The Tampa Bay Rays will have right-hander Nick Martinez start Game 1 of the World Series against Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. Martinez is a strong choice for the first game of the series, as he had a great year in 2026. He earned his first All-Star selection after pitching 31 times, posting a 3.10 ERA through 180 innings while striking out 109 batters.
Through two starts this postseason, allowing three earned runs through nine innings. Additionally, giving Martinez the Game 1 start allows the Rays to rest starters Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta—who started Games 5 and 6—for an extra day. Rasmussen has been the Rays' best pitcher this season, posting a 2.67 ERA through 172 innings during the regular season.
He struck out 174 batters on his way to his second consecutive All-Star appearance. Through 21 innings this postseason, Rasmussen held opponents to just three earned runs for a 1.29 ERA while striking out 23 batters. Peralta came to the Rays at the trade deadline and has been dominant since the start of October, allowing just two earned runs through 16.2 innings in the postseason.
The Rays' ALCS went two games longer than the Brewers' NLCS, so any extra rest they can afford their starters is key for their performance during the World Series. The Rays, despite owning the best record in the American League during the regular season, aren't the favorites to win the World Series over the Brewers. The Brewers owned the best record across the league during the regular season, logging the first 100-win campaign in franchise history, and they're coming off of a four-game sweep over the back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Rays don't have home field advantage either, so they're already facing an uphill battle in the first game—especially with NL Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski on the mound. The Rays have plenty of star power themselves, though, and have looked solid throughout the postseason, so it's impossible to rule anything out. What's for certain, though, is that MLB will have a first-time World Series champion by the end of the month.
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