Baseball: ALCS Playoffs: Tampa Bay Rays Jonny DeLuca (21) in action at bat vs Cleveland Guardians at Tropicana Field. Game 6. St. Petersburg, FL 10/19/2026 CREDIT: Erick W. Rasco (Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images) (Set Number: X164966 TK1)
Here we go. After yesterday’s travel day the two teams in this year’s World Series have arrived in Tampa Bay to continue their series. The Brewers took both of their home games back in Milwaukee and now find themselves in control of the series and just two wins away from their first championship. The Rays, who are also fighting to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy for the first time, are back at home and have their backs up against the wall. No team has ever come back from a 0-3 deficit in the World Series so the Rays are going to come out desperate to take an early lead.
Rays at Brewers (5:00 PST)
Tampa Bay has the big trade deadline acquisition Freddy Peralta (5-2, 3.25 ERA*) taking the ball tonight. The right-hander has looked like a different pitcher since joining the Rays and he’s kept that up in the postseason. In four games (three starts) he’s allowed just two earned runs, rewarding the Rays for their mid-season acquisition. Tonight will be the biggest start of his life. Can he continue pitching like an ace for a Tampa Bay squad that can not afford to lose tonight? A lot will depend on if he’s able to hold down the Milwaukee offense.
Numbers with the Rays, excluding his first half with the Mets*
Here’s how the Rays stack up for this must-win Game 3:
While the Rays have a veteran of the sport taking the ball tonight, Milwaukee meanwhile has a rookie scheduled for the start tonight. Left-hander Robert Gasser (5-5, 3.87 ERA) will be making his third postseason start this evening. The rookie has a chance to put his squad just one more win away from winning it all and he’s been pitching well in October, including last year. In two starts this postseason he’s allowed just one earned run. Manager Pat Murphy may pull him earlier than the regular season though if Milwaukee has a lead in the middle of the game. If Gasser can keep Tampa Bay off the board for a few innings and get the ball to the bullpen they’ll be in excellent position to go up 3-0 in this year’s Fall Classic.
Does the series more or less end tonight with a Brewers’ win? Or can the Rays get back into the World Series with a win? Who do you got? Should be exciting either way!
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 24: Yandy Diaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays strikes out for the final out against the Milwaukee Brewers to end the ninth inning in game two of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
This World Series is proving to be very fun to watch.
With a pair of one-run victories for the Brewers in Games 1 and 2 in Milwaukee, it’s proving to come down to the wire each game — and even a highly contested swing call for the final out of Game 2. The Rays are hoping for a different outcome tonight as they will play their first game of the World Series at Tropicana Field in Tampa Bay.
Game 3 features an intriguing matchup of former Brewer RHP Freddy Peralta (2-0, 1.08 ERA) against Milwaukee lefty Robert Gasser (0-0, 1.00 ERA). Peralta spent seven years in Milwaukee, including two NL All-Star seasons in 2021 and 2025.
Then the trades came prior to the 2026 season. On Jan. 21, the Brewers traded Peralta and RHP Tobias Myers to the New York Mets for RHP Brandon Sproat and SS Jett Williams. Peralta went 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA in 22 starts for the Mets before New York traded him to Tampa Bay for RHP Gary Gill Hill, outfielder Aidan Smith and shortstop Émilien Pitre just before the trade deadline on Aug. 2.
As a Ray, Peralta posted a 3.25 ERA in 10 starts, going 5-2 to finish out the regular season. In four postseason appearances, including three starts and totaling 16.2 innings, the 30-year-old has recorded 12 strikeouts and a 1.14 WHIP.
Gasser, 27, is in his third season in Milwaukee and his first as a major part of the rotation. In the regular season, he put up a 3.87 ERA and a 5-5 record in 20 starts and one relief appearance. In the playoffs, Gasser has thrown nine innings over two starts with six strikeouts and a 0.89 ERA.
Will Peralta show the Brewers they made a mistake in trading him or will Milwaukee move one win closer to its first World Series title?
