Former Brewers pitcher leads Rays within one game of World Series

The Tampa Bay Rays secured a 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Championship Series on October 18, giving them a 3-2 lead and positioning them to clinch the series and secure their third AL pennant. In Game 3, former Brewers pitcher Drew Rasmussen shined, allowing only one earned run on four hits over seven innings, with the Guardians' only run coming from Chase DeLauter's RBI groundout in the sixth.

The Rays scored runs in the first three innings, with Jonny DeLuca drawing a bases-loaded walk, Jonathan Aranda driving in a run, and Liam Hicks adding an RBI single. Cleveland starter Parker Messick lasted just two innings, giving up five hits and two walks, along with two earned runs. The Rays will likely turn to Freddy Peralta, who pitched six shutout innings in Game 2 and briefly appeared in relief in Game 4, to clinch the series in Game 5 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg on Monday.

If the Rays win, they will face the Milwaukee Brewers for the World Series opener on Friday, October 23.