Rays Trim Series to 3-1 After 12-Inning Win

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-3 in 12 innings on Tuesday, avoiding a sweep in the World Series. The win cut the Brewers' lead in the best-of-seven series to 3-1. Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday.

The result improved the Rays' statistical outlook. In major league history, only one of 42 teams that trailed 3-0 has won the championship. Fourteen of 96 teams that were down 3-1 have rallied to take the series, giving the Rays a 14.6% chance of victory. Teams in this situation split Game 5 evenly.

Tampa Bay now faces staffing issues in the rotation. Manager Kevin Cash used seven pitchers in Game 4. Nick Martinez threw two scoreless innings on 33 pitches, despite being slated to start Wednesday. Starter Griffin Jax used 74 pitches and is likely unavailable. Cole Sulser, Steven Matz, and Garrett Cleavinger sat out Tuesday and remain options.

Bryan Baker and Kevin Kelly pitched in Game 4 but rested in Game 3. Ian Seymour threw 32 pitches on Tuesday, which may limit his availability. Tyler Wells and Cameron Booser have pitched on consecutive days. Drew Rasmussen has three days of rest but has never made a short-rest start in his career.

Milwaukee has a clearer plan. Jacob Misiorowski will start Game 5. The 24-year-old threw five innings in Game 1, allowing one run. That outing followed 11 days of rest. On Wednesday, he will work on the standard four-day schedule. He is near career-high workload levels, and the Brewers may need length from him after a heavy bullpen usage in Game 4.

The Rays also must decide if Junior Caminero can play. The third baseman left Game 4 in the 12th inning with a left foot injury. Cash said the 23-year-old will play on one leg. Caminero has hit one home run in 48 postseason at-bats, compared to 42 during the regular season.