Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers Open World Series With Both Clubs Chasing a First Title
The Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers open the 2026 World Series in Milwaukee on Friday night, with a first-time champion guaranteed in the first Fall Classic since 1980 where both clubs are chasing their first title.
Milwaukee's 44-year wait is over
The Brewers return to baseball's biggest stage for the first time since 1982, when they lost a seven-game series to St. Louis as an American League club. They got there by sweeping the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series, capping a season in which they posted the best record and the best run differential in the majors, at +214. Catcher William Contreras hit .357 in the NLCS, Jake Bauers drove in six runs, and left-hander Aaron Ashby closed out Games 2 and 4. Milwaukee hosts Games 1 and 2 at American Family Field, and Games 6 and 7 if they are needed, with 24-year-old ace Jacob Misiorowski confirmed to start Game 1.
Tampa Bay get a third shot at history
The Rays are making their third World Series appearance after finishing runners-up to Philadelphia in 2008 and the Dodgers in 2020. They beat the Cleveland Guardians in six games to win the American League pennant, with right-hander Freddy Peralta named series MVP after two wins and a 0.75 ERA. Yandy Díaz homered in Games 4 and 6. Right-hander Nick Martinez will start Game 1 for Tampa Bay, with Drew Rasmussen — who allowed one run over seven innings in his ALCS Game 5 win — held back for Game 2. The series shifts to Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg for Games 3 and 4 and, if necessary, Game 5.
A guaranteed new name on the trophy
Whichever club prevails, the Commissioner's Trophy will have a first-time winner — a matchup not seen since the Phillies and Royals met in 1980, when both were also seeking a maiden championship. A potential Game 7 is scheduled for Saturday, October 31.
Sources: World Baseball Softball Confederation, FOX Sports, USA TODAY, Tampa Bay 28.
Photo: DiscoA340 / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)