After the Rays’ 7-3 win over the Cleveland Guardians, the stage is set for the 2026 World Series. This year the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers will face off in the Fall Classic, with each team chasing its first championship. Though both are among baseball’s smallest-market teams, they’ve showcased some of this postseason’s best player performances.
The Milwaukee Brewers:
Representing the National League, the Brewers enter the World Series with one loss this postseason after defeating the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series and sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Throughout the 2026 postseason, Milwaukee has shown it can play well on both sides of the ball.
The Brewers’ lineup has been among the most successful in baseball this October, posting the highest On-Base percentage of any team this postseason at 343 and the highest team batting average at 250. Additionally, seven of Milwaukee’s 13 position players have an OBP over 350. The team has benefited from especially strong performances from first baseman Jake Bauers and catcher William Contreras, who holds the highest batting average of any of the two remaining teams at 367 in 35 plate appearances.
The Brewers’ pitching staff boasts an earned run average of 2.03, the second-lowest of any team this postseason, and is tied for the second-fewest home runs allowed. While star pitcher Jacob Misiorowski was less effective in his starts against San Diego and Los Angeles, giving up four walks and nine hits across his two postseason starts, he held the teams to just three runs combined over 8.1 innings.
Beyond their ace, the rest of the starting rotation has continued to post dominant starts. Pitcher Robert Gasser held the Padres to just one run over four innings and threw five shutout innings in game three against LA. Milwaukee’s bullpen is headlined by Trevor McGill, Juan Uribe, and Aaron Ashby. Ashby has yet to give up a run and has been strong, allowing just 4 runs across 40 innings.
Heading into the World Series, the Brewers are modest favorites to win their first ring.
The Tampa Bay Rays
Six years after their failed World Series run in 2020, the Rays look to capture their first title in their 28-year history. On the path to their third World Series appearance, the Rays swept the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series and then defeated the Cleveland Guardians in a 4-2 series after three straight wins.
The Rays’ offense continues to rely less on power and more on plate discipline, contact and aggressive baserunning. Tampa Bay leads all teams this postseason with 11 stolen bases and has the third-highest batting average. The team is also tied for the second-most runs batted in.
Spearheading the Rays lineup have been designated hitter Yandy Diaz and 23-year-old third baseman Junior Caminero, who have hit for a combined 308 batting average and 856 on-base plus slugging (OPS).
Additionally, Tampa Bay’s rotation has made it difficult to outscore them. Their top three starters, Drew Rasmussen, Freddy Peralta, and Nick Martinez, have combined for a 1.71 ERA over 41.2 innings. In game one against the Yankees, Rasmussen struck out 10 and allowed one hit, falling four outs short of a no-hitter. In Peralta’s last start against the Guardians, he pitched five innings and allowed one earned run.
While the Rays primarily depend on longer starts from their starting rotation, their bullpen has also been reliable, with notable performances from their high-leverage arms. Relief pitchers Cam Booser and Bryan Baker, in a combined 11 innings, have yet to give up an earned run.
The two teams will face off in a best-of-seven series beginning Friday, Oct. 23, at American Family Field in Milwaukee; the winner will receive its first championship ring in franchise history.
