World Series Game 1: Misiorowski, Brewers Host Martinez and the Rays

By
Harris
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21

Key Points

  • The Milwaukee Brewers host the Tampa Bay Rays in World Series Game 1 on Friday, Oct. 23, at 8 p.m. ET on FOX (5 a.m. PKT Saturday).
  • Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, the majors’ regular-season leader with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts, faces Rays veteran Nick Martinez.
  • Tampa Bay picked Martinez over ace Drew Rasmussen, who will start Game 2 on Saturday on five days’ rest.
  • It is the first World Series since 1980 in which both teams are chasing their first championship.
  • Game 1 winners have gone on to win the Series 77 times, or 63.6% of the time, according to MLB.com.

World Series Game 1 brings record-setting velocity to the mound in Milwaukee on Friday night, as the Brewers host the Tampa Bay Rays with a first-ever championship waiting for one of them.

The game starts at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, with first pitch scheduled for about 8:08 p.m. ET. In Pakistan, that is 5 a.m. PKT Saturday, with first pitch around 5:08 a.m. PKT.

What happened

Both clubs named their Game 1 starters on Thursday, Oct. 22. Milwaukee named Jacob Misiorowski, its 24-year-old ace. Tampa Bay went with 36-year-old Nick Martinez instead of Drew Rasmussen, who started Game 1 of both the American League Division Series and the AL Championship Series.

How to watch Game 1

  • Matchup: Tampa Bay Rays at Milwaukee Brewers
  • Date and time: Friday, Oct. 23, 8 p.m. ET (5 a.m. PKT Saturday); first pitch scheduled around 8:08 p.m. ET
  • Venue: American Family Field, Milwaukee
  • TV: FOX and FOX Deportes
  • Streaming: FOX One; MLB.TV with a participating pay TV provider in the U.S.

The details come from MLB’s official Game 1 guide on MLB.com. It will be the first World Series game at American Family Field.

The pitching matchup

Misiorowski led the majors in the regular season in ERA (1.80), strikeouts (252), WHIP (0.80) and opponents’ batting average (.157), according to MLB.com. The Associated Press reported he threw 1,115 pitches of 100 mph or faster this year, far above the previous high of 673 set by Jordan Hicks in 2018. His fastest was 105.5 mph on June 27.

October has been harder. Misiorowski did not finish the fifth inning in either of his two postseason starts, as the Padres and Dodgers fouled off pitch after pitch. “I think I’ve just got to stick to my strengths and pound the zone,” he said Thursday. He will be working on 11 days of rest.

Martinez, a first-time All-Star this year, posted a 3.10 ERA over 180 innings in 31 regular-season starts. The Rays are 24-9 in his starts, including the playoffs. He has allowed three runs in nine innings this postseason, and his regular-season road ERA was 2.38.

“My job is just to rack up as many outs as we can and keep us in this ballgame,” Martinez said.

Latest development

The biggest open question on Friday morning was whether Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff would make the World Series roster. Woodruff has not pitched in a game since July 4 because of a right shoulder problem but threw a 23-pitch simulated game on Tuesday.

MLB.com reported that the Brewers fear MLB would not let them replace him if the shoulder flared up again, because the league could treat it as a preexisting injury. Rosters are due at 11 a.m. ET Friday (8 p.m. PKT).

What is confirmed

  • Misiorowski and Martinez are the announced Game 1 starters.
  • Rasmussen is set for Game 2 on Saturday, and ALCS MVP Freddy Peralta is in line for Game 3 on Monday.
  • Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan is out for the postseason.

What remains uncertain

  • Woodruff’s roster status had not been announced as of Friday morning ET.
  • MLB.com’s batting orders are projections; official lineups are released closer to first pitch.

Why it matters

Baseball will crown a first-time champion. The last World Series between two teams without a title was in 1980, when the Phillies beat the Royals, and the only other time in the last 116 years was 1920.

The Brewers, who went 103-59, are in the Series for the first time since losing to St. Louis in 1982. The Rays, who went 98-64, lost their earlier trips in 2008 and 2020. The AP noted that this is the first time since 1991 that both teams rank in the bottom half of payrolls, and that Milwaukee is MLB’s smallest market.

Milwaukee swept the Dodgers in the NLCS, as we reported when the Brewers clinched their first pennant since 1982. Tampa Bay closed out Cleveland in six games, covered in our story on the Rays’ AL pennant win.

The bullpens could decide it. Brewers relievers are 7-1 with a 1.33 ERA this postseason, and Rays closer Bryan Baker has finished all seven of Tampa Bay’s playoff wins without allowing a run, according to MLB.com.

Home teams have won Game 1 in 72 of 121 World Series, according to MLB.com.

What happens next

Game 2 is Saturday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. ET in Milwaukee (5 a.m. PKT Sunday), with Rasmussen expected to start for Tampa Bay. The Series then moves to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, for Games 3, 4 and, if needed, 5 from Monday, Oct. 26, through Wednesday, all at 8 p.m. ET.

If necessary, Games 6 and 7 return to Milwaukee on Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, according to the MLB postseason schedule.

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Sources