Rays Hit the Panic Button, Start Drew Rasmussen on Short Rest to Dodge Sweep

The Tampa Bay Rays are staring down the barrel of a sweep, which means it is officially time to break the glass in case of emergency.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, the Rays are handing the ball to ace Drew Rasmussen on short rest tonight in a desperate bid to save their season.

"Bob Nightengale noted Rasmussen will start 'as expected' to save their season."

Trailing the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0 in the series after getting absolutely boatraced 10-1 on Tuesday, Tampa Bay has zero margin for error. You do not save bullets when the season is on life support, and Rasmussen is the biggest weapon they have left.

Starting a pitcher on short rest in modern baseball is like letting your buddy borrow your car after he just failed a vision test. You only do it if the alternative is walking home in a blizzard. For the Rays, getting swept on their home field is the blizzard.

Anyone looking at the pitching props tonight knows that short rest usually guarantees a short leash. Tampa Bay is not asking Rasmussen to throw a complete-game shutout. They are just begging for a few clean innings of survival before handing the mess over to a bullpen that has already been working overtime this week.

If Rasmussen shoves, the Rays live to see Thursday and force a Game 5. If he doesn't, the Brewers will be popping champagne in the visitors' clubhouse while Tampa Bay starts booking November tee times.