Milwaukee Brewers (2-0) at Tampa Bay Rays (0-2) – 6 p.m. MDT
Pitching Matchup: RHP Freddy Peralta (2-0, 1.08 postseason ERA) vs. LHP Robert Gasser (0-0, 1.00 postseason ERA)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 19: Freddy Peralta #51 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Guardians in game six of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on October 19, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Brewers lineup
Jackson Chourio – LF Jake Bauers – 1B Christian Yelich – DH William Contreras – C Brice Turang – 2B Garrett Mitchell – CF Cooper Pratt – SS Sal Frelick – RF David Hamilton – 3B
SP: Robert Gasser – LHP
Rays lineup
Yandy Diaz – DH Ryan Vilade – 1B Chandler Simpson – LF Junior Caminero – 3B Ben Williamson – 2B Jonny DeLuca – CF Victor Mesa – RF Nick Fortes – C Taylor Walls – SS
SP: Freddy Peralta – RHP
Broadcast info
Time: 8:00 PM EDT TV: FOX / FOX ONE, Fox Deportes Radio: ESPN Radio
The Brewers are up two games to none after overcoming a first-inning 4-0 deficit in Game 2.
But you know, the Rays had the tying run on base in the ninth inning in both Game 1 and Game 2. Freddy Peralta has been nails for them. They’re playing at home, where they went 55-26 during the regular season and are 4-1 in the Postseason. Of Milwaukee’s nine wins so far this Postseason, five have been by one run.
This series is far from over, in my opinion.
7 p.m. CT: Brewers at Rays (Brewers lead series 2-0)
TV: Fox-TV, Fox One (streaming). Announcers: Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci.
MILWAUKEE, WI - OCTOBER 24: William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers and Yandy Diaz #2 of the Tampa Bay Rays react to the game ending in a Brewers win on a swing call for strike three during Game Two of the 2026 World Series presented by Capital One between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Saturday, October 24, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
If you have YoutubeTV, you’re probably split screening this one. Eagles on one side, World Series on the other.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - OCTOBER 23: The Milwaukee Brewers dugout celebrates as William Contreras #24 of the Milwaukee Brewers runs to first base during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays in game one of the 2026 World Series at American Family Field on October 23, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The controversies and speculation are aplenty as the Milwaukee Brewers take a two-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays into Game 3 of the World Series. For the third time this postseason, the Brewers take the road having won the first two games of the series, with a chance to put the most pressure possible on their opponent.
Since 2018, when the rebuild was complete, the World Series was on everyone’s mind. During each run between then and now, only a few players stayed; one of those was Freddy Peralta. Most people had the belief that he was going to be the arm to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Brewers; instead, it’s Game 3 for the Rays.
While the former ace facing his former team is heartfelt and bittersweet, the Brewers have a chance to quiet Tropicana Field…or will it be loud, filled with Brewers faithful looking to witness their club win their first World Series? As ticket prices rose in Milwaukee, they fell in Tampa Bay. Wisconsinites have teamed together, as some reports have said that nearly 30% of the tickets sold for Games 3 & 4 were from The Good Land.
Tonight, the sweet-swinging Brewers will look to continue their postseason success as they enter riding a season-high seven-game winning streak. While the Rays tried to get sneaky with their rotation plans, it has yet to faze the Brewers offense as they have taken down Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez. Tonight, against their old friend, they’ll have their hands full. The first meeting between the two has already occurred, and it wasn’t a pleasant homecoming for Peralta, as he allowed seven runs on eight hits, two home runs, and a pair of walks on July 20 as a New York Met.
To further the confidence of the Brewers’ bats against Peralta, each player in the lineup has at least one hit in their career against him, with William Contreras leading the way batting .500 with a couple of RBIs, and Jackson Chourio batting .444 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
As has been the case in each of the last three games that the Brewers have been in, Robert Gasser is handed the ball in an attempt to provide some length and relief to the bullpen. Perhaps the biggest question mark entering the postseason has become the biggest surprise, as Gasser has allowed just one run through nine innings pitched. He’s facing a lineup that hasn’t seen a ton of him, nor had a lot of success, as five of the nine starters for the Rays haven’t recorded a hit.
The biggest storyline for the Rays lineup entering play tonight is that manager Kevin Cash has benched Jonathan Aranda for the first time this postseason, despite having reached base in five of his eight World Series plate appearances. Now, it’s expected that he’ll make an appearance in the lineup once Gasser leaves the mound, but the biggest thing that has gone right for the Rays offense this World Series is now gone. Replacing Aranda is Ryan Vilade, whom the Brewers have seen twice as he’s struck out once.
For the first time since 2021, the Brewers will play a postseason game on the East Coast, as first pitch is slated for 7 p.m. CT. You’ll be able to watch the game on FOX and listen to the game on WTMJ.
