Rays Making Calculated Gamble in Delaying Ace to Begin World Series
Nick Martinez gets the nod after posting a 15-6 record and 3.10 ERA, while Drew Rasmussen is pushed back for extra rest.
- On Friday, October 23, 2026, Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash announced that Nick Martinez will start Game 1 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, opting to give staff ace Drew Rasmussen an extra day of rest.
- Cash prioritized Rasmussen's recovery after his heavy postseason usage, while Martinez enters the opener following a career-best season with a 15-6 record and 3.10 ERA over 180 innings.
- A soft-contact specialist, Martinez limited opposing hitters to a 32.9% hard-hit rate this season and carries a 3.6% walk rate; he previously held the Brewers to two runs in six innings during a March matchup.
- Fireballer Jacob Misiorowski will start for the Brewers in the 8 p.m. ET opener at American Family Field, having recorded a 104.8 MPH pitch during the National League Championship Series.
- For the remainder of the rotation, the Rays have scheduled Rasmussen to start Game 2 on five days' rest, while Freddy Peralta will take the mound for Game 3 on six days' rest.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Rays making calculated gamble in delaying ace to begin World Series
By Field Level Media Oct 23 (Field Level Media) - MILWAUKEE -- Drew Rasmussen has been the epitome of an ace for the Tampa Bay Rays this postseason. In three playoff starts, the right-hander is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA, allowing three runs over 21 innings, ...
(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Jang Hyun-gu = The Tampa Bay Rays of Major League Baseball (MLB) are resting ace Drew Rasmussen for Game 1 of the World Series and veteran pitcher...
Ex-Reds Pitcher Helps Rays to World Series
The Tampa Bay Rays have taken contributions from up and down the roster to reach the World Series. One key contributor is a former Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitcher, Nick Martinez. When the Rays brought Martinez aboard, it wasn’t immediately apparent that he’d be a star for Tampa Bay. Martinez had put together one good season […]
Journal Sentinel
USA TodayRays will send Nick Martinez against Jacob Misiorowski in Game 1
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