Category: Baseball

Brewers withstand Rays' comeback attempt to win 3-2 in Game 1 of World Series originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Trevor Megill was shouting in celebration and the Milwaukee Brewers were bolting out of the dugout to congratulate one another, believing they had just escaped a ninth-inning jam to win Game 1 of the World Series.

Not quite yet.

What initially was ruled a game-ending double play got overturned after a video review showed Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt’s right foot was slightly off the bag when he reached to catch a high throw from second baseman Brice Turang.

No problem.

Megill regrouped and struck out Jonny DeLuca with two runners in scoring position as Milwaukee edged the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Friday night.

“It’s good to get the first win out of the way,” Megill said. “That’s where all the nerves are at. First game, a lot of anticipation and build-up to where we are right now.”

The ninth inning was particularly nerve-racking for the Brewers and the sellout crowd attending Milwaukee’s first World Series game since 1982.

“You have a big range of emotions,” Milwaukee captain Christian Yelich said. “It’s a big credit to Trev for locking back in right there and making some huge pitches after you have that emotional dump and then have to get back on it.”

Tampa Bay trailed 3-1 and hadn’t put a runner on since the sixth until it mounted its comeback attempt against Megill.

Jonathan Aranda, who went 3 for 3 with a walk, and Chandler Simpson hit consecutive one-out singles. A double steal involving pinch-runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson put runners on second and third before Junior Caminero walked on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt to load the bases.

Liam Hicks hit a grounder to the right side, and Turang ranged well to his left to field the ball before throwing to Pratt to start what initially was called a 4-6-3 double play.

Fireworks went off, players poured onto the field and Milwaukee fans roared — before the crowd hushed as it watched the play again on the videoboard.

“You’ve got to think worst-case scenario there,” Megill said. “I thought the challenge was at first base, maybe a bobble or something. But it was pretty clear once the replay went up that it was on the play at second base. Zoomed in and it didn’t look good. It’s all right. We picked up Cooper there. He’ll pick us up tomorrow.”

The call was overturned by umpire Alfonso Márquez at the MLB Replay Center, which caught Pratt by surprise.

“Obviously, it was close,” the 22-year-old rookie said. “I just didn’t think it was enough to overturn, so I wasn’t thinking anything of it. The video I saw, thought my cleat was dragging. … There must have been some other angles that I haven’t seen. It ultimately didn’t matter because we won.”

The Brewers won because Megill got DeLuca to swing and miss at a 2-2 pitch, capping a night in which Tampa Bay went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

“This is an extremely confident group,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “You know that. We know that. They’re going to be fine. I think the frustration comes from we were one swing of the bat away right at the end of potentially taking the lead.”

The Game 1 winner has gone on to win the World Series 62.8% of the time.

This marks the first World Series featuring two potential first-time champions since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals in six games. The only other major league teams without a World Series title are the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.

Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Nick Martinez. NL Cy Young Award favorite Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run and four hits over five innings to help the Brewers stay in front before relievers Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby shut down the Rays through the eighth.

Misiorowski, who had a season-low three strikeouts, opened the game with a 103.5 mph fastball — the fastest pitch ever thrown in a World Series.

“The adrenaline kind of took over, and I tensed up and threw it hard,” Misiorowski said. “Then I settled down, and that was the game plan, to settle in and do me. Don’t try and overdo it.”

Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio and William Contreras each had two hits, including an RBI single. Contreras also threw out two runners trying to steal.

Tampa Bay managed to hang around thanks in part to Martinez, who gave up those two runs in the first but held Milwaukee scoreless thorugh the rest of his five-inning stint. The Brewers added an insurance run in the seventh when Chourio singled home Pratt.

Then came all the action in the ninth, with the Brewers’ premature celebration followed by a team-wide sigh of relief as Pratt offered some parting words to Megill.

“I just said, ‘Thank you, man. Thanks for picking me up,’” Pratt said. “That’s what this game is. It’s a game of pick-me-up. He picked me up today.”

Up next

Drew Rasmussen (16-5, 2.67 ERA) pitches for Tampa Bay and Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47) starts for Milwaukee in Game 2 on Saturday night. In this postseason, Rasmussen is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA and Henderson is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA.

Brewers withstand Rays' comeback attempt to win 3-2 in Game 1 of World Series originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Trevor Megill was shouting in celebration and the Milwaukee Brewers were bolting out of the dugout to congratulate one another, believing they had just escaped a ninth-inning jam to win Game 1 of the World Series.

Not quite yet.

What initially was ruled a game-ending double play got overturned after a video review showed Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt’s right foot was slightly off the bag when he reached to catch a high throw from second baseman Brice Turang.

No problem.

Megill regrouped and struck out Jonny DeLuca with two runners in scoring position as Milwaukee edged the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 on Friday night.

“It’s good to get the first win out of the way,” Megill said. “That’s where all the nerves are at. First game, a lot of anticipation and build-up to where we are right now.”

The ninth inning was particularly nerve-racking for the Brewers and the sellout crowd attending Milwaukee’s first World Series game since 1982.

“You have a big range of emotions,” Milwaukee captain Christian Yelich said. “It’