Rays to start WA native Drew Rasmussen in World Series Game 5 on 3 days’ rest

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Washington state native Drew Rasmussen will start for Tampa Bay on three days’ rest in Game 5 of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night, trying to stave off elimination for the Rays.

Former M’s IF Ben Williamson keeps Rays alive with World Series walk-off

A 31-year-old right-hander, Rasmussen threw 89 pitches over 3 2/3 innings in Game 2 on Saturday, getting no decision as Milwaukee rallied for a 5-4 victory and a 2-0 Series lead.

“Called Ras right after he’d left the ballpark, and he was 100% on board wanting the ball,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “He held out from throwing a bullpen yesterday with this possibly in the back of his mind that he’s going to go out and prepare. I think Ras, knowing him, he’s pretty motivated to get back out there and give us what he can. He wasn’t satisfied with how maybe Game 2 went.”

Rasmussen was born in Puyallup, grew up in Spokane and starred at Mt. Spokane High School before pitching in college for Oregon State. He has had three major elbow operations in his career, including Tommy John surgeries in 2016 and 2017 and an internal brace procedure in 2023. The two-time All-Star was 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA in the regular season.

Jacob Misiorowski was to start on regular four days’ rest for the Brewers, who have a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series after wasting a 12th-inning lead in a 4-3 loss Tuesday.

Tampa Bay used seven pitchers Tuesday: starter Griffin Jax along with relievers Kevin Kelly, Game 1 starter Nick Martinez, Bryan Baker, Tyler Wells, Cam Booser and Ian Seymour.

Seattle Sports staff made additions to this post.

The World Series is loaded with ties to PNW and Seattle Mariners

Related

Morosi: What makes Joe Espada a fit as Mariners’ next managerFormer M’s IF Ben Williamson keeps Rays alive with walk-off single in World SeriesTwo Mariners manager candidates set for in-person interviewsReport: Mariners manager candidate withdraws from considerationDrayer: Taking stock of the Mariners’ manager searchUnion head calls MLB’s salary cap proposal a ‘nuclear bomb’