BOSTON, MA - MAY 11: Hitting coach Peter Fatse of the Boston Red Sox looks on during batting practice before a game against the Washington Nationals on May 11, 2024 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
There was no news regarding what will happen with assistants Edwar Gonzalez and Rafael Pena but there will be a new top guy in Fatse.
Fatse started his coaching career as a hitting coordinator with the Minnesota Twins in 2019 and then went to Boston right after the season. He was eventually promoted to be the Red Sox hitting coach before the 2022 season and was in that role until a coaching staff clean out in the April of 2026 which started with Alex Cora.
From 2022-2025, the Red Sox ranked 14th in wRC+ although did not always have the best offensive players at his disposal. Tyler O’Neill put together the 2nd best season of his career under Fatse in 2023 with a .847 OPS, eventually earning a three-year deal with the Baltimore Orioles and has not been able to recapture the same form. Jarren Duran did his best hitting during that span and regressed hard in 2026. Ceddanne Rafaela has grown into a very capable offensive player.
There have also been players who did not meet expectations. Kristian Campbell has not panned out as a top prospect for the Sox. Marcello Mayer was another one who was eventually traded at the deadline for Erik Miller and a prospect. Whether the successes or failures of certain Red Sox hitters deserve to be on Peter Fatse is not clear and never will be but it’s worth pointing out both.
This may be all a coincidence but they just hired someone with a real connection to Alex Cora and who was part of the Red Sox staff cleaning in April. This storyline is just not going away.
ST. PETERSBURG, FL – Garrett Mitchell jogged off Tropicana Field after practicing catching fly balls ricocheting off the roof, and ran to the dugout to grab a electrolyte drink before heading back out for batting practice on Sunday night, the day before Game 3 of the World Series.
Mitchell, the Milwaukee Brewers center fielder, has Type 1 diabetes and he’s very aware of how to manage his health – even with the extra challenges in the biggest professional moments of his life: elevated stress, long-running and later games, late workout hours and interrupted routines.
“It starts with hydrating well, eating well, getting good quality sleep,” Mitchell said. “Those are the most important things.”
The week off between the NL Championship Series and the World Series was helpful, to a point, because Mitchell could catch up on a bit of rest. But he still has to make sure he takes care of himself every day, all the time.
Mitchell already had a big fan following, being from Orange, California, and being married to a well-known softball player, but he has become a big-time fan favorite within the Brewers fan base this year, too. After putting baseball injuries behind him, he’s made stunning wall-climbing grabs in the outfield and played his role perfectly on defense between Jackson Chourio to his right and Sal Frelick to his left.
There also are fans who have diabetes, or who are raising money for better treatments and hopefully a cure, who follow Mitchell as well. He already is approachable but he's also open to talking about diabetes with others.
“The community of diabetics is small – it’s still a lot of people,” Mitchell said. “I don’t know what the number is now; when I was younger it was like 16 million. I imagine that number has grown more − but that’s what I knew as a kid.
“I definitely know how special [the community] is.
“Getting the opportunity to talk to people who have it – young children, adults – I’m not thinking about Garrett the baseball player, I’m thinking about Garrett the Type 1 diabetic. So whenever I get an opportunity to have those conversations, or share a little bit of wisdom, or the things that I’ve had to go through, good and bad, and all the challenges, that’s my bread and butter. That’s what I enjoy doing. Being able to share that.”
It's not that common for pro athletes to have diabetes, and it was a bit of a discussion early in Mitchell's career with the Brewers.
“It was certainly something we felt like we had to get a handle on and understand how Garrett manages it,” then-Brewers president of baseball operations David Stearns said in a 2022 Journal Sentinel story, “what limitations if any it would put on him throughout a pro career because a pro career requires a lot more than what you’re doing in high school and college.”
But the Brewers quickly realized Mitchell was good at managing his health.
“We became comfortable with his ability to manage it,” Stearns told the Journal Sentinel, “and we also knew that this was one of the reasons why we had the ability to take him where we did – because there was this unusual aspect about his health and there’s just not been a lot of position players at the big-league level who have played with it.”
There was only one time this season when Mitchell left a game to manage blood-sugar levels. In mid-September, Mitchell played a night game and then had a quick turnaround to a day game, and manager Pat Murphy pulled him out as a precaution.
"We took him out precautionary. He had high blood sugar. It happens a lot of times from night game to day game," Murphy said in a wisportsheroics.com story. "The trainers thought it would be best precautionary to take him out."
Mitchell hasn't had any issues with managing diabetes in the playoffs.
