August Pitchers of the Month: Rasmussen, Gallen
Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen and D-backs ace Zac Gallen have been named the Pitchers of the Month for August.
Rasmussen’s month featured a near-historic start on Aug. 14 against Baltimore as he came within three outs of a perfect game. Instead, he had to settle for allowing one run on one hit over 8 1/3 innings. Rasmussen followed that up by taking a no-hitter into the sixth vs. the Royals six days later.
Overall, Rasmussen posted a 1.57 ERA with 33 strikeouts and only four walks in 34 1/3 innings last month. The Rays won five of his six starts and are 17-6 with him on the mound this season.
“It's an honor that I get credit for, but ultimately, it just shows what this clubhouse can do,” he said. “I don't strike out the most people in the world. I do create a lot of contact, and from our coaching staff having guys aligned properly to the position players making plays and swinging it well right now and then turning the game over to our bullpen, there's just so many different aspects to this game. To give it to one person, it's a little selfish in nature, but it's truly an honor.”
Rasmussen is the first Ray to be named Pitcher of the Month since Rich Hill took home the honor for May 2021.
Gallen allowed only three runs over his six starts during the month, and they all came in his first outing. Since that Aug. 2 victory over the Guardians, Gallen has put up nothing but zeroes on the scoreboard. He is carrying a 34 1/3 scoreless inning streak into September, the second-longest scoreless streak in franchise history. Gallen capped his month on Tuesday with seven shutout frames vs. the Phillies.
Gallen won five of his six August starts. He recorded a 0.75 WHIP, a .154 opponents’ batting average and struck out 44 hitters in 40 innings.
This honor gives the D-backs consecutive Pitcher of the Month honorees; Merrill Kelly was recognized for his performance in July.
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