Rays Manager Kevin Cash Faces Pitching Crunch in Game 5

The Tampa Bay Rays enter Wednesday's World Series Game 5 with a 3-1 deficit and a strained roster. Their 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday kept the series alive but left the Rays with fewer options for pitching and a key hitter managing an injury.

Historically, teams down 3-1 in a best-of-seven postseason series win the championship 14.6% of the time. That figure represents a major improvement over the 2.4% chance the Rays held when they were down 3-0. Only one team in Major League Baseball history, the 2004 Boston Red Sox, has ever recovered from a 3-0 deficit to win the World Series. Teams trailing 3-1 hold a .500 record in Game 5.

Rays manager Kevin Cash must determine his starting pitcher for Wednesday. The decision is complicated by Tuesday's use of the bullpen. Nick Martinez, who was originally scheduled to start Game 5, pitched two scoreless relief innings on Tuesday. He threw 33 pitches. Griffin Jax started Game 4 and threw 74 pitches, making him unlikely to start again so soon. Cash has several relievers who did not pitch on Tuesday, including Cole Sulser, Steven Matz, and Garrett Cleavinger. Others, such as Bryan Baker and Kevin Kelly, are available but have varying rest days.

On the Brewers side, starter Jacob Misiorowski will take the mound for the fourth time in these playoffs. The 24-year-old right-hander went five innings for one run in Game 1. He is coming off the standard four days of rest, a shorter break than the 11 days he had before his first start in this series. The Brewers need him to go deep into the game to conserve their own bullpen.

The Rays also face uncertainty regarding their lead hitter, Junior Caminero. The 23-year-old first baseman left Tuesday's game in the 12th inning with a left foot injury. He stepped on a base after Joey Ortiz threw the ball wide. Cash said Caminero would play in Game 5. "He'll play tomorrow on one leg," Cash stated. "I'll make sure of it."

Caminero's performance is vital for Tampa Bay. He has hit 42 home runs in the regular season, averaging one every 14.7 at-bats. In the postseason, his power output has dropped. He has one home run in 48 at-bats and a .717 OPS. The Rays need his bat to function to push the series back to Milwaukee.