The Tampa Bay Rays threw a curveball before the biggest series in franchise history: manager Kevin Cash announced that Nick Martinez, not staff ace Drew Rasmussen, will start Game 1 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night in Milwaukee.
Why the Rays Are Starting Nick Martinez in World Series Game 1
Rasmussen could have pitched on regular rest Friday after throwing seven innings in Sunday’s ALCS Game 5 win over the Cleveland Guardians. But Cash said the club prioritized giving its ace an extra day between starts after a heavy postseason workload — Rasmussen has logged at least six innings in each of his playoff starts, giving up just three runs over 21 innings.
“He’s had a pretty thick workload here,” Cash said Thursday. “We’ve relied on him heavily. We know when he takes the ball, we’re trying to get the full-pitch allotment out of him.” The decision also lines up Rasmussen for Game 6 on five days’ rest if the series goes the distance.
Martinez vs. Misiorowski: A First-Time All-Star Duel
Martinez, a first-time All-Star at 36, takes the ball on five days’ rest after holding the Guardians to one run over 5⅓ innings in ALCS Game 4 — his first postseason starts ever. “It’s exciting,” Martinez said. “My job is just to rack up as many outs as we can and keep us in this ballgame.”
He’ll oppose Brewers fireballer Jacob Misiorowski (1.80 ERA, 252 strikeouts), with Milwaukee holding home-field advantage after a 103-59 season. Both franchises are chasing their first championship. First pitch is 8 p.m. ET on FOX.
Also Read: Rays Clinch ALCS With 7-3 Game 6 Win Over Guardians, Set All-Time First World Series vs. Brewers
Source: ESPN — read the full story there.
