Category: MLB

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The small-ball Milwaukee Brewers playing in the smallest market in the majors are World Series champions for the first time.

Hey, Milwaukee: grab a brat, raise a beer and prepare for that parade.

Young ace Jacob Misiorowski threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings, rookie Cooper Pratt had two more hits and two RBIs, and Milwaukee beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 on Wednesday night to set off a long-awaited celebration among thousands of Brewers fans in attendance at Tropicana Field.

“It’s the best feeling ever. All of our fans are here. I know the city’s waited a long, long time for this,” captain Christian Yelich said. “We’re so happy to bring it home to them. I can’t wait to get back there and celebrate.”

World Series MVP William Contreras hit an RBI double and Misiorowski allowed just two hits before leaving the game because of a right calf cramp. He got a standing ovation from the Brew-Crew fans, who took over the section behind Milwaukee’s dugout for the last three games.

The 22-year-old Pratt set a Series rookie record with six straight hits before his sacrifice fly in the sixth. Jackson Chourio set a five-game Series record with 11 hits.

“This is one of the greatest moments of my life. Oh my gosh. It doesn’t even feel real,” said Pratt, who made his major league debut in June. “This is surreal. It only took four months!”

The championship comes in the 58th season for a franchise that began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and moved to Milwaukee the following year. The Brewers’ only previous trip to the World Series in 1982 ended in heartbreak when they blew a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning of Game 7 and lost 6-3 to the St. Louis Cardinals.

But this team displayed the toughness and resilience of 67-year-old manager Pat Murphy, who survived a heart attack in 2020 and was the NL Manager of the Year in his first two full seasons at the helm in 2024 and 2025.

“This group of guys right here, the 2026 team, will be remembered forever — and they deserve that because they were a team,” Murphy said. “They’re not worried about their own stats. No one cares about that. They care about coming together and winning tonight.”

With their flame-throwing, 24-year-old two-time All-Star on the mound, the Brewers rebounded from a heartbreaking, 4-3 extra-inning loss in Game 4 when they were three outs from a sweep in the 12th before a stellar bullpen finally faltered.

Pitching on four days’ rest for only the fifth time in 34 starts this season, including the playoffs, The Miz had his longest outing since throwing 6 1/3 innings against the Cubs on Sept. 8. Leg cramps also forced him out of two outings earlier in the season.

“I don’t even have words,” Misiorowski said. “It’s amazing, just watching my guys celebrate. And the city — I know they’re going crazy in Milwaukee. It’s awesome.”

Misiorowski, who broke the World Series velocity record with a 103.5 mph fastball on the first pitch of the Series last Friday, opened with 12 straight four-seamers between 100.9-103 mph. He topped out at 103 twice among his 86 pitches, 58 strikes.

The right-hander didn’t record a strikeout in the first three innings for the first time in his two-year career and finished with two, matching his career low. He was fired up after Yandy Díaz missed a cutter to end the fifth. The Miz pumped his fist twice and punched the air walking off the mound.

The NL Cy Young Award favorite allowed one run over five innings to get his first postseason win as a starter in a 3-2 victory in the opener. He was 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA in the Series.

JoJo Romero got two outs, Abner Uribe recorded two more and closer Trevor Megill pitched the last two innings, allowing an RBI double to Chandler Simpson with two outs in the ninth.

Megill retired Richie Palacios on a grounder to second to end it, threw his arms in the air and was mobbed by teammates near the mound while Brewers fans celebrated in the stands.

“Milwaukee has waited 44 years, and Milwaukee, you have your world championship,” Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said from the postgame stage on the field.

Pratt, who was 4 for 5 with a tiebreaking solo homer in the 12th inning of Game 4, gave the Brewers a 1-0 lead with an RBI single against Rays ace Drew Rasmussen in the second. Pratt singled for his sixth straight hit in the Series in the fifth and scored on David Hamilton’s single off Kevin Kelly.

Contreras hit an RBI double off Garrett Cleavinger in the sixth and Pratt added a sac fly to make it 4-0.

