The opening day mantra: forget spring training

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Not the way Tampa Bay right-hander Drew Rasmussen wanted to conclude his 2026 spring training. Then again, who’s really counting?

This is a period designated for fine-tuning, some experimentation, building endurance, creating a refined state of preparation, and eschewing results between the white lines. Selected to open the regular season as the Rays’ starting pitcher in St Louis on March 26, Rasmussen’s final tune-up for this assignment was a vision of the glass half-full or half-empty.

Then again, Rasmussen did not look at matters this way.

In surrendering 11 hits, eight runs, and three bombs in 5.2 innings against the Phillies on March 19, the usual seem to prevail. The standard conversation centers around the need to adequately prepare physically, mentally and emotionally. 

After this effort, Rasmussen talked about getting ready for his opening day start and focusing on the positive. “I manage to get into the sixth inning,” he wryly smiled.

Still, the pain and frustration of not turning in a quality start and a possible compromise on his confidence was evident. The dismay which swept across his face was well hidden, and Rasmussen chose to emphasize the positive.

“Physically, we’re in a good spot,” he announced after that 8-2 loss to Philadelphia. “I did make a handful of mistakes (against the Phillies). Actually, thought I threw the ball pretty well and better than what the results will show. Unfortunately, that’s how it goes sometimes.”

In his final outing before opening day, Rasmussen went into the sixth and was pulled after 83 pitches. In this one, he was down 3-0 before solo homers from Ryan Vilade, who is expected to make the 25-man, opening day roster as a reserve outfielder, slammed a homer over the right field fence, and that was followed by a solo blast from 20-year-old Alfonzo Martinez.

The Phillies responded with a two-spot in the fifth and three more in the sixth to finish Rasmussen’s spring training. This included a two-run homer from Bryson Stott just inside the right field foul pole and a three-run bomb from Otto Kemp in the sixth.

“I’m not overly concerned,” he added after the March 19 effort. “The off-speed velocity was right. Typically, that would leave me to believe that we will be okay.”

More on opening day… For his opening day assignment, Rasmussen (10-5, 2.76 ERA in 2025) has drawn Cardinals’ lefty Matthew Liberatore, who is coming off an 8-12 season and a 4.21 ERA. Liberatore, who was the Rays’ number one pick (16^th overall) in the 2018 draft, is the first lefty to start on opening day for St. Louis since Donovan Osborne in 1999.

Crossroads at shortstop … A right oblique injury to starting shortstop Taylor Walls now has decision-makers of the Tampa Bay Rays scrambling for coverage at that critical position. Sustained while taking batting practice on March 17, the injury could be more severe than initially thought. The prognosis is that Walls will miss the opening month of the season, and his return could be sometime in early May.

Two days after he was optioned to AAA Durham, Carson Williams is back on the major league roster and designated as Walls immediate replacement at shortstop. How long he stays there is unknown.

It’s no secret that the Rays would like the 22-year-old out of San Diego to get more experience at the minor league level. With Walls sidelined late in last season, Williams appeared in 32 games, batted .172, slammed five homers, and batted in 12 runs.

Now, he’s thrust into the lineup but is not certain if he’ll start the season on the major league roster. That’s because Tampa Bay decision-makers would like to find more major league experience at shortstop.

Now, the waiting game commences, and patience for the return of Walls is heightened.

“Carson is an improved player and worked hard in camp,” said manager Kevin Cash on March 16, the day Williams was optioned. “We want to see (Wiliams and outfielder Jacob Melton, both optioned on March 17) off to a good start in (Triple AAA) Durham. Impressed with both players.”

In spring games through March 20, Williams was hitting .296.

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