Rays name Drew Rasmussen Game 5 starter in all-hands-on-deck short rest decision

The Tampa Bay Rays are at the point where every game must be treated like a Game 7. A decision for Game 5 of the World Series makes that mindset clear as day.

Drew Rasmussen will get the ball on short rest. It wasn't a move that many saw coming, but it's not surprising. He would have been the Game 6 starter, but there isn't a guarantee that game will happen.

The move instead is to get their ace into the only guaranteed game left.

Whether or not it's the right call is an entirely different discussion that isn't going to be answered here. There are concerns about how he could fare on short rest after how he struggled on regular rest. Regardless, the decision is understandable, and the discussion is diving into why it is.

No future game can matter to the Rays

Nick Martinez pitched two innings in Game 4 because they had to ensure they stayed alive. Maybe he still pitches in Game 5. Kevin Cash said he's available.

The debate quickly became how much of Game 5 he could pitch. Would Steven Matz help bridge the innings gap? All of these decisions likely came down to asking questions about how each pitcher felt coming into Wednesday.

Rasmussen gave a thumbs-up that he felt good. There's no way he didn't. A conversation with a trainer likely played a role in greenlighting the call as well. No decisions are made on a whim. This has been pondered since 1 am.

So who will pitch in Game 6? The Rays' response is don't know, don't care. That conversation can happen if they get to get on a plane to Milwaukee on Thursday. If they wanted Rasmussen locked into Game 6, they should have held onto that 4-0 lead in Game 2. They'd already have that game on the docket to prepare for.

Everybody who isn't Griffin Jax is likely available. Freddy Peralta is likely in play to pitch another relief inning, and he should be. One inning on Wednesday would mean he's fine should there be a Game 7 on Saturday.

If starting Rasmussen doesn't work out, there will be some criticism. That's just how it is. The Rays will be ready with the obvious answer. They were in all-hands-on-deck mode. It will be the same if there are hypothetical Game 6 and Game 7.

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