Rays 2025 All Star deservedly named Opening Day starter against Cardinals

Kevin Cash has announced the Opening Day starter for the Rays' March 26th contest against the Cardinals and it's not necessarily who you would expect. As two-time All Star Shane McClanahan preps for this season after missing two straight seasons, the Rays have decided to take some pressure off of their left-handed ace. Therefore, the next best option, Drew Rasmussen will toe the rubber against the NL Central opponent.

Drew Rasmussen named Opening Day starter against the Cardinals

The Tampa Bay Rays will open the 2026 season in St. Louis against the NL Central Cardinals. We hate to make improper judgments about any club prior to the regular season, but after 78 wins last season, they seemed to have made more subtractions than additions this offseason. Nonetheless, this is still a solid ball club with young talent in players like Masyn Winn, Alec Burleson, and Victor Scott II.

The Rays will be in good hands with their 30-year-old starting pitcher on the bump. Rasmussen was drafted in the 6th round of the 2018 draft by the Brewers. It took the hard-working righty only one minor league season and 74 innings to be promoted to the MLB. However, Rasmussen only tossed 15 innings in Milwaukee before he was traded to the Rays for beloved shortstop Willy Adames.

Drew Rasmussen began his Rays' tenure as a reliever but, as Tampa Bay commonly does, he was transitioned into a starter. In 2022, the Washington native put up a career-high 3.1 WAR behind a 2.84 ERA in 146 innings of work. 2025 saw an even better version of the workhorse as he led the Rays talented pitching staff with a 4.1 WAR and 2.76 ERA.

Heading into his seventh major league campaign, Rasmussen is looking for his second straight All-Star appearance as it would go a long way towards a successful season in Tampa Bay. The Rays are set up pretty well with their rotation for the 2026 season as Rasmussen, McClanahan, and Pepiot will be a strong top 3. To round out the rest of the staff, two veterans in Steven Matz and Nick Martinez were signed this offseason. If they stay healthy and pitch to their potential, this could be a scary club to face throughout the season.