The Brewers took the workout at the Tropicana Field seriously on Sunday night, spending a good amount of time working on fielding. The ball was launched into the air so players could react to catching it off the extra markers.
“It was good,” Mitchell said. “It was good to get some live reads, too, to see how the ball was coming off the bat. Off the machine. Yeah, not too bad.”
PHOENIX, AZ - CIRCA 1970's: First baseman Willie McCovey #44 of the San Francisco Giants standing at the batting cage waiting his turn to hit circa mid 1970's in spring training in Phoenix, Arizona. McCovey played for the Giants from 1959-80. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) | Getty Images
It’s that time of year again, friends! The 2026 San Francisco Giants season may have been one of the worst in recent memory — or ever, for that matter — but at least we have a treat waiting to start the offseason: the return of the Willie McCovey Memorial Community Prospect List, in which we will, as a group, rank the top 44 prospects in the Giants system.
Last year’s CPL was so much fun. After years of a middling farm system, it really felt like things were headed up going into the 2026 Minor League Baseball season, and the 44 names (which didn’t even include Jonah Cox, Scott Bandura, Turner Hill, or César Perdomo!) reflected that. And, looking back on the list, we were right to be excited.
And yet, even though last year’s No. 1 prospect (Bryce Eldridge) graduated, it still feels like this year’s list is going to be even more exciting.
So today we embark on a community journey that will last for a few months. Hopefully by the time we wrap things up, there will be preseason baseball to keep us occupied, though the impending lockout could keep that from happening.
For the uninitiated — or just those who would like a refresher — here are the rules for the CPL, copy, pasted, and updated from a year ago:
CPL’s will be every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I may not follow that strictly, especially with the holidays, but it will be close. Voting will remain open until the next CPL.
I have given up on trying to evade the bots with polls, and so all voting will take place in the comment system through the “rec” feature. You will need to be logged in to participate.
We’ll start with seven nominees to choose from. When we are down to voting on four prospects we will nominate new players, and add them to the next list so we’re back at seven.
When it’s nomination day (such as today), use the comments to nominate new players. I’ll leave a top comment that you can respond to with prospect names, and you can recommend any comment that has a player you think should be added. If someone else has already nominated a player, please do not comment nominating that player, but instead cast your vote by hitting the “rec” button. You can also rec your own nomination, which I suggest doing. The four players with the most recs will get added to the next CPL.
To honor McCovey, we will rank 44 prospects, which includes all Giants who are still rookie eligible, with the exception of MLB-ready international free agents (the “Jung Hoo Lee exception”). If there is a tie, the next CPL will be a runoff post, with the loser of the runoff also getting added to the list.
If the Giants acquire a prospect during the CPL, through trade or international signing, and it seems as though they belong somewhere that the voting is already past, we’ll do a special post to vote on/debate their placement.
Use the comments to stump for players, argue, share knowledge, etc. This is always really fun, because of the energy, passion, and smartness that you all bring to it. The real CPL is the invigorating conversations we have along the way!
All players in the organization who still have their prospect status are eligible, even if they’re on the 40-man roster and/or expected to be on the active roster when the season begins.
Players who graduated this season and are no longer eligible: Victor Bericoto, Drew Cavanaugh, Jonah Cox, Bryce Eldridge, Trent Harris, Turner Hill, Trevor McDonald, Jesús Rodríguez, Carson Seymour, Dylan Smith, Daniel Susac, Blade Tidwell, and Carson Whisenhunt.
I know there is always a hot debate as to what constitutes a prospect, and many in our lovely community feel strongly that players who have made MLB debuts should not be included on prospect lists. I certainly understand that sentiment, and can’t control who anyone votes for, but I strongly encourage people to vote based on who is included on this list, not on their personal ones, as that will more accurately reflect the purpose of the project. Protest votes have their time and place, but I don’t think this is either.
And with that, let’s head to the comment section and nominate some players for Wednesday’s opening chapter! As always, a special thank you to all of the McCovey Chronicles writers who have handled this project in the past, with a special shoutout to Roger Munter, who not only remains an active participant in the CPL discussions, but a vital resource to all of us.
It appears the Kevin Long reunion some Mets fans had been hoping for won't be happening.
According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, there wasn't a match when the two sides met last week to discuss a potential role in the club's hitting department.
Long is reportedly no longer in consideration for the opening.
The 59-year-old seemed like a potentially good fit to return due to his strong stint previously in the organization and his connection with superstar Juan Soto from their days together with the Nationals.
