Drew Rasmussen takes the mound Saturday with Tampa Bay seeking a World Series split, while Milwaukee sends Logan Henderson out to protect its early series lead.
The Brewers won Friday’s opener 3–2 at American Family Field, surviving a ninth-inning challenge to claim the franchise’s first World Series victory since the 1982 season.
Tampa Bay adds Richie Palacios at second base, keeps Chandler Simpson batting third and faces an unchanged Milwaukee lineup, according to MLB.com’s confirmed lineups.
Rasmussen enters with a 2–0 record and 1.29 ERA across three postseason starts. His recent form gives Tampa Bay a strong answer after a narrow defeat.
The Rays started Nick Martinez in Game 1 to give Rasmussen additional recovery time. Manager Kevin Cash has emphasized the benefit of that extra day between outings.
Henderson presents a different test for Tampa Bay after Jacob Misiorowski’s power display. The Milwaukee rookie finished the regular season 11–3 with a 2.47 earned-run average.
He has already started twice this postseason, with Milwaukee winning both games. His home regular-season record was 6–0, accompanied by a 1.84 ERA across eight starts.
Game 1 showed how little separates these teams. Milwaukee built an early lead, but timely defense and late-inning composure mattered as much as its opening offense.
According to Sportsnet’s game report, Christian Yelich tripled home Jackson Chourio in the first inning before William Contreras drove in Yelich, putting Milwaukee ahead by two runs.
Contreras also threw out two runners attempting to steal. That challenged a Tampa Bay running game which had been perfect on its previous eleven postseason attempts.
Chourio later singled home Cooper Pratt in the seventh inning. The additional run proved decisive when Tampa Bay threatened to turn the game around in the ninth.
Misiorowski supplied the night’s most startling number: a 103.5 mph opening fastball. The Associated Press reported that it broke the World Series pitch-tracking velocity record Friday.
He allowed one run across five innings, striking out three. The right-hander also threw 38 pitches at least 100 mph, surpassing the previous World Series high.
Milwaukee initially celebrated an apparent game-ending double play, but replay overturned the out at second base. Trevor Megill then struck out Jonny DeLuca to finish it.
For Tampa Bay, Game 2 offers a chance to make its rotation plan pay off. Milwaukee can instead leave home with both wins and greater breathing room.
First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. Eastern, with FOX carrying the game. The matchup remains a contest between franchises seeking their first World Series championship.
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