Veteran right-hander Nick Martinez will take the mound for the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night at American Family Field. Rays manager Kevin Cash opted for Martinez instead of ace Drew Rasmussen, securing an extra day of rest for Rasmussen ahead of Game 2.
Flexibility Gained Through Six-Game ALCS Victory
The Rays arrived in Milwaukee with options for their World Series rotation after wrapping up the American League Championship Series in six games. While the National League champion Brewers held a rest advantage, closing out the ALCS in six contests allowed Tampa Bay to manage its pitching arms. Rather than sending Rasmussen to the hill for the opener, the team tapped the 36-year-old Martinez to lead off the Fall Classic.
The decision places Martinez alongside select company in franchise history. He joins Scott Kazmir, who started Game 1 in 2008, and Tyler Glasnow, who took the ball to open the 2020 World Series, as the only pitchers to start the first game of a World Series for the organization.
The Numbers Behind the Game 1 Selection
Confidence in Martinez stems from a regular season and reliable postseason performances. During the regular campaign, Martinez posted a 3.10 ERA across 180 innings and 31 starts, earning his first career All-Star selection in a major league career that began in 2014. The Rays hold a 24-9 record in games started by Martinez this year.
Postseason outings have yielded similar stability. Martinez surrendered just three runs, seven hits, and three walks across nine combined innings against the New York Yankees in Game 3 of the ALDS and the Cleveland Guardians in Game 4 of the ALCS. Road splits also favored the veteran; he registered a 2.38 ERA across 16 regular-season starts away from home, compared to a 3.90 mark at Tropicana Field.
His familiarity with the venue adds another layer to the choice. On March 30, following an unusual spring training, Martinez made his Rays debut at American Family Field, limiting the Brewers to two runs over six frames in a 3-2 Tampa Bay victory.
Matchup Against Jacob Misiorowski and the Milwaukee Rotation
Martinez will square off against Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski in the opener. Meanwhile, pushing Rasmussen back to Game 2 gives the right-hander five days of rest, a routine that served him well throughout the year. Rasmussen made 23 regular-season starts and three postseason appearances on more than four days of rest.
For Game 3 on Monday at Tropicana Field, the Rays have slated right-hander Freddy Peralta. Peralta has thrived in the controlled environment of Tampa Bay’s home park since arriving via trade before the deadline, pitching to a 1.45 ERA across seven starts at “The Trop.”
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