What happened: Tampa Bay Rays starter Freddy Peralta is slated to start Game 3 of the World Series, per Sportsnet. The assignment completes an improbable turn from just a few months ago, when a Fall Classic appearance seemed unlikely.

Why it matters: Tampa Bay hands Peralta the ball after a 5-4 final loss with a 1-0 series deficit entering the game. Pitching in the pivotal mid-series spot puts the burden on him to halt the opposition's momentum.

What to watch: Rotation deployment and bullpen workload behind Peralta now come into focus for the middle games of the series.