Long has a pair of World Series rings on his resume, and his offenses have consistently posted some of the best numbers in baseball throughout his 20-year big-league coaching career.
Instead of bringing him back, though, the Mets will have to look elsewhere to help their offense next season.
New York reportedly promoted Mariano Duncan to the big-league staff to fill an unknown role on Monday, and they previously expressed interest in meeting with Cubs assistant hitting coach John Mallee.
According to a report from Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Mets are adding Mariano Duncan to their major league coaching staff. Sherman writes that Duncan “is expected to help in multiple areas with the position player group.”
Duncan has been a coach in the Mets’ Minor League system since 2019, serving as hitting coach for the formerly Rookie-class Kingsport Mets before taking over as bench coach for the High-A Brooklyn Cyclones in 2021 and later the Double-A Binghamton Rumble Ponies in 2022. Excluding rehab assignments, he has previously coached seven position players on the Mets’ current 40-man roster (including Brett Baty and Francisco Alvarez, who played with the Kingsport Mets during their debut pro seasons in 2019).
The 63-year-old enjoyed a 12-year big league career as a utility player from 1985-97, winning a pair of World Series (with the Reds in 1990 and the Yankees in 1996) and notching one All-Star selection (with the Phillies in 1994). He also finished third in Rookie of the Year voting with the Dodgers in 1985.
The Mets still have a few more slots to fill on manager Andy Green’s coaching staff before Spring Training arrives, as they parted ways with a trio of coaches at the conclusion of the 2026 season.
CHATTANOOGA, TN - SEPTEMBER 13: Alfredo Duno #44 of the Chattanooga Lookouts uses a tiny camera prior to the game between the Rocket City Trash Pandas and the Chattanooga Lookouts at Erlanger Park on Sunday, September 13, 2026 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Photo by Maddalena LoRae/Minor League Baseball via Getty Images)
The World Series hit pause on Sunday, yet tonight (Monday) will feature the Tampa Bay Rays playing host to the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 down by the bay. Yet while the big league Cincinnati Reds sit idle as their peers determine who gets to claim the title of World Champs, several of the top prospects in their farm system have been plying their trades all over the place in preparation for a (hopefully) big step forward in 2027.
Over in the Arizona Fall League, outfielder Yerlin Confidan is fresh off a week to remember with the Peoria Javelinas. The toolsy 23 year old hit .255/.332/.405 in 527 PA split between High-A Dayton and AA Chattanooga during the regular season in 2026, the 15 homers he socked in total perhaps an understatement of the overall top-tier power he possesses in his long, left-handed swing. That power has been playing up in-game in AFL play, though, and last week alone he went 7 for 12 with 4 runs, a pair of doubles, a triple, and a dinger, with MLB Pipeline noting that he hit a trio of balls in play in excess of 110 mph off the bat. Overall he owns a 1.097 OPS across 42 PA to start AFL play in what’s becoming a bit of a breakout party for him.
Confidan is in the lineup for Peoria today playing LF and batting cleanup.
Down in the Venezuelan Winter League, 20 year old stud catching prospect Alfredo Duno is holding his own quite well. As Doug Gray noted over at Redleg Nation, Duno became the youngest player in the league to homer so far this campaign when he swatted a homer on Friday night – and one of only two 20 years olds who’ve homered in that league in the last two years. There’s video of said blast, too.
Over in the Dominican Winter League, Noelvi Marte has seemingly found his groove again with the Gigantes del Cibao. After finally, mercifully being optioned back to AAA Louisville mid-August after a long run of poor form, said poor form dogged him at the minor league level, too. He hit just .273/.291/.374 in 103 PA from that point through the end of the AAA season, logging just a lone dinger in the process. However, this October has seen him turn 25 years old and go right back to mashing, and as of Monday morning he’s the owner of a .400/.424/.567 line across 33 PA to begin DOWL play. That includes this mammoth blast over the tall wall in CF from yesterday:
The Gigantes sport a roster full of recognizable names, including the likes of Marcell Ozuna, Nomar Mazara, Agustin Ramirez, and old friend Aristides Aquino. Also on the roster is promising Reds rookie Carlos Jorge, though he’s off to a bit slower start than Noelvi. He’s gone just 2 for 18 with a pair of walks and 9 K through his first 8 games played, but one of those hits was a 2-run blast over that same tall wall in CF last week:
🐎🤎 ¡SUBIÓ LA LIBRA DE CACAO! 💣 ¡CARLOS JORGE DESAPARECIÓ LA BOLA CON UN GARROTAZO GIGANTE! ⚾🚀
As the World Series shifts to Florida for Game 3, all eyes will be on the pivotal pitching matchup and the energy in Tropicana Field. The Milwaukee Brewers, up 2-0 on the Tampa Bay Rays, will send rookie Robert Gasser to the mound on Monday, facing former Brewer and current Rays ace Freddy Peralta.