Pitching on three days’ rest, Rasmussen went deeper than he did in Game 2, allowing one run and two hits in four innings. He had a 4-0 lead before he took the mound in Milwaukee on Saturday but couldn’t hold it, lasting only 3 2/3 innings as the Brewers rallied for a 5-4 victory.

Rasmussen retired his first four batters before Brice Turang lined a double to left-center. Sal Frelick was hit by a pitch and Pratt ripped an RBI single to center but was thrown out in a well-executed rundown between first and second.

The Rays had runners on second and third with two outs in the fourth but Ben Williamson grounded out. Williamson, who was 1 for 15 in the postseason before his game-winning single in the 12th inning of Game 4, started over the lefty-swinging Palacios.

Kelly replaced Rasmussen to start the fifth and allowed consecutive one-out singles to Pratt, Garrett Mitchell and Hamilton.

The teams combined to hit just four homers in the Series, three for Milwaukee. The Brewers scored a major league-low 32.1% of their runs on homers and Tampa Bay was second-lowest at 34.4%, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The Brewers led the majors with 103 wins in the regular season and went 11-2 in the postseason, including seven comeback wins and a sweep of the mighty Dodgers in the NLCS.

Milwaukee’s only other MLB championship was won in 1957 by the Braves, who moved to Atlanta for the 1966 season.

Murphy’s team finished what Harvey Kuenn’s star-studded crew couldn’t accomplish 44 years ago as the AL champions. Harvey’s Wallbangers had five Hall of Famers: Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Ted Simmons, Don Sutton and Rollie Fingers, who missed the postseason with a forearm injury. They also had Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Uecker in the booth.

The Rays, an expansion team that debuted in 1998, dropped to 0-3 in the World Series after defeats in 2008 and 2020. The only other clubs to lose in their first three Series appearances were the Brooklyn Dodgers (0-7) and Detroit Tigers (0-4), according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

“They’re banged-up and hurting right now, but just grateful for the way they carried themselves all season long, winning a bunch of games. It’s as close-knit of a group as I’ve ever been around,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said.

This might have been the last Major League Baseball game for an extended period.

The Brewers won the World Series at a time when owners are pushing for a salary cap from the players’ association because they maintain small-market teams can’t regularly succeed. A management lockout is likely to start Dec. 2 and could threaten the 2027 season.

This was the first Series since 1991 between teams in the bottom half of payrolls. The Brewers ranked 19th as of Aug. 31 and Rays were 25th.

The Rays were trying to become the first team to fall behind 3-0 in a World Series and force a sixth game. Of the 26 teams that lost the first three games, 21 were swept and Tampa Bay became the fifth to lose in Game 5.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — The Milwaukee Brewers World Series parade has been scheduled for Friday in downtown Milwaukee, Brewers officials told USA TODAY Sports after the team finished off the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 5.

It will begin on Wisconsin Ave. and will wind up at the end at the lakefront – with an anticipated crowd of at least 400,000, nearly two-thirds of the city’s population.

Who knows, that estimate may be light considering these are the same fans who paid a World Series record $2,338 just to get into American Family Park in Milwaukee for Game 1 – and then bought every plane ticket possible from Milwaukee to Tampa to cheer on their beloved team at Tropicana Field.

“It's been awesome to see," Brewers captain Christian Yelich said. “It's been pretty evident this month about how much the fans have gotten behind this team, the fan support that we've had at the road venues, at our home ballpark.

"People just coming up to you and telling you what the team means to them, and how awesome and how much fun and memories they've made over the years watching the Brewers.

“We don't take that lightly as a team. We understand that when we play well, it creates memories for people and makes people happy."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Brewers parade? Milwaukee ready to celebrate first World Series

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

The Milwaukee Brewers can finally cross their name off one of baseball's most frustrating lists.

Milwaukee finished off the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2026 World Series, capturing the first championship in franchise history and ending a wait that stretched back to the organization's beginnings as the Seattle Pilots in 1969. The Brewers moved to Milwaukee the following year and had previously reached the World Series only once, losing a seven-game series to the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982.

Before the 2026 World Series, Milwaukee was one of only five active MLB franchises that had never won a championship, a group that includes the Rays despite them now reaching the World Series three times.

