The opening game of this series was a good one! The Brewers won 3-2, but the Rays had the go-ahead runner on base, and came pretty close to stealing it. Instead, they are down 1-0 with their ace on the mound and an expectation of tying things up tonight.
This is a game where both teams will feel like a win is vital. As mentioned, Tampa has their top arm on the mound. Losing here, and going down 2-0, would feel like quite a hole from which to recover.
Milwaukee, on the other hand, is the higher seed.
If they just win their home games, then they will win the series. Leaving the friendly confines with only a split and Freddy Peralta awaiting them in Game 3 in St. Pete on Monday would not be ideal either.
On a local note, Towson University product Richie Palacios will be starting at second base for the Rays tonight, becoming the first former Tiger to appear in the Fall Classic. As a TU alum myself, I think that’s pretty cool.
Rays at Brewers, 8:00 p.m., FOX
Brewers lead series 1-0
RHP Drew Rasmussen (2-0, 1.29 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Henderson (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
Does Drew Rasmussen hold any ill will towards his old team? Doesn’t seem like it.
“Had the Brewers been playing anyone else in the World Series,” Rasmussen said, “man, I’d be rooting for them.”
That makes sense. Rasmussen knows a lot of people in that organization. They drafted him out of Oregon State back in 2018, and he debuted in the majors for them in 2021. But then they dealt him to the Rays as part of the Willy Adames deal, and the rest is history.
The 31-year-old righty has been key to the Rays playoff run. He has a 1.29 ERA over 21 innings this postseason, including a pair of impressive starts in the ALCS. Another good outing tonight would help his new team even up the World Series at one game apiece.
Logan Henderson is at a different point in his career. The 24-year-old has made two starts for the Brewers in the playoffs, which have totaled nine innings. In those innings he has allowed six runs, but only three of them were earned. His manager Pat Murphy probably won’t push the rookie too hard. They will get what they can, hoping to still be in the game in the event that Rasmussen deals on the other end.
Rays Lineup
- Yandy Díaz, DH
- Jonathan Aranda, 1B
- Chandler Simpson, LF
- Junior Caminero, 3B
- Liam Hicks, C
- Richie Palacios, 2B
- Jonny DeLuca, CF
- Victor Mesa Jr., RF
- Taylor Walls, SS
Brewers Lineup
- Jackson Chourio, LF
- Jake Bauers, 1B
- Christian Yelich, DH
- William Contreras, C
- Brice Turang, 2B
- Garrett Mitchell, CF
- Cooper Pratt, SS
- Sal Frelick, RF
- David Hamilton, 3B