In the latest episode of Yahoo Sports’ "Bar-B-Cast," podcast hosts Jordan Shusterman and Jake Mintz highlighted the contrasting approaches: Peralta's experience and emotional stakes for the Rays vs. the Brewers' confident reliance on another rookie arm in a high-pressure situation.
“I have watched Freddy already a couple times in this postseason … and he’s just looked incredible,” Shusterman said. “He was not as sharp in his final start in [ALCS] Game 6 … but the velocity was still there. He was still pumping 99.”
When he takes the mound for Game 3, Peralta is not only pitching against his former team but also weeks away from free agency — he ranks No. 2 on Yahoo Sports’ list of this winter’s top free agents — making him a major storyline regardless of the series outcome. Shusterman notes Peralta's impressive velocity and dominance in this postseason, emphasizing that he has thrived indoors and the added intrigue of him facing the Brewers.
“We are going to continue to be talking about Freddy Peralta from now until first pitch, during the game, after the game and then for weeks to come,” Shusterman said.
Mintz focused on Gasser, aka “Bobby Diesel,” who pitched five shutout innings in the NLCS at Dodger Stadium. Mintz noted how Gasser is another example of the Brewers' organizational philosophy: They trade away high-profile pitchers such as Peralta because they trust their pipeline, illustrated by Gasser's rapid rise.
"But the reason that the Brewers trade Freddy Peralta, they trade the Freddy Peraltas of the world, is because one day they will have the Robert Gassers of the world. Right?" Mintz said. "Robert Gasser, whom they got in the Josh Hader trade, right? Like, it is the perfect balance here."
Shusterman and Mintz are also curious about the crowd dynamic for Game 3. With the Brewers' passionate fan base traveling well — Mintz mentioned a “Let’s go, Brewers!” chant breaking out on his flight — the atmosphere at the Trop will be a story in itself.
"I think they're going to be well represented at Tropicana Field," Shusterman said of Brewers fans. "I'm looking on our beloved GameTime app right now. And there are many tickets that I imagine are much more affordable than they would have been for Games 1 and 2 [in Milwaukee]. And it would not surprise me if the cost to go in Milwaukee is pretty similar to the cost it would take to fly to … St. Pete's and see the game at the Trop."
That said, Shusterman noted the electric atmosphere at the Trop for ALCS Game 6 after the Rays took the lead in that series before returning to Florida.
“When they come back up 3-2, it was packed,” he said. “It was awesome. It was 98% Rays fans. It was terrific.”
However the crowd breaks down, Game 3 presents a crossroads: Can Peralta pitch the Rays back into this series, or will the Brewers' unflappable offense and shutdown bullpen put them on the doorstep of a title?
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 19: Freddy Peralta #51 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrates after wining the ALCS MVP after defeating the Cleveland Guardians in game six of the American League Championship Series at Tropicana Field on October 19, 2026 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The D-backs and the Rays both entered the major leagues in 1998. Arizona has the only World Series win, but Tampa Bay have been more successful in reaching the post-season, with ten playoff appearances to the D-backs’ seven. Overall, the win percentages of the teams are very similar. The D-backs are two points higher, at .495 against the Rays’ .493. But of late, our East coast siblings have definitely had the edge. In the past eight seasons, they have six trips to the post-season, to Arizona’s one. Over the same time-span, since the start of 2019, they have averaged 92 wins, a whopping fourteen victories per season more than the Diamondbacks.
That’s despite Tampa Bay having significantly less resources. From 2019-26 (and excluding 2020, for obvious reasons), Arizona had an average end of year payroll, per Spotrac, of $138 million. Tampa Bay’s mean salary bill was just $93 million. Here’s how the two teams have compared, year-by-year, in terms of salary, where that ranks in the majors, and their W-L record.
The Rays have spent one season outside the bottom quartile (25%) of team payrolls. The D-backs have been outside that six of the eight season, including a payroll in the top half, the past three years. Now, in 2024 and 2025, this did lead to the team winning nine and three more games than their siblings. But that run ended this year, with a vengeance. The Rays are in the World Series, while the Diamondbacks fell short of making the playoffs. Admittedly, had Arizona been in the American League, their 86 wins would have got them into the third wild-card. But that’s still a dozen games fewer than Tampa Bay.