Get exclusive Brewers championship books, gear

Here's a look at the MLB teams still searching for their first World Series championship.

Which MLB teams have never won a World Series?

San Diego Padres

• First season: 1969
• World Series appearances: 1984, 1998

Seattle Mariners

• First season: 1977
• World Series appearances: None

Colorado Rockies

• First season: 1993
• World Series appearances: 2007

Tampa Bay Rays

• First season: 1998
• World Series appearances: 2008, 2020, 2026

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Which MLB teams have never won a World Series? Brewers come off list

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — They wanted to roar louder Wednesday evening, but they were wiping their eyes with tears.

They wanted to clap louder, but their hands were busily taking pictures for posterity.

They wanted to call their loved ones, but all lines were busy to Wisconsin.

But, oh, the memories they’ll cherish forever, with half of the sellout crowd of 40,489 at Tropicana Field being Brewers fans to witness the most glorious day of baseball in the history of Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee Brewers are the World Series champions for the first time in their 57-year franchise history.

The Brewers, who reside in baseball’s smallest market, with a payroll dwarfed by nearly two-thirds of baseball, defeated the Tampa Bay Rays, 4-1, winning the World Series 4 games to 1.

“This means everything to the city of Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin," Brewers owner Mark Attanasio told USA TODAY Sports. “I mean, this has never happened. They’ve always been supportive, but now they have something to really celebrate.

“Robin Yount was a Hall of Famer, one of the greatest players of his generation, and he says his only regret was that he never won a World Series in Milwaukee. He wanted this as much as anyone, perhaps more than anyone."

Now, there are no regrets, with Yount finally being able to say he’s a World Series champion, too.

Yount was among plenty of Brewer greats on hand to celebrate with Hall of Fame teammate Paul Molitor, former MVP Ryan Braun and former home run champion Prince Fielder.

It meant everything to their devoted long-tenured employees like Tony Migliaccio, Brewers director of clubhouse operations, born and raised in Milwaukee, and the only person who has been with the franchise since its inception. He began as a 15-year-old bat boy, making $1.76 an hour, became their bullpen catcher, and then became their beloved clubhouse manager.

“This city has spent 44 years talking about the magic of ’82 when we were last in the World Series, with Hall of Famers, Cy Young winners and All-Stars," Migliaccio said. “Everyone was in love with that team. Everyone knows the history of this organization. And now, especially for all of us that have been with the organization most of our lives, this means everything.

“For those of us who have been here during the lean years, you can look back, and know how tough it was. People will never look at this franchise the same way again."

Said former Brewers catcher Bill Schroeder, and now their broadcaster, who has spent 40 years in the organization: “It’s still surreal. I can’t believe it."

Now, they’ll all board planes together Thursday, head back to Milwaukee, for a World Series parade to remember.

The parade has been scheduled Friday in downtown Milwaukee, Brewers officials said, beginning on Wisconsin Ave. and will wind up at the end at the lakefront, with an anticipated crowd of at least 400,000, nearly two-thirds of the city’s population.

Who knows, that 400,000 estimate may be light considering these are the same fans who paid a World Series record $2,338 just to get into American Family Park in Milwaukee for Game 1, and then bought every plane ticket possible from Milwaukee to Tampa to cheer on their beloved team at Tropicana Field.

“It's been awesome to see," Brewers captain Christian Yelich said. “It's been pretty evident this month about how much the fans have gotten behind this team, the fan support that we've had at the road venues, at our home ballpark. People just coming up to you and telling you what the team means to them, and how awesome and how much fun and memories they've made over the years watching the Brewers.

“We don't take that lightly as a team. We understand that when we play well, it creates memories for people and makes people happy."

You want insanity? The Brewers’ watch party back home at American Family Field, where fans can buy $15 tickets to sit with other fans and watch the Brewers’ game on the scoreboard, were being scalped for $850.

And folks didn’t hesitate buying them.

Hey, why not celebrate not only the greatest team in Brewers history, but one of the most dominant postseason teams in baseball history, at least since the divisional era in 1969?

The Brewers nearly ran the table this postseason, going 11-2, losing only one game since Oct. 6, and just five times since Labor Day, 49 days ago.

