Nick Martinez World Series Game 1 will belong to the veteran right-hander, not to the pitcher who opened both of Tampa Bay’s previous playoff rounds. Manager Kevin Cash chose Martinez over Drew Rasmussen for Friday’s opener at American Family Field, a decision rooted in rest rather than performance.
Why Rasmussen Is Not Starting the Opener
Rasmussen had been the expected choice. He started Game 1 of the ALDS and Game 1 of the ALCS, then took the ball again for Game 5 of the ALCS. That workload made a shorter turnaround for the World Series opener less attractive.
Cash made the change to give Rasmussen an extra day of rest. The reasoning is straightforward: Rasmussen has been one of the Rays’ most reliable postseason arms, and the club would rather preserve him than push him on short rest.
His numbers support that caution. Rasmussen owns a 1.29 ERA across three postseason starts, a mark that makes him a difficult option to set aside. The move is not a demotion. It is a scheduling choice that keeps him available for later in the series.
Martinez's Road Numbers Fit the Setting
Martinez gets the ball at a ballpark that is not his own, and his season splits make that less of a concern than it might appear. He posted a 2.38 ERA in 16 road starts, compared with a 3.90 ERA at home.
The gap is significant. Martinez has been markedly better away from Tropicana Field, and Game 1 will be played at the Brewers’ home park rather than in Tampa Bay. For a Rays club that has leaned on its rotation throughout the postseason, the split offers a reasonable justification for the assignment.
Martinez is a veteran right-hander, and the start represents a notable turn in the Rays’ pitching plan. He was not the pitcher most expected to take the ball first in this series, but the combination of his road form and Rasmussen’s rest situation shifted the decision.
Game 3 Remains Open
The change does more than settle Game 1. It also creates flexibility for Game 3 at Tropicana Field, where either Rasmussen or Freddy Peralta could start.
Peralta’s home numbers are the reason his name belongs in that conversation. He recorded a 2.62 ERA in 20 home appearances, a strong mark that fits a game scheduled at the Rays’ own ballpark.
Rasmussen, meanwhile, would be working with additional rest if he takes the ball in Game 3. The Rays have not announced that decision, leaving both possibilities open as the series moves from Milwaukee to Tampa Bay.
Where and When to Watch
Game 1 is scheduled for Friday at American Family Field, the Brewers’ home ballpark. FOX coverage begins at 7 p.m. ET.
Game 3 will be played at Tropicana Field. The Rays reached the World Series by winning the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians, and their rotation plan now hinges on how Martinez handles the opener and how the rest of the staff lines up behind him.
For now, the central question surrounding the Rays’ pitching plan has a clear answer: Martinez starts Game 1, Rasmussen gets extra rest, and the Game 3 decision waits.
