Rays' Game 1 Pitching Surprise: Martinez Gets the Start

Segment Spotlight: Quick Hits From Game Time Decisions

Rays’ Rotation Decisions and Freddie Peralta’s Turnaround

Game 1 is tomorrow night, and the Tampa Bay Rays made a somewhat surprising decision by naming Nick Martinez as their starter against Mizarrowski. Rasmussen might have been the expected choice, especially because the Game 1 starter is often positioned to return for a potential Game 7.

One possible explanation is that Rasmussen needs another day before pitching. He threw on Sunday, and this is the most he has ever pitched. Managers regularly speak with pitchers about how they feel, so the Rays may believe an extra day will help him move closer to 100%. That does not necessarily mean he is injured or unavailable.

The decision also moves Freddie Peralta back to a start in Tampa rather than Milwaukee. There had been speculation that the Rays might prefer to keep the former Brewer from facing his old team in Milwaukee, where the emotions surrounding the start could become a factor.

There is no apparent bad blood between Peralta and Milwaukee. His contract was approaching its end, and the Brewers traded him before it expired. He later struggled badly with the Mets, including an appearance in Milwaukee in which he allowed seven runs over five and one-third innings.

Peralta also struggled during his first few weeks with the Rays, but the team continued making adjustments until his results improved. After two poor starts, he allowed two runs or fewer in nearly every outing over roughly 10 starts.

One significant adjustment was incorporating more of a changeup, a pitch he had used very little, if at all, with the Mets and possibly the Brewers. The turnaround illustrated the Rays’ ability to identify changes and get the best from their pitchers.

Baker, who has been pitching the ninth inning, is another example. Based on his career statistics, it would have been difficult to project him performing this well. Both Tampa Bay and Milwaukee are viewed as two of baseball’s sharpest organizations, making their decisions difficult to challenge before seeing the results.