Rays Surprise: Nick Martinez Named World Series Game 1 Starter Over Drew Rasmussen

The Tampa Bay Rays have made their call. Nick Martinez will start Game 1 of the World Series on Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported Thursday afternoon, ending a day of deliberation about the rotation. The decision passes over ace Drew Rasmussen, who started Game 1 of both the ALDS and the ALCS — a stunning shift from the order Tampa Bay has used all postseason.

Martinez takes the ball on five days' rest after starting ALCS Game 4 against Cleveland last Saturday. The veteran right-hander earned his first All-Star selection this season. He will be opposed by Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski, the NL Cy Young favorite whom the Brewers named their Game 1 starter on Tuesday. Misiorowski posted a 1.80 ERA with an MLB-best 252 strikeouts across 30 starts this season.

The move is a genuine surprise given Rasmussen's October. He leads all postseason pitchers with 21 innings and a 1.29 ERA, and since the All-Star break he is 11-0 with a 1.73 ERA, 99 strikeouts and 18 walks over 93 2/3 innings. His next assignment is unsettled; starting Saturday's Game 2 would give him five days' rest after his seven-inning gem in Sunday's ALCS Game 5 win. The Brewers (103-59) hold home-field advantage, with Friday's opener at 8 p.m. ET on FOX at American Family Field before the series shifts to Tropicana Field on Monday for Game 3.