yardbarker
The 2026 World Series opens with the Tampa Bay Rays facing the Milwaukee Brewers, two franchises still in pursuit of their first title. Rays manager Kevin Cash has made a surprising call for Game 1, handing the ball to Nick Martinez instead of Drew Rasmussen.
Milwaukee will start Jacob Misiorowski, the presumptive Cy Young Award winner, on the mound. For Tampa Bay, the decision to go with Martinez stems from giving him an extra day of rest; Rasmussen last pitched in Game 5 of the ALCS on October 18 and had been dominant in three postseason starts.
Martinez, an All-Star this season, has already shown he can handle a big stage. In his only start of the playoffs against Cleveland, he delivered 5 1/3 innings of two-hit, one-run ball.
Key Analysis
Cash's choice to start Martinez over Rasmussen is a calculated move to keep Rasmussen on regular rest while trusting Martinez's All-Star form and recent playoff success. The decision adds intrigue to a Fall Classic featuring two hungry teams and a marquee pitching matchup in Game 1.
Originally reported by yardbarker.