarantee you results.

But like I said, I'm going to come in every single day, be as prepared as possible and I'm going to go out there and compete to the best of my abilities and do my best to execute and give our team the best chance to win.

Q. In relation to your relationship with Steven Kwan, you faced him before, how have you handled it when you're on the mound, he's in the box the first time, how will you handle it tomorrow. Will you stone-face it? Will you nod?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Yeah, no, I definitely acknowledge every single time. Usually a little smile gets shot back in my direction. I mean, shoot, I was 19 the first time I faced him in fall ball at Oregon State.

I'll definitely acknowledge -- he's too close of a friend to not. He's too good of a human being. And also, like, the moment is so special that -- how could you not enjoy something like that with one of your friends?

Q. (Off microphone)?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Yeah, it's still just baseball.

Q. What's it like when you play against Cleveland? I know this year you guys were 5-1 against them, but outside of that one game, it was one-run margins, low scoring?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Do you remember the one game?

Q. 11-3?

DREW RASMUSSEN: Was that the final score? Was I that bad?

Q. You won that one. This season --

DREW RASMUSSEN: You said we were 5-1. I'm pretty sure I started the one day we lost.

In my time here, they're one of the organizations that fundamentally does everything right all the time. They never beat themselves.

If you're going to win, you also are going to have to do everything fundamentally sound. Shoot, I can't remember a whole lot of our outcomes that have been lopsided one way or the other.

We're already signing up for close games that are going to come down to the wire. Like I said, it's no different than any other game, right? You just have to out-execute the other team.

Q. You mentioned doing what you've done is what got you here already. Do you have any routines or rituals that you bona fide stick to the day of your starts?

DREW RASMUSSEN: My routine is somewhat flexible. But from a macro view, it's pretty simple. I'm going to show up to the yard. I'm going to get something to eat. We're going to go through, do our mobility, get the body moving a little bit. We'll do our scouting reports with the catchers.

From there, then we'll start to get into activation, get a little snack. Throwing prep and head on out.

The stuff I do in those individual segments, I guess, is it changes based on what I feel like I need. But other than that, it is pretty similar day in and day out.

Q. (Off microphone)?

DREW RASMUSSEN: I have this conversation with my wife all the time. I think superstitions are dumb. It doesn't matter what shirt she wears. That's not going to change the outcomes.

In all honesty, I don't think that -- I just don't think there's any time for that, right? You're going to come in, address how the body feels, do exactly what you believe is going to get you prepared to go play, and then go outside and have some fun.