Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen appears to be getting comfortable with longer starts as he works his way back following his third major elbow surgery.

After pitching six innings last Saturday for the first time in more than two years, starter Drew Rasmussen said the Rays were giving him “a little bit more leash but not necessarily, maybe, 100% freedom.

The Rays beat the Blue Jays 3-1 Friday night behind six shutout innings from Drew Rasmussen and home runs from Brandon Lowe and Curtis Mead before an announced sellout of 10,046 at Steinbrenner Field. Tampa Bay has won four of its last six games.

Pete Fairbanks and Garrett Cleavinger have been dominant out of the Rays' bullpen. Fairbanks has walked 12 batters in 22 innings this month. But he's put together a 2.05 ERA and 10 saves in 11 chances through 23 appearances this season. Cleavinger, a left-hander, has quietly put together a 2.14 ERA and 25 strikeouts compared to just four walks.

Minnesota Twins (30-24, second in the AL Central) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (27-27, second in the AL East) Tampa, Florida; Wednesday, 1:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Pablo Lopez (4-2, 2.31 ERA, 0.97 WHIP,

Drew Rasmussen got to throw six complete innings for the first time since the May 2023 elbow injury that led to a third major surgery because he was effective and efficient in Saturday’s game against the Marlins.

Brandon Lowe and Curtis Mead homered for the second straight game and Drew Rasmussen tossed six scoreless innings, lifting the host Tampa Bay Rays to a 3-1 series-opening victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday.

Preview the May 28 matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and Minnesota Twins with recent trends, how to watch, livestream info, and more.

MIAMI — Drew Rasmussen bounced back from a rough four-start stretch with a dominant outing Saturday, and with a little help from his friends the Rays beat the Marlins 4-0.