MLB World Series 2026: Pitching Decision Controversies

## Rays vs. Brewers, World Series Game 5 (Oct. 2026) ### Situation - Rays starter Drew Rasmussen pulled after 4 innings, 48 pitches, 1 run allowed - Pre-set plan: "60 pitches or four innings" - Cash: "We had gone into the game saying it was 60 pitches or four innings. Stuck to that. That was the easiest call in the world to take him out of the ball game." - Outcome: Bullpen allowed 4 runs, Brewers won 4-1 ### Analytics Angle - No cited analytics model recommended keeping Rasmussen in - One blogger (Ken Alger) noted Rasmussen's Game 5 start was the most efficient of the Series by pitches per out, but this is a self-built metric, not an industry model - Yardbarker argued the Game 1 choice to start Nick Martinez (pushing Rasmussen to short rest) was the real error ### Assessment - Not a clear analytics-vs-instinct divergence; more a pre-set plan vs. in-game adaptability question - Criticism focused on pulling an effective pitcher, not on overriding a model ## Red Sox vs. Yankees, Wild Card Game 2 (Sept. 30, 2026) ### Situation - Manager "Chad Tracy" pulled Sonny Gray with two outs in the 5th inning - Newsweek claimed third-time-through data (xwOBA .231) and pitch quality favored keeping him in - Tracy's stated reason: "we're struggling to score runs... you feel like you've got to be aggressive and go" ### Caveat - Red Sox 2026 manager name "Chad Tracy" is unverified and may be an error - No independent verification of the Gray data found ## Sources - https://www.aol.com/articles/easiest-world-series-decision-cost-133715000.html - https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/rays_manager_kevin_cash_at_center_of_another_controversial_world_series_pitching_move/s1_13132_44487367 - https://www.newsweek.com/sports/mlb/everyone-is-getting-the-red-sox-analytics-narrative-wrong-12514337 - https://www.kenwalger.com/blog/uncategorized/sixty-feet-six-inches-of-october/