So, what can the D-backs learn from the Rays? To try and get some idea, I want to start of by looking at the 26-man World Series roster for the Rays, and see how the team came to acquire each player. Below is the information on that, along with how valuable the player was for the Rays this year.
Pitchers
Bryan Baker (2.9 bWAR) – Traded by the Orioles for pick #37 in the 2025 draft.
Cam Booser (1.1) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Garrett Cleavinger (-0.3) – Traded by the Dodgers for German Tapia.
Griffin Jax (0.7) – Traded by the Twins for Taj Bradley.
Kevin Kelly (1.9) – Purchased from the Rockies.
Nick Martinez (3.9) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Steven Matz (-0.7) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Freddy Peralta (1.2) – Traded by the Mets for Gary Gill Hill, Émilien Pitre and Aidan Smith.
Drew Rasmussen (4.7) – Traded by the Brewers with J.P. Feyereisen for Willy Adames and Trevor Richards.
Ian Seymour (0.7) – Picked in the 2nd round of the 2020 draft.
Cole Sulser (-0.3) – Purchased from the Mets.
Tyler Wells (0.9) – Traded by the Orioles for Michael Forret.
The narrative would have you believe that the Rays’ success is due to strong drafting and a good farm system. But the above suggests otherwise – at least, directly (we’ll get into that eventually). Only one of the dozen pitchers on Tampa Bay’s roster for the World Series was drafted by them. Six were trades, with another two purchased, and three signed with the Rays as a free agent. But looking at the trades, it’s startling how little they generally had to give up. Willy Adames is easily the biggest name, and he was good for Milwaukee, putting up 14 bWAR over four seasons. But you think the Brewers wouldn’t rather have Drew Rasmussen, right now?
The Sulser thing is worth noting, because it was the third time the Rays had acquired him. He’s like their version of Ildemaro Vargas. They first did so in 2018, as part of a three-team trade which netted them Yandy Diaz. But they lost him on waivers the following October. Sulser was actually a Diamondback for a while, having been picked off waivers from the Marlins in November 2022. He played four games with Arizona, but was DFA’d in August 2023 and went back to Tampa, because we needed the roster spot for… Jace Peterson. Yeah. About that. Sulser hit free agency that winter, signed with the Mets but returned again to Tampa Bay the next July.
Catchers
Nick Fortes (0.8) – Traded by the Marlins for Matthew Etzel
Liam Hicks (0.7) – Traded by the Marlins for Jacob Kisting, Adrian Santana and Brayden Taylor.
I think it’s interesting that both Rays’ catchers came intrastate, by trades from their Florida neighbors. Fortes arrived at the trade deadline last year, and Hicks at the same point this season. Obviously, it’s impossible to judge these trades yet, since none of the four players sent to Miami have yet appeared in the majors. However, none of them were ranked higher than #16 in the Rays’ farm system at the time of the trade.
Infielders
Jonathan Aranda (2.2) – Signed as an international Free Agent
Junior Caminero (5.7) – Traded by the Indians for Tobias Myers.
Yandy Díaz (2.4) – Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Indians with Cole Sulser to the Rays. The Indians sent Edwin Encarnación and a 2019 competitive balance pick to the Mariners. The Mariners sent Carlos Santana and cash to the Indians. Rays sent cash to the Mariners and Jake Bauers to the Indians.
Jorge Mateo (-1.0) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Richie Palacios (1.8) – Traded by the Cardinals for Andrew Kittredge.
Taylor Walls (3.5) – Picked in the 3rd round of the 2017 draft
Ben Williamson (0.8) – Traded as part of a 3-team trade by the Mariners to the Rays. The Mariners sent Jurrangelo Cijntje, Tai Peete and a draft pick to the Cardinals. The Cardinals sent Brendan Donovan to the Mariners. The Rays sent Colton Ledbetter and a draft pick to the Cardinals.
We see the same pattern as with pitchers. Only one of the seven was formally drafted by the Rays. You could perhaps stretch to include Aranda, who was signed out of Mexico as a 17-year-old, and has never played with any other organization. But here, I note the lack of money spent on the free-agent market. Mateo was the only one in that category, and he was signed for a pittance after being cut by the Braves. He’s also basically a pinch-runner who didn’t get a PA in the first two playoff rounds. The only player earning more than seven figures on the Rays this year is Yandy Diaz, at a very reasonable $12 million. The Dodgers have twelve players there, if you include Ohtani. And you should.
