The Milwaukee Brewers are one win away from a World Series title, but the path to it has gotten a lot bumpier after a 4-3, 12-inning loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 4.
Even with that setback, the Brewers still have the edge in the best-of-seven and now turn to Jacob Misiorowski for Game 5 on Wednesday at 7 p.m. CT on Fox. The right-hander will be making his first road start and his fourth appearance of the postseason as Milwaukee tries to finish the job and capture the first World Series championship in franchise history.
Misiorowski opened the Series in Game 1 and went five innings against Tampa Bay, allowing one run on four hits and a walk while striking out three. That outing came with the benefit of extra rest, as his last two starts before that had been separated by seven and 11 days.
This time, he’s on a normal four days’ rest. His three strikeouts were his fewest of the season, and he produced only seven whiffs over 78 pitches while battling his command, especially against right-handed hitters.
The velocity, though, was never the issue. His first pitch of the World Series was clocked at 103.5 mph, a World Series record, and his final pitch came in at 103 mph.
Milwaukee’s bullpen should be in decent shape, and that matters after the Game 3 blowout helped preserve arms. The only pitchers who appear out of commission are right-handers Dustin May and Antonio Senzatela.
May threw 39 pitches in his Tuesday start, while Senzatela has pitched in each of the last two games and worked 44 pitches, fading in Game 4. Left-hander Aaron Ashby, who has set an MLB postseason record with 19 scoreless innings this year, threw 31 pitches in Game 4 and likely has only about an inning in him.
Beyond that, the Brewers should have the rest of their relief group available for at least one frame.
Tampa Bay, meanwhile, is trying to survive with a pitching staff that has been stretched hard over the last two games. The Rays’ bullpen covered 5⅓ innings in Game 3 and eight innings in Game 4.
Nick Martinez, who started Game 1, worked in relief in Game 4, and Bryan Baker also logged two innings. Martinez may be able to give them another inning, while Baker had not gone two innings in any game this season before that effort, topping out at 1⅔.
He was efficient on 21 pitches, 14 of them strikes, so he could still be called on for a few outs. Former Brewer Freddy Peralta, who started Game 3, could also be available for an inning on what would normally be his bullpen day.
Kevin Cash has a tough puzzle to solve.
The Rays are also going with ace right-hander Drew Rasmussen in a second straight elimination game. Rasmussen will be pitching on three days’ rest, his shortest rest period of the season, after manager Kevin Cash sounded careful when asked about his availability.
Rasmussen said he is ready, though a shorter outing seems likely. In Game 2, after Tampa Bay grabbed a 4-0 lead before he even threw a pitch, Rasmussen lasted 3⅔ innings and allowed three runs on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
Game 1 offered some clues about how Milwaukee handled Rasmussen. William Contreras had two hits off him, including an RBI knock in a two-run first inning.
On the Tampa Bay side, Jonathan Aranda was a problem for Misiorowski in the opener, going 3-for-3 with a walk. He singled in his first at-bat and drew a walk the second time up. The only run in that game came on a weak grounder to first base by Liam Hicks.
Offensively, the Brewers have been producing enough to keep pressure on Tampa Bay. Jackson Chourio has gone 10-for-20, Contreras is 7-for-17, and rookie Cooper Pratt is 6-for-16 after delivering the go-ahead homer in the 12th inning of Game 4.
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