MILWAUKEE -- A World Series matchup between the best teams in each league figured to be tight. Game 1 certainly didn’t disappoint on Friday, with the Brewers riding their slim early advantage for all nine innings of a 3-2 win over the Rays.
Here’s some instant reaction from American Family Field:
1. Old man’s still got it
At age 34, Christian Yelich almost never plays the field anymore. His last 30-homer season came seven years ago. He’s been an All-Star just once since then.
But make no mistake: Yelich is still the beating heart of this Brewers team, as clearly signified by the captain’s patch on his shoulder.
He’s still dangerous at the plate, too. It was Yelich’s first-inning RBI triple that gave the Brewers a lead they never relinquished, and it’s Yelich who could continue to be a factor in this series going forward.
With the Rays devoid of left-handed starters, Yelich figures to continue playing every day, batting third as he did in Game 1. He has a homer in four career at-bats against Rays Game 2 starter Drew Rasmussen, and a double in three trips to the plate against Game 3 probable Freddy Peralta.
The storyline on Yelich entering the postseason was a 17-game postseason RBI drought dating back to Game 7 of the 2018 NLDS. That extended to 19 games before he notched an RBI in Game 3 of this year’s NLDS vs. the Dodgers and all he’s done is hit ever since. Yelich is now batting .286 with four RBIs over eight postseason games and has a hit in all but one playoff game he’s started.
"We put that ‘C’ on the chest for a reason,” Brewers closer Trevor Megill said. “I think ever since we did that, things have gone the right direction for him.”
Eventually, the Rays may use their cadre of lefty relievers to force Yelich from the game, considering his significant platoon splits. In the interim, he’s going to keep getting chances to make an early impact.
2. The Rays have a whole lot riding on Game 2
Tampa Bay opened the World Series with an unconventional move, starting Nick Martinez instead of Rasmussen. The idea was to give both Rasmussen and Peralta extra days of rest heading into their Game 2 and 3 starts, so that the Rays could lean more heavily on them in those contests.
Tampa Bay’s hope was that the Rays could steal a game against Milwaukee’s ace, Jacob Misiorowski, without their own best pitcher on the mound. If that failed, they would at least have their stopper ready to go in Game 2.
That, of course, places a whole lot of pressure on Rasmussen, who must give the Rays a strong Game 2 start if they wish to turn the World Series in their favor. He believes he’s up for that challenge.
“I think where people get in trouble is they try to overcomplicate what the moment is,” Rasmussen said. “The plate is still 60 feet, six inches away."
The good news for the Rays is that in addition to Rasmussen, each of their high-leverage relievers should be available. Manager Kevin Cash’s reliance on Steven Matz for five outs in Game 1 allowed the Rays to avoid placing too much stress on the rest of his bullpen. Closer Bryan Baker in particular has had four days to recover since his last appearance.
3. Live by the steal, die by the steal
Entering the World Series, the Rays were a perfect 11-for-11 in postseason stolen base attempts. They had not, however, faced a catcher as adept at neutralizing the opposing running game as William Contreras, who ranked second in the Majors with 25 runners caught stealing during the regular season. Contreras also had the highest caught stealing percentage among catchers with at least 50 opportunities (34.2%).
That could be a problem for the Rays, who led the American League with 164 stolen bases during the regular season. In fact, it already has been; the Rays ran themselves out of both the fifth and sixth innings when Contreras nabbed Victor Mesa Jr. and Jonathan Aranda attempting to steal. Though the Rays later executed a double steal in the ninth, leading to a run, it’s impossible to say what might have happened had their earlier aggression borne fruit.
Much like the Brewers, the Rays are built on athleticism. If Contreras can limit their ability to change games on the basepaths, it will only increase their advantage.
“Look, he's a very talented player on both sides of the ball,” Cash said. “We knew that coming in. Not surprised by anything that he did, but that’s not going to change our aggressive approach, certainly on the bases."
4. The Brewers' staff is about so much more than just the Miz
Yes, Misorowski set a record for the fastest World Series pitch(es) ever thrown, and yes, he held the Rays to just one run in five innings to earn Milwaukee’s first World Series win in 44 years. But Brewers manager Pat Murphy didn’t rely too heavily on Misiorowski, who threw just 78 pitches. That should set him up well to remain strong deep into the series.
“Obviously, I’m going to be competitive and I’m going to keep going,” Misiorowski said, before acknowledging that, “The situation we had looked better going to the ‘pen and turning it over that way.”
Most teams wouldn’t have the luxury of limiting the probable National League Cy Young winner to that extent. The Brewers had no qualms doing so given the strength of their bullpen.
After Misiorowski departed, Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby and Megill silenced the Rays until the ninth, when their replay-aided comeback fell just short. Still, Milwaukee’s relievers affirmed the pre-series notion that their bullpen is a cut above Tampa’s.
The Rays, for their part, took some solace in the fact that they’ve now seen three of Milwaukee’s best relievers. That could play to their advantage later in the World Series.
“In a seven-game series, being able to face a guy multiple times -- kind of dig your cleats in and get comfortable against them, or at least just see the shapes that you're going to see throughout a series -- is really big,” shortstop Taylor Walls said. “I'm glad we got to see all three of their guys tonight. Hopefully that becomes a strength at some point for us moving forward.”