Rays Ace Drew Rasmussen to Start World Series Game 5 on Short Rest

Drew Rasmussen will start Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night against the Brewers, pitching on three days' rest with Tampa Bay trailing 3-1.

Drew Rasmussen will start for the Tampa Bay Rays on three days' rest in Game 5 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night. The 31-year-old right-hander, who posted a 16-5 record and 2.67 ERA during the regular season, aims to stave off elimination with the Rays trailing the best-of-seven series 3-1. Rasmussen previously threw 89 pitches over 3 2/3 innings in Game 2 on Saturday, allowing four runs in the first inning of a 5-4 loss.

Manager Kevin Cash confirmed Rasmussen skipped a scheduled bullpen session to prepare for the start. The two-time All-Star has a history of three major elbow surgeries, including an internal brace procedure in 2023 and Tommy John surgeries in 2016 and 2017. He faces Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski, who is pitching on four days' rest. Milwaukee enters the contest following a 4-3 loss in 12 innings on Tuesday.

Third baseman Junior Caminero remains in the Rays' lineup batting third despite sustaining a lower extremity injury during Tuesday's game. Caminero was replaced by a pinch runner in the 12th inning after reaching base on an error and limping to third on a Liam Hicks single. Tampa Bay's pitching staff enters Game 5 after utilizing seven pitchers in Tuesday's victory, including starter Griffin Jax and Game 1 starter Nick Martinez.