The Tampa Bay Rays will start Nick Martinez in Game 1 of the World Series in Milwaukee on Friday night, according to ESPN, CBS Sports and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Manager Kevin Cash announced the pick on Thursday.

Martinez will face Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski, all three outlets reported. The game is at American Family Field, the Journal Sentinel said.

ESPN and CBS Sports called the choice a surprise. Ace Drew Rasmussen could have pitched on regular rest, ESPN reported. Instead, the Rays chose to give him an extra day.

"He's had a pretty thick workload here," Cash said, according to ESPN and CBS Sports. "We've relied on him heavily."

Rasmussen has pitched at least six innings in each of his playoff starts, ESPN reported. He has given up three runs in 21 innings. He is likely to start Game 2, CBS Sports reported. Freddy Peralta would then start Game 3 in Tampa Bay, CBS Sports said. Rasmussen and Peralta both used to pitch for the Brewers, the Journal Sentinel reported.

Martinez, 36, had never started a playoff game before this year, ESPN reported. In Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, he held the Cleveland Guardians to one run on two hits over 5 1/3 innings.

He signed a one-year, $13 million deal with the Rays just before spring training, ESPN reported. He made his first All-Star team and finished the regular season with a 3.10 ERA in 180 innings, ESPN said.

"It's exciting," Martinez said, according to ESPN and CBS Sports. "My job is just to rack up as many outs as we can and keep us in this ballgame."

"When Nick pitches, we win," Cash said, according to CBS Sports.

Both teams had the best records in their leagues this season, ESPN reported.

What we know: Martinez starts Game 1 against Misiorowski, with Rasmussen likely in Game 2.
What we don't: How the Rays will line up the rest of the rotation if the series goes long.