Rays celebrate after taking down Guardians to reach World Series (0:19)

Jorge Castillo Oct 22, 2026, 07:01 PM ET

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ESPN baseball reporter. Covered the Washington Wizards from 2014 to 2016 and the Washington Nationals from 2016 to 2018 for The Washington Post before covering the Los Angeles Dodgers and MLB for the Los Angeles Times from 2018 to 2024.

MILWAUKEE -- In a bit of a curveball, the Tampa Bay Rays will start Nick Martinez , not staff ace Drew Rasmussen , in Game 1 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers , manager Kevin Cash announced Thursday.

Rasmussen would've pitched on regular rest Friday after starting Sunday in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians , but Cash said the club prioritized giving him an extra day between starts, given Rasmussen's heavy usage in the postseason thus far.

The right-handed Rasmussen has logged at least six innings in each of his playoff starts, giving up three runs over 21 total innings.

"He's had a pretty…