Winning the World Series, they’ll tell you, wasn’t as easy as it may have appeared. They played three one-run games in the first four games, and were only three outs away from sweeping the Rays until their 12^th-inning comeback, but the Brewers, just as they have all season, showed their resiliency.

“Sometimes the game tests you, sometimes the game makes you want to dig deep,” Yelich said. “Ad it’s all part of the journey, all part of the experience, and that’s part of our story.”

Now, that story can be shouted to the mountaintop, where the Brewers stand alone.

“This is for all of those that implemented and laid the foundation for what winning baseball looks like and what we need to do," said Matt Arnold, Brewers president of baseball operations. “They set those standards. Our guys here are unified and completely bought into what we need to do, the little things to win baseball games. There's no egos in this. Everybody's pulling on the same rope.

“And Milwaukee is huge in all this, man. They're loyal. They show up. They're loud. They care, and they wanted it just as bad as us. It’s been awesome.’’

Jacob Misiorowski, who should be the unanimous Cy Young winner, made sure that there would be no zany comebacks by the Rays this night. He completely suffocated the Rays’ lineup. In the finest postseason start of his career, he gave up just two singles in 5 2/3 shutout innings, departing only after suffering cramps in his right calf, leaving his vaunted bullpen to close out the game.

Just like that, Misiorowski will go down in history as the first pitcher since Orel Hershiser of the 1988 Dodgers to pitch the World Series clinching game and win the Cy Young award.

“He's come a long way since last year when he was a young kid with a lot of ability and a lot of natural talent,’’ Yelich said. “Anybody could see that looking at the radar gun and what he can do. He's come a long way learning himself as a pitcher, and learning how to pitch, and he's still learning in a lot of ways.

But he's matured a bit. He's gotten to know himself a lot. He's gotten confident. And he continues to get better, which is kind of crazy from stuff he's done.’’

There was 22-year-old rookie Cooper Pratt, who became the first rookie to drive in multiple runs in three consecutive World Series game. He was the the youngest player to produce a four-hit game in Game 4, and followed it up with two hits and a sacrifice fly in his first three plate appearances.

“I've been impressed with him all season," Yelich said. “Everybody was really talking about his glove, him coming up, but he can really hit. He's gotten some big hits during the season for us, and postseason obviously had a couple of big ones."

And then, there was catcher William Contreras, who put on a clinic in every phase of the game with Brewers manager Pat Murphy calling him their MVP.

“There is no one more important doing the job for us bigger than William," Murphy said. “He's been incredible. Both sides of it, catches every inning, that’s not easy. He's been incredible, plain and simple.’’

Really, the Brewers outplayed the Rays in every facet of the game. They out-hit them. They out-pitched them. They out-defended them.

“That's a really talented group,’’ said Rays ace Drew Rasmussen, who was beaten twice in the series, in Game 2 and again in Game 5. “In all honesty, they've outperformed us in all three facets of the game.

“I think they've pitched better than us. I think they've done better offensively. And I think they've played better defense than we have. It’s a really talented group. Their decision-making is off the charts.’’

And, oh, don’t forget that killer instinct.

“We're the type of team to step on teams' throats and keep going," Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell said. “We're relentless. We don't stop. Especially this time of the year, you never want to let anyone even have a sliver of chance if you don't have to let them.’’

Again and again and again.

“It makes you smile inside knowing that so many people care and they hang on this," Murphy said. “That's the whole thing about the state of Wisconsin and the city of Milwaukee. It's like these people really identify. They're hard-working people, a lot of them, and this is what they do in life. They do their job, and then they follow their sports teams…

“It's just about the Brewers, it's about the city of Milwaukee, it's about the state of Wisconsin, all coming together. We all play a role. It's wonderful to all be together."

Certainly, it could be a long winter, with a lockout that’s expected to begin Dec. 1, with an indefinite end date, but, oh, will it ever be glorious for the good folks of Wisconsin.

“I think the game's in a great spot right now,’’ Yelich said, “with a lot of people tuned in, a lot of popularity, a lot of great players out there. It would obviously be a shame if we miss time, but we'll have plenty of time this off-season to talk about it.’’

