World Series Game 5: Brewers Turn to Jacob Misiorowski for a Second Chance to Clinch Their First Title Against the Rays
Milwaukee leads Tampa Bay 3-1 and can win its first World Series on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field (8 p.m. ET, FOX) — but the Rays, who staved off elimination in 12 innings on Tuesday, had not named a starting pitcher when the preview reports were filed.
The Milwaukee Brewers get a second chance to finish the job on Wednesday night. Milwaukee leads the Tampa Bay Rays 3-1 in the best-of-seven World Series and can clinch the first championship in franchise history in Game 5 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on FOX, according to Sportsbook Wire's schedule. Games 6 and 7, if necessary, would be played in Milwaukee, Reuters reported.
Milwaukee will start right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, the National League Cy Young Award favorite, the Associated Press reported. Misiorowski allowed one run over five innings to win Game 1, and in three starts and 13 1/3 innings this postseason he is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA and 14 strikeouts, according to Reuters. "You can write it up and hope that they perform like the back of their baseball card, but that doesn't always happen," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said in Reuters' account. "You go with what you believe is the deal. I trust our guys. They put themselves in a position to win."
Tampa Bay's pitching plan was still open when the reports were filed. Right-hander Nick Martinez would have been the probable Game 5 starter, Reuters reported, but he was needed for two innings in Tuesday's 4-3, 12-inning Game 4 win. "We're going to get together after this session and sit down and talk about pitching," Rays manager Kevin Cash said, via Reuters. "Going to check who's available. I'm going to guess most guys are going to say they're capable of an inning or more given it's Game 5 of the World Series, but nothing has been decided yet."
The Rays reached Game 5 the hard way, and their clubhouse language matched it. "We've got a lot of fight in us," outfielder Chandler Simpson said, in the AP's account. "We're never going to shy away. We were going to keep fighting until the end — the last inning, the last out, the last play, the last pitch." Cash also said injured infielder Junior Caminero, who hobbled off with an ailing left foot in Game 4, would be in the lineup: "He'll play tomorrow on one leg. I'll make sure of it." Brewers first baseman Jake Bauers, via Reuters, took the longer view for Milwaukee: "Nobody said any of this was going to be easy, but I think we have the right group to get a good night's sleep, flush it and be ready to go."
