The Opener: Rays G1 Starter, Caminero, Yelich

We’re one day away from Game 1 in Milwaukee. Jacob Misiorowski will start for the Brewers tomorrow. The question is who will be on the mound for the Rays. 1. Rasmussen maybe not Game 1 starter? Tampa Bay has yet to reveal its pitching plans for the World Series. Ace Drew Rasmussen seems like the logical choice, but the club might go in a different direction. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic theorized that the Rays could hold Rasmussen until Game 2 to afford him extra rest. In Rosenthal’s scenario, Nick Martinez would get the ball in Game 1, with Freddy Peralta on tap for Game 3. Rosenthal added that Rays officials were “deliberating over how to proceed” yesterday. 2. Where will Caminero hit? Star hitters don’t often move around the lineup, but Junior Caminero closed the ALCS hitting cleanup for the Rays. He opened the series in his typical No. 3 spot. Caminero hit third in all three games of the ALDS. Tampa Bay faced a right-handed opener in two of the last three games against the Guardians, with a Parker Messick start in between. Manager Kevin Cash had three different No. 3 hitters in those matchups (Chandler Simpson, Ryan Vilade, Liam Hicks). Milwaukee has a righty-heavy rotation and rarely uses openers. Caminero likely moves back up to third in the order tomorrow against Misiorowski. 3. The Captain locked into the lineup Newly-minted captain Christian Yelich didn’t play at all in Game 1 of the NLCS. The Dodgers started lefty Tarik Skubal, and Brewers manager Pat Murphy countered with righty-swinging Andrew Vaughn at DH. Vaughn’s at-bats after Skubal departed both came against southpaw relievers, so no pinch-hit opportunity for Yelich. He was also on the bench in Game 3 against Blake Snell. The World Series should set up well for Yelich. The Rays have leaned heavily on their rotation, and it’s an entirely right-handed group (the aforementioned trio, plus Griffin Jax). Photo courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel, Imagn Images View Comments (0)