For now, the Brewers have a parade to worry about.

Follow Nightengale at X: @Bnightengale

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers finally the toast of baseball

Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change.

Jacob Misiorowski’s scoreless Game 5 gem in the Brewers’ 4-1 World Series-clinching win over the Rays in St. Petersburg, Fla., ended a little bit earlier than expected.

With the Brewers holding a 4-0 lead on Wednesday night, Milwaukee’s hard-throwing righty, who ended up pitching 5 ²/₃ scoreless innings, was forced to exit the game with what Milwaukee called a “right calf cramp.”

Misiorowski, who was cruising despite striking out just two batters, left the game after 86 pitches. JoJo Romero came in relief and recorded the final out in the sixth inning.

Cramp or not, Misiorowski was overjoyed when he talked with Fox’s postgame crew about Milwaukee’s fan support as the team broke its 57-year title drought.

“They’ve been nothing but support this whole year and years prior, it’s been amazing,” he said. “Dammit, I’m getting emotional. … We’ve been talking this whole week, expecting this moment — it’s amazing.”

They appeared to be about to clinch in Game 4 before suffering a tough 4-3 loss in 12 innings.

Misiorowski carried a 1.89 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 19 postseason innings. He yielded just one run over two World Series starts. The flamethrower had a 1.80 ERA in the regular season and is the favorite to win the National League Cy Young Award.

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Jacob Misiorowski left Game 5 of the World Series in the bottom of the sixth inning with a right calf cramp, the Milwaukee Brewers announced.

The Brewers ace had a trainer visit then walked off under his own power. JoJo Romero replaced him with Milwaukee leading 4-0 but the 24-year-old's night wasn't going to be lasting much longer with his pitch count near 90.

Misiorowski's line: 5 ⅔, two hits, one walk and two strikeouts. He did not give up a run on 86 pitches.

Misiorowski is likely to win the NL Cy Young award after going 16-5 with a stunning 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts in 30 starts in the regular season.

Jacob Misiorowski had to exit his scoreless start in the middle of an at-bat after 86 pitches due to a cramp pic.twitter.com/ISKiDGmPDD

— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 29, 2026

He has had trouble with that leg before. He left three starts with right leg cramping: a June 2025 start against St. Louis with right calf and quad cramps, a May 1 start against Washington after 5 ⅓ hitless innings with a right hamstring cramp, and a May 13 start against San Diego with a right quad cramp after seven scoreless innings and 10 strikeouts. After the San Diego start, he said it was the same issue as before and he'd be fine.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jacob Misiorowski injury update after Brewers ace pulled from World Series game

Milwaukee's William Contreras wins World Series MVP with .381 average, 10 ABS overturns originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Venezuela’s flag draped around him, flashing a wide smile and filled with pride, William Contreras was willing to boast.

“I don’t want to offend any of the other catchers in the league. The last thing I want to do is offend any of them,” he said, speaking through a translator. “But sitting up here today, champion of the world, I feel like I’m the best catcher in the league. Again, that’s no disrespect to any of them. That’s the last thing I want to do. But today I feel like I’m the best catcher in the world.”

Contreras became the eighth catcher voted the World Series MVP after lifting the Milwaukee Brewers to their first World Series championship.

Leader of the small-market Brewers, the 28-year-old hit .381 while guiding his pitching staff, throwing out four attempted base stealers and winning 10 of 13 appeals in the first Series with the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system. He had a run-scoring double during Milwaukee’s clinching 4-1 victory in Game 5 on Wednesday night.

“He’s our pit bull. You don’t just walk up and pet him. There’s a chance you get nipped,” manager Pat Murphy said.

Moments after being awarded the MVP trophy, Contreras embraced his 34-year-old brother, Boston Red Sox first baseman Willson Contreras, a World Series champion with the 2016 Chicago Cubs.

“My brother is my role model. I don’t have a lot of friends. He’s my friend,” William Contreras said. “If I have something to ask somebody, I ask Willson.”

William teared up when asked about Venezuela, his home country. Contreras was on Venezuela’s team that won its first World Baseball Classic in March, though he was 0 for 13 with no RBIs.