The Caminero trade is likely going to go down as one of the greatest thefts in recent history. Caminero has been worth 10 bWAR for the Rays in 2025-26. Myers never appeared for the Ind…er, Guardians, and was last seen as a bad reliever in the Mets bullpen. The Diaz and Williamson deals, meanwhile, are both among those “How the heck did they work that out?“ situations. Bauers never amounted to much in Cleveland, before blossoming this year with Milwaukee, and will face his old team in the World Series. Again, Ledbetter was a prospect outside the top twenty in the Rays organization at the time of his trade.
Outfielders
Jonny DeLuca (1.7) – Traded by the Dodgers with Ryan Pepiot to the Rays for Tyler Glasnow, Manuel Margot and cash.
Victor Mesa Jr. (2.9) – Traded by the Marlins to the Rays for Angel Brachi.
Cedric Mullins (1.0) – Signed as a Free Agent.
Chandler Simpson (2.5) – Picked by the Rays in the 2nd round of the 2022 draft.
Ryan Vilade (0.8) – Purchased from the Cincinnati Reds.
The trade which brought DeLuca to the Rays is an example of Tampa Bay selling high. Glasnow has been a bit of glass cannon for LA since: a 120 ERA+, but averaging fewer than 18 appearances per season. Pepiot was almost as good as Glasnow in 2024-25 – certainly more durable – and considerably cheaper. But he missed all of this season with a hip issue. Brachi was unranked by MLB Pipeline when he was dealt: I’m beginning to detect a theme here. But again, we see a limited number of players who were actually drafted by Tampa Bay. They seem keen on, and adept at, plucking players they need away from other teams.
Summary
Trades: 14 players
Signed as a free agent: 5 players
Purchased: 3 players
Draft pick: 3 players
International free agent: 1 player
This certainly demonstrates where the strength of the Rays lies. As mentioned, it’s not directly in the draft, with barely ten percent of their World Series roster having been acquired that way. It’s in smart trades, purchases and low-cost free-agent signings – or what’s often derided when Mike Hazen does it, as “dumpster diving.” Of course, that’s the kind of thing that’s easier said than done, though the Arizona bullpen this season shows that it is something Hazen can figure out on occasion. It’s an interesting contrast to the Brewers, who have a much more internal approach to their roster: seven draftees and three international free agents.
But we shouldn’t write off the Tampa Bay farm system entirely. Next time, we’ll take a look at that and see if we can figure out how it plays into the team’s strategy.
Brewers closer Trevor Megill caused a stir over the weekend when he took issue with one aspect of Tropicana Field, the home of the Rays.
As Milwaukee prepared for Game 3 of the World Series on Monday in Tampa, Megill had a colorful complaint about the roof at the Trop.
“Whoever decided to make the roof the same goddamn color as the baseball is a f—ing idiot,” Megill opined while walking past reporters following batting practice Sunday.
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Trevor Megill celebrates the final out after Game 1 of baseball’s World Series, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, in Milwaukee, between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. AP Photo/Ashley Landis
WISN 12 News’ Dario Melendez shared that the Brewers had been practicing fly balls and ricochets on the off day, two tasks that become more difficult to handle against the white backdrop of the roof at Tropicana Field.
Megill’s comments are especially interesting considering that this isn’t the first time MLB stadium roofs have been a topic during these playoffs.
Earlier this postseason, the Brewers saw their own stadium’s roof be used to their advantage when the cables at American Family Field potentially robbed the Padres’ Ty France of a potential game-changing home run in Game 1 of the NLDS off of Megill.
Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio caught the ball after it came down, and the play was ruled an out. The Brewers went on to win that game 3-2, and later clinched the series win in four games.
Tropicana Field is seen ahead of Game 3 of the World Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays in St. Petersburg, Florida, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
Megill has tossed 6 ⅔ innings this postseason, giving up just one run on three hits with seven strikeouts. That run came in the chaotic ninth inning of Game 1 of the World Series with Megill surviving an overturned double play to close out the nail-biting victory for Milwaukee.
The Trop’s famous catwalk underneath the roof has also seen some action some postseason with the Yankees’ Spencer Jones being retired in Game 2 of the ALDS after his towering fly ball hit off it and into the glove of outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. for an out.
Should they win the next two games in Tampa, the Brewers can clinch the sweep of the Rays on the road for their first-ever World Series title.
