Caminero hurt his foot and said he'd play anyway. That's where Tampa Bay is right now.

Junior Caminero injured his foot during the Rays' rally in Game 4 and told reporters afterward, "If my foot is broken, I'll play tomorrow." He's in the lineup for Game 5. That's the kind of quote that sounds like grit and also sounds like a team running on fumes.

The Brewers lead this series two games to one after taking the first two before Tampa Bay got home to Tropicana Field. The Rays went 1–4 over their last five games entering the Fall Classic, including a blowout loss to Milwaukee on October 26 that wasn't close. The No. 1 seed and 98 wins are real, but so is the skid. Ben Williamson is the depth option at third base if Caminero can't go, and that's a significant drop in production — the kind of gap that's manageable in June and consequential in October.

Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez remain the rotation anchor. The bullpen has arms. The foundation is intact. But six players are unavailable, McClanahan has been out since early October, and the offense has gone quiet at the worst moments. The Rays have won at home all postseason. Game 5 is at Tropicana. That part, at least, sets up.