He and teammates Jackson Chourio and Antonio Senzatela joined Americans Alex Bregman and Luke Gregerson of the 2017 Houston Astros in winning the WBC and World Series in the same year.

“It means everything because that’s the first time Venezuela guys win the WBC and the World Series,” William Contreras said. “It’s history, history for my country. I love Venezuela. It’s my country.”

He joined Gene Tenace (1972), Johnny Bench (1976), Steve Yeager (co-winner in 1981), Darrell Porter (1982), Rick Dempsey (1983), Pat Borders (1992) and Salvador Perez (2015) as catchers to win the award.

A three-time All-Star, Contreras hit .270 with 18 homers and a career-best 94 RBIs as the Brewers won their fourth straight NL Central title.

“Think about what he’s achieved, and he’s disappointed his numbers aren’t better,” Murphy said. “He’s disappointed that he isn’t Gold Glove.”

Contreras was best at leveraging baseball’s new robot umpires, leading Major League Baseball with 185 challenges and 105 overturns during the regular season. He won 22 of 33 in the postseason.

Elsa/Getty Images

“It’s not magic,” Contreras said. “I think it’s the experience of playing every day throughout the season.”

He batted .444 with a pair of solo homers in the Division Series against San Diego, hitting a tiebreaking, seventh-inning drive in the opener and another homer in Game 3. He batted .357 with one homer and three RBIs in the Championship Series sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Milwaukee had several worthy MVP candidates.

Cooper Pratt set a Series rookie record with six straight hits and tied Gil McDougald’s rookie mark from 1951 with seven RBIs, including go-ahead hits in the final three games. Jackson Chourio was 11 for 24 (.458), the most hits by a player in a five-game World Series. Ace Jacob Misiorowski was 2-0 and allowed one run in 10 2/3 innings, and reliever Aaron Ashby pitched 5 2/3 scoreless innings with a save and nine strikeouts.

“I told him before the game: You will be the MVP of the World Series,” Murphy said of Contreras. “People recognized what that kid did for us. There was no doubt in my mind. Yeah, he’s special.”

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Yandy Díaz kept flexing his left knee between pitches. Then he drew a walk and kept going.

The Rays' leadoff hitter appeared to twist the knee during his at-bat in the third inning of Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night. He stepped out once, with Rays manager Kevin Cash and trainer Joe Benge coming out to look at him, and again flexing his knee as he went to get a new bat. He finished the at-bat and took first base.

There, he called time again and a trainer came out. Díaz stayed in, but he limped into third on a fly ball and walked slowly off the field.

"I hope he is OK," Rays manager Kevin Cash said in an in-game interview on FOX. "We need his bat in there."

Tampa Bay trails the series 3-1 and trailed in the game 1-0 at the time of Diaz’s injury.  No team has forced a Game 6 after falling behind 3-0 in the World Series. The Rays are already playing with Junior Caminero on a sore left foot from Game 4, and now their 35-year-old designated hitter is hurting too.

Díaz has dealt with this knee before. He left an August 2022 game against the Kansas City Royals with left knee soreness, and an August 2024 game against the San Diego Padres with left knee patellar tendinitis.

“We need the bat to stay in. He’ll get some treatment. Good thing he’s a DH.”

Kevin Cash provides an update on Yandy Díaz to @Ken_Rosenthalpic.twitter.com/8AuI9iXbr2

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 29, 2026

He hit .293 in the regular season. He and Steven Matz are the only Rays who had played in a World Series before this one, and Díaz did it with Tampa Bay in 2020. He had three hits in the Rays' Game 5 win over Cleveland in the ALCS. In this series, he had two hits in Game 3, then a hit and a walk in Game 4.

Diaz is one of the most reliable bats in the Rays lineup. He hit .293 this season, third best in the American League, with 22 home runs and 85 RBIs, and he led the AL with 180 hits on his way to a second All-Star selection.

If the knee forces him out, Cash doesn’t have much to work with. He already said Tuesday that the bench was thin. Cedric Mullins, Nick Fortes and Jorge Mateo have combined for seven plate appearances through the first seven games. Victor Mesa, Jr. and Mullins are the left-handed options. Mateo and Fortes the right-handed onese. Richie Palacios is another left. 

