What happened: Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash summed up the decision to hand Nick Martinez the ball in Friday's opener simply: "When Nick pitches, we win." Rather than rushing Drew Rasmussen back to open the series, Tampa Bay prioritized keeping its top right-hander on his preferred rest schedule.

Why it matters: Starting a versatile veteran in the opener preserves bullpen coverage early in the series while slotting Rasmussen into Game 2 at full strength. Tampa Bay is pursuing the first World Series championship in

What to watch: Martinez takes the mound for Game 1 on Friday night, with Rasmussen lined up to follow in Game 2.