Tampa Bay Rays vs Athletics

Tampa Bay Rays at Athletics (2026-08-12). Drew Rasmussen vs Jack Perkins at Sutter Health Park.

Starters — Rasmussen has a 2.75 ERA and 0.91 WHIP across 124.1 innings, with 9.41 K/9, 1.59 BB/9, and 0.87 HR/9. His last three starts have been dominant: 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 8 K, 2 BB; 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 10 K, 1 BB; and 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 9 K, 1 BB. The trend is down, and that aligns with his recent run prevention and elite control. Perkins brings a 7.04 ERA and 1.45 WHIP over 76.2 innings, with a strong 10.8 K/9 but shakier 3.64 BB/9 and a high 1.76 HR/9. His last three starts were 3.0 IP, 5 ER, 3 K, 3 BB; 5.1 IP, 6 ER, 9 K, 1 BB; and 5.2 IP, 2 ER, 4 K, 3 BB. The trend is up, but the profile still shows swing-and-miss stuff mixed with damage risk, especially via the long ball.

Teams — Tampa Bay enters with a .737 OPS, 541 runs, a .259 team average, and a pitching staff carrying a 3.70 ERA and 1.14 WHIP. The Rays are also 9-1 over their last 10, which supports the idea of a club getting production from both the lineup and run prevention. The Athletics have a .715 OPS, 520 runs, and a .243 team average, so the offense has been competitive enough at times, but the broader team profile is dragged down by a 5.49 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. They are 2-8 in their last 10, and that recent form matches the season-long pitching concerns more than the offensive output.