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rays' Yandy Diaz stays in World Series game after injury delay

The Los Angeles Dodgers fell a series shy of the World Series, and now they could be without one of their top acquisitions from this season.

According to Jim Bowden of The Athletic, the Chicago White Sox are listed as a top candidate to land Tarik Skubal during free agency.

Barring a potential lockout on Dec. 1, Skubal is decorated as the top free agent this offseason.

The two-time CY Young Award winner made his way to Los Angeles during the trade deadline last July and was as good as advertised, pitching in 10 games with a 5-2 record, 2.61 ERA, while having a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 70-13.

The Dodgers have never been shy about shelling out money towards big-ticket free agents in the past and would certainly have to give Skubal a high figure to remain in Los Angeles, as Bowden believes he will receive a deal that will make him the highest-paid pitcher in MLB history (in terms of AAV and guaranteed dollars.)

Bowden wrote that Skubal will likely receive a contract that will pay him around $350-$500 million, and have an annual salary that compares to Shohei Ohtani’s ($70 million AAV before deferrals) and Zach Wheeler ($42 million AAV).

Two years removed from having a record-breaking losing season where they went 41-121, the White Sox spent that time prior to the 2026 season moving off any high-end contracts that they had.

Last season, Chicago was one of the biggest surprises in baseball, when they turned their franchise around by finishing second in the American League Central with an 84-78 record that earned them a wild-card spot, which was followed by them sweeping the Astros.

The current White Sox regime has not been shy to make a splash in free agency, as they signed Munetaka Murakami to a 2-year $34 million deal last year.

As Chicago bolsters a pitching staff that features young core led by Sean Burke (3.34 ERA) and Grant Taylor (2.25 ERA), Skubal could be the right man to lead the White Sox starting rotation.

Despite Bowden’s belief that Chicago has the funds to pull off a Skubal signing, in an exclusive with The California Post, Dodgers owner Mark Walter told Jack Harris that he plans to continue handing out top-dollar contracts to free agents.

After an extra innings thriller won by the Rays Tuesday night, it’s game 5 of the World Series as the Brewers will try again to lock down a championship with Jacob Misiorowski on the mound. Rays starter will be Drew Rasmussen. First pitch set for 7pm central time and the game broadcast will be handled by Fox.

The Rays avoided a sweep last night with an extra-inning, comeback win over the Brewers in Game 4. They were just the fifth team ever to win a Game 4 among the 25 teams that were down 3-0 in the World Series. Not a single one of those teams won Game 5. Either they will make history tonight, or the Brewers will make history by winning their first ever title!

The Brewers start ace Jacob Misiorowski (16-5, 1.80 ERA) of Grain Valley, the likely National League Cy Young winner this year.

Prepare for battle

📺: FOX
📻: WTMJ#WinOurWaypic.twitter.com/KoozZ6jIT6

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 28, 2026

The Rays will go with former Brewers pitcher Drew Rasmussen (16-5, 2.67 ERA), who will pitch on short rest for the first time in his career. Richie Palacios goes to the bench in favor of Ben Williamson.

Keep moving

👀: FOX / FOX ONE
👂: 95.7 WDAE#ForTampaBay | #WorldSeriespic.twitter.com/AdB7EhTkgs

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 28, 2026

The game airs on FOX at 7pm CT. Who ya got?

Last night was my personal World Series, with former Mariner Ben Williamson providing the unlikely walk-off hit to keep the series going. I’ve been such a fan of Ben’s since his time as a Mariner – always so polite, humble, and helpful, a great interview – so seeing him have that moment was awesome.

What a difference a day made for Ben Williamson 👏 pic.twitter.com/cEWtqDWEBr

— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2026

Ben Williamson featured on MLB dot com, what a world.

That being said, it really feels like the Brewers are inevitable, doesn’t it? The Rays try to find a little more magic tonight to keep the season alive, but it’s a tall task. Obviously I’m rooting for more baseball, but also I think it’s more fun when home teams win, so I’m pulling for the series to go back to Milwaukee.

