Kevin Cash has decided that Nick Martinez, not Drew Rasmussen, will start Game 1 of the World Series, and Rick and Steve walk through why. Rasmussen has already thrown 43 more innings than ever before, according to pitching coach Kyle Snyder, and an extra day of rest will help him. Freddy Peralta's command slipped late in his last start, and he gets Game 3 at the Trop. As Cash put it, "Nick Martinez just wins." The hosts also look at the downside: in a five-game series, Rasmussen and Peralta would each pitch only once. Rasmussen is disappointed, and Steve assumes he'll go in Games 2 and 6.
From there, they size up a matchup in which the Rays aren't favored (The Athletic's writers polled roughly 85 percent for Milwaukee). Rick predicts six or seven games between two teams that mirror each other, while Steve thinks the Brewers were the best team all year and that the National League was tougher. It's the first meeting of the two best records in baseball since 2020. They debate the bullpen: Rick thinks middle relief is the weak spot, Steve says the group has been good with only Ian Seymour struggling, and both agree Martinez can't be allowed to go through the lineup a third time. With one of these teams about to win a first title, they talk about the Rays' third World Series in roughly 28 seasons, the Brewers' 44-year wait, the Game 3 atmosphere at the Trop, and secondary-market tickets near $1,000. "Four wins from immortality."
After a sponsor break, the show turns to the Bucs. Baker Mayfield returns to practice with a glove on his throwing hand that was invented by the Rays' home clubhouse attendant Nick Bond, a receiver's glove with the thumb ripped off and a support inserted (there are two versions, hard plastic and soft cast), and Marc Topkin got the story from a clubhouse attendant in Milwaukee. That's "Team Tampa Bay" in action. Rick and Steve then preview Sunday's game at Carolina, where the Bucs give themselves a small chance but can't afford to fall 3.5 games back. The Panthers have a strong offense (Bryce Young with MVP chants, John Izzo calling plays, Tetairoa McMillan) and a bottom-third defense, so Rick expects a shootout. They also discuss Graham Barton on how hard the quarterback's operation is, Emeka Egbuka's concussion protocol and foot injury, the Lightning's trip to Denver and Utah (and the need for two TVs Friday and Saturday), an off weekend for Florida, Florida State, and USF, and why Steve says to "savor it" as the Rays reach the World Series on the heels of last year's Steinbrenner Field season.
Segments
- Nick Martinez to start World Series Game 1
- Cash's reasoning, Rasmussen's workload, and Peralta in Game 3
- The risk of starting Martinez: Rasmussen and Peralta only pitch once
- Rays vs. Brewers: who is favored and the bullpen debate
- A first title for one team: the Rays' third World Series and the Brewers' 44-year wait
- Game 3 at the Trop and ticket prices
- Sponsor: Breitling Boutique, International Plaza
- Baker Mayfield's return and the glove invented by Nick Bond
- Bucs at Carolina: Bryce Young, the Panthers' offense, and the division math
- Graham Barton on the quarterback's operation and the Shanahan/Purdy headset story
- Emeka Egbuka's concussion and foot injury
- Lightning in Denver, college football's off weekend, and savoring the Rays' run
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
