Rays name Nick Martinez Game 1 starter to give Drew Rasmussen extra rest
Kevin Cash chose Martinez to open the World Series against Milwaukee on October 23, with Rasmussen likely to pitch the second game.
The Tampa Bay Rays will start Nick Martinez against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, October 23, at American Family Field in Milwaukee. Manager Kevin Cash announced the decision Thursday and said the club prioritized an extra day of rest for Drew Rasmussen, whom CBS Sports reports is likely to start Game 2.
Milwaukee had already named Jacob Misiorowski as its Game 1 starter. The choice gives Tampa Bay a matchup between the Brewers’ announced starter and a Rays pitcher who was not widely expected to take the opener, according to The Big Lead. Its report attributed the Martinez decision to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.
Why Kevin Cash chose Martinez
“We prioritized Drew getting an extra day,” Cash said, according to CBS Sports. He described Rasmussen’s workload as heavy and said the Rays rely on him to handle a full pitch allotment when he starts. Rasmussen allowed one run over seven innings against Cleveland in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series on October 18, The Big Lead reported, and has a 1.29 ERA across three postseason starts.
Cash’s confidence in Martinez was plain: “When Nick pitches, we win,” he said, according to CBS Sports. Martinez said the staff was confident in whichever pitcher received the assignment and that his job was to get as many outs as possible while keeping Tampa Bay in the game.
The 36-year-old right-hander posted a 3.1 ERA and 1.09 WHIP over 180 regular-season innings, earning his first All-Star selection, CBS Sports reported. He has also started twice this postseason: against the New York Yankees in the Division Series and the Cleveland Guardians in the Championship Series. Across those outings, he worked nine innings with a 3.00 ERA, six strikeouts and three walks.
How the World Series rotation could unfold
CBS Sports reports that starting Martinez first would leave Rasmussen likely to pitch Game 2 and Freddy Peralta likely to pitch Game 3 at Tropicana Field. Peralta, the ALCS MVP, pitched out of the bullpen between starts in that series. Cash said he was unsure how much the extra work affected Peralta, though he noticed a dip in his command toward the end of Game 6 despite steady velocity.
If the series lasts long enough, Martinez could return for Game 5, CBS Sports reported. Those later assignments remain prospective; the Rays’ confirmed choice is Martinez for the opener. For context on Tampa Bay’s path to this matchup, see its earlier World Series berth against Cleveland.
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Sources and context
- Rays choose surprise starter for Game 1 of World SeriesThe Big Lead; J.P. Hoornstra’s report attributes the decision to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic
- Nick Martinez gets World Series Game 1 start for Rays: Why Tampa Bay went with unexpected starterCBS Sports
- Jacob Misiorowski gets World Series Game 1 start for Brewers as he looks to reclaim his ace stuffCBS Sports
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.