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Did the Yankees not have a plan against Drew Rasmussen?

The New York Yankees struggled mightily against Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen in Game 1 of the ALDS, despite having faced him just weeks earlier. Rasmussen, who had already clinched the division for the Rays with a dominant performance on September 22, repeated his approach in the postseason, throwing an elite 49.7% strike rate—well above the league average of 41.5%.

His ability to attack hitters early (67.1% first-strike rate) and limit walks (4.8%, placing him in the 97th percentile) made him nearly unapproachable, as he combined sharp command (106 Location+) with hard stuff (110 Stuff+). The Yankees, however, failed to adjust, offering little resistance to his game plan, which emphasized avoiding damage through limited hard contact (79th percentile) and ground-ball dominance (65th percentile).

The contrast with how the Milwaukee Brewers dismantled another elite pitcher, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, in the NLCS—by exploiting his slight off-night—raises questions about the Yankees’ preparation and adaptability against top-tier arms.

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