It’s going to be a battle of the aces tonight, with the Brewers throwing Jacob Misierowski (and with that, I shall retire the reminder of how to spell his name until next season) and the Rays countering with former OSU Beaver, the Pride of Puyallup, Mt. Spokane alum (Go Wildcats), Drew Rasmussen. Go Drew.

Prepare for battle

📺: FOX
📻: WTMJ#WinOurWaypic.twitter.com/KoozZ6jIT6

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 28, 2026

Keep moving

👀: FOX / FOX ONE
👂: 95.7 WDAE#ForTampaBay | #WorldSeriespic.twitter.com/AdB7EhTkgs

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) October 28, 2026

Game time: 5 PT

TV: FOX/FOX ONE

It took until the early hours of Wednesday morning on the east coast for the Tampa Bay Rays to finally stave off the Milwaukee Brewers, but the home squad managed to do so and keep their chances at the most improbable of comebacks alive.

Despite a huge homer (at the time) by Milwaukee shortstop Cooper Pratt in the Top of the 12th inning that looked the part of a game-winner, Tampa rallied hard in the Bottom of the 12th and eventually walked it off after a slap-hittin’ 2-run rally gave them a 4-3 lead and left Milwaukee ahead just 3-1 in a series they surely thought they’d just about swept.

Game 5 will commence on Wednesday evening at 8:00 PM ET and will feature Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski on the mound for Tampa to fend off to send the series back to Milwaukee. Tampa will counter with righty Drew Rasmussen, who has actually been more dominant that the Miz so far this postseason, though he’s on short rest (3 days) and may be on a roughly 60-pitch limit as Tampa keeps as many hands as possible on deck to relieve him.

FOX has the broadcast once again, so track this one down over there.

Here’s how both clubs will line up in what could end up the final Major League Baseball game before a long, dark lockout this winter:

Presenting the @RaysBaseball starting lineup for Game 5 of the #WorldSeries! pic.twitter.com/XE44Z7jpND

— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2026

The @Brewers Game 5 starting lineup as they sit just 1 win away from their first #WorldSeries in franchise history! pic.twitter.com/RcKgNR27sT

— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2026

Game four was an excellent baseball game. Tons of fun. And, with the Rays winning it, we get another game. I don’t care who wins the series but I’m happy to get more baseball.

Tonight’s lineups: Drew Rasmussen is starting on three days rest. Jacob Misiorowski (must be some sort of MLB record for number of vowels in a name) starts for the Brewers.

My wife and I are leaving for a week in Huatulco Mexico Friday morning. A week of heat and over eating and drinking. I burn very easy. I need the type of sunscreen that you squeeze the bottle and a sweater comes out, but it will be a nice break from the world. My wife tells me there is tennis there, so we might hit a ball a bit.

If there is a game six and seven, I’ll have to find somewhere there to watch.

Go Baseball Go.

The Milwaukee Brewers came agonizingly close to completing a four-game sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays to secure their first World Series title last night. However, the Rays rallied in the bottom of the 12th to stay alive and now have one more game at home in Game 5.

The Rays will now try to become the first team to force a World Series Game 6 after trailing 3-0. Can they keep the dream alive, or will the Brewers finally punch their ticket to hoist the commissioner’s trophy? Hopefully it’s another entertaining game (maybe in regulation innings through)

Milwaukee Brewers (3-1) at Tampa Bay Rays (1-3) – 6 p.m. MDT

Pitching match-up: Jacob Misiorowski (1-0, 2.70 postseason ERA) vs. Drew Rasmussen (2-0, 2.19 ERA)

SB Nation sites:DRaysBay | Brew Crew Ball

Radio: ESPN Radio (For specific team feeds, use Gameday Audio for MLB.tv)

TV: FOX

Lineups:

Prepare for battle

📺: FOX
📻: WTMJ#WinOurWaypic.twitter.com/KoozZ6jIT6

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 28, 2026

Presenting the @RaysBaseball starting lineup for Game 5 of the #WorldSeries! pic.twitter.com/XE44Z7jpND

— MLB (@MLB) October 28, 2026

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