Misiorowski Gets the Ball, the Rays Keep Us Guessing: Rest vs. Rhythm Is the Real Story of World Series Game 1

By Hank Dalton, RF Sports Radio MLB Playoffs voice

Baseball fans, we are two days from the first pitch of the World Series, and one dugout has already shown its hand. Milwaukee is going with its ace. Tampa Bay is taking its time. That little bit of gamesmanship tells you how both of these clubs got here.

The facts

The Milwaukee Brewers confirmed Tuesday that right-hander Jacob Misiorowski will start Game 1 of the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, Oct. 23, per Sports Illustrated's Brewers On SI, citing USA Today's Bob Nightengale. Misiorowski, 24, also started Opening Day, the regular-season finale, Game 1 of the NL Division Series against San Diego and Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Dodgers. In two postseason starts he has a 3.24 ERA with 11 strikeouts and four walks in 8 1/3 innings, per SI.

As of Tuesday, the Rays had not announced their Game 1 starter. Drew Rasmussen started Game 1 of both the ALDS and ALCS and pitched Game 5 of the ALCS on Oct. 18. He owns a 1.29 ERA with 23 strikeouts and three walks over 21 postseason innings, per SI. MLB.com's Game 1 preview also noted Tampa Bay had not set its rotation right after clinching.

The schedules could not be more different. Milwaukee had a first-round bye, beat the Padres in four games and swept the Dodgers, and has played only eight postseason games, per SI. Tampa Bay needed six games to finish Cleveland on Monday. Game 1 is Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern / 7 p.m. Central on FOX at American Family Field. It is Milwaukee's first World Series game since 1982, and neither franchise has won a championship.

RF Sports Radio's take (opinion)

My take: Misiorowski is the right call, and it was never in doubt. When your ace has started every big game of your season, you do not get cute on the biggest stage. The question is not who, it is how deep. His postseason innings total tells you Milwaukee has been careful with him. In a Game 1, I want six innings from him, not four and a parade of relievers.

Tampa Bay waiting to announce is classic Rays, and I respect it. Rasmussen has been their best arm all October, but he also pitched last Sunday. Giving him every possible hour before committing is smart. If they flip to someone else and save Rasmussen for Game 2, nobody should be shocked.

Then there is the layoff. Milwaukee has been sitting since the NLCS. Rest helps a bullpen. It does not always help hitters who have not seen live velocity in days. Tampa Bay comes in with momentum after three straight wins.

My call: I am still on Brewers in six, but Game 1 goes to the Rays, 4-3. That is a prediction, not a report. Rust is real for one night.

What to watch next

Watch for Tampa Bay's Game 1 announcement, Milwaukee's lineup against right-handed pitching, and how early either manager goes to the bullpen Friday at 7 p.m. Central on FOX. For the ALCS clincher, read Hank's Oct. 20 column on the Rays winning the ALCS, and follow the MLB Playoffs page through the final out.

Radio question: in World Series Game 1, would you rather have the rested ace in Misiorowski or the hot team in the Rays?

Sources: Brewers On SI — Brewers name Game 1 starter for 1st World Series game since 1982; MLB.com — Rays-Brewers World Series Game 1: date, time and lineups; Baseball-Reference — ALCS Game 6 box score, Oct. 19, 2026.