Tampa Bay Rays to Start Drew Rasmussen in Game 5 of the 2026 World Series

The Tampa Bay Rays have decided to assign ace pitcher Drew Rasmussen with the goal of keeping their season alive against the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 5 of the 2026 World Series. Stepping onto the field after three days of rest, the 31-year-old Rasmussen had pitched 3.2 innings in Game 2 of the series.

Rasmussen had stood out as the team's most successful pitcher during the regular season with a 2.67 ERA in 170 innings and was selected as an All-Star for the second consecutive time. Exhibiting an impressive record with a 1.29 ERA and 23 strikeouts in his previous three postseason games, the player had allowed 3 runs in Game 2 of the series. The Rays had kept their hopes alive in the series by winning Game 4 played on Tuesday.

Assessment: The fact that the team has used a total of 13 pitchers in the last two games increases the necessity for Rasmussen to stay on the field for a long time in this critical match. His taking the field with a short rest period is seen as both a strategic advantage and a significant risk factor for the Rays.