Drew Rasmussen to start World Series Game 5 for Rays

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Oct 28, 2026

Published in Baseball

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TAMPA, Fla. — Drew Rasmussen will start for the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth game of the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night.

Rasmussen will be working on three days’ rest after starting Game 2 on Saturday in Milwaukee.

The Rays ace didn’t pitch well by his standards in that game, allowing three runs on six hits and lasting only 3 2/3 innings while throwing 89 pitches. He said on Tuesday that he very much hoped to get another opportunity.

The Rays used seven pitchers in Tuesday’s 12-inning walk-off win. The five who didn’t pitch were Garrett Cleavinger, Steven Matz, Cole Sulser, Freddy Peralta (87 pitches Monday) and Rasmussen.

Here is who did pitch Tuesday, with the number of pitches thrown: Griffin Jax, 74; Kevin Kelly, 12; Nick Martinez, 33; Bryan Baker, 21; Tyler Wells, 24; Can Booser, 9; and Ian Seymour, 32

Also, the Rays will hand the ball to longtime TV broadcaster Dewayne Staats to throw out the first pitch.

The Rays still trail 3-1 in the best-of-seven Series, but they talked a lot after Tuesday’s game about having their confidence boosted and momentum restored.

Staats has been the TV voice of the Rays since their 1998 inaugural season.

The national anthem will be performed by Julie Falcon, who is described as a “cinematic anthem pop singer, songwriter and performer.”

Team-run parking lots open at 3 p.m. and stadium gates at 5.

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