Rays hand Game 1 to Nick Martinez as World Series opens tonight in Milwaukee

The World Series begins Friday night at American Family Field, and the Tampa Bay Rays are opening with a surprise. Veteran right-hander Nick Martinez, 36, will start Game 1 against Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski, Sports Illustrated reported.

First pitch is set for 8:08 p.m. ET, according to SI. Every game airs on Fox, MLB.com said.

Why Martinez

The Rays plan to start Drew Rasmussen in Game 2 on Saturday and Freddy Peralta in Game 3 at Tropicana Field, where Peralta has made all three of his postseason starts, according to SI. The setup could let Martinez start twice in a seven-game series.

Misiorowski, 24, has started Game 1 of each of Milwaukee's last two series. He threw 1,115 pitches of 100 mph or faster this season, The Associated Press reported, topping out at 105.5 mph in June.

A first-time champion

Neither franchise has won a World Series, guaranteeing a first-time champion for the first time since 1980, the AP reported. It is also the first World Series to use the automated ball-strike challenge system.

The Brewers went 103-59, a franchise record, and swept the Dodgers in the NLCS, according to MLB.com. The Rays went 98-64 and beat Cleveland in six games for the AL pennant.

*If necessary. All games 8 p.m. ET on Fox, per MLB.com.