Tampa Bay threw out the rulebook. Drew Rasmussen will start tonight’s Game 5 of the 2026 World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on just three days’ rest, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, who reported the decision hours before first pitch. Milwaukee leads the Series 3-1, and tonight is simple for the Rays: win or go home.
Why Tonight Is Different
All season long, the Rays handled Rasmussen with extreme care. 27 of his 34 starts — regular season and postseason combined — came on five or more days of rest. The reason is well-documented: two Tommy John surgeries (2016 and 2017) plus an internal brace procedure in 2023 that kept him off the mound for much of 2024. Three major elbow surgeries demand that kind of caution.
Manager Kevin Cash had been explicit about it. Even after Tuesday’s Game 4, he said using Rasmussen on short rest was unlikely and that no decision had been made. The announcement came hours before the game. What changed was the oldest story in baseball: nobody else was available. Nick Martinez, the projected Game 5 starter, threw 33 pitches in relief during Tuesday’s epic 12-inning win and was unavailable to start.
The only previous short-rest start of Rasmussen’s career came on June 30, 2021 — just 26 pitches in an opener role. Tonight is a different universe: Game 5 of the World Series, elimination on the table, opponent fully rested.
What Happened in Game 2 — and What Came Before It
Game 2 on Saturday in Milwaukee was not his best night. Rasmussen lasted 3⅔ innings, needed 89 pitches, and allowed three runs on six hits and two walks. The Rays had the lead when he left, but the bullpen couldn’t hold it and Milwaukee rallied to win 5-4. No decision officially, but not exactly the outing you want on his résumé heading into a short-rest start.
Before that, though, his postseason numbers were dominant: 2-0 with a 2.19 ERA across four starts, with a 23:3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 21 innings. The clearest example came in ALCS Game 5 against Cleveland on October 18 — seven innings, one run, four hits, six strikeouts, one walk, and a 3-1 win. That version of Rasmussen — precise, durable, capable of going deep — is the one Tampa Bay is counting on tonight.
The Numbers Behind the Confidence
His regular season backs up the faith. Rasmussen went 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA over 30 starts and 172 innings, putting him squarely in the American League Cy Young conversation. Here’s what Statcast says about how he pitched in 2026:
- ERA: 2.67 | WHIP: 0.91
- Strikeouts: 174 | Walks: 32 (26% K rate)
- xERA: 3.06
- Average fastball: 93.6 mph with 2,521 rpm of spin
- Whiff rate: 25.1%
- Batting average against: .199
- Average exit velocity allowed: 88.2 mph — hitters make soft contact
- Barrel rate allowed: 5.9%
His MLB percentile rankings tell the same story:
- xERA: 87th percentile
- Strikeout rate: 75th percentile
- Walk rate: 97th percentile — elite-level control
- Fastball spin: 89th percentile
- xwOBA against: 87th percentile
- Barrels avoided: 79th percentile
- Hard contact avoided: 83rd percentile
What’s Waiting on the Other Side
Milwaukee counters with Jacob Misiorowski on a full four days of rest — the NL Cy Young frontrunner taking the hill with his team one win away from a championship. The Brewers don’t just have the series lead; they have the fresher arm tonight.
If Tampa Bay wins, the Series shifts back to Milwaukee for Game 6. If they lose, it’s over. Kevin Cash put all his chips on Drew Rasmussen, and the pitcher said he’s ready. Game 5 starts at 8 p.m. ET from Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, on FOX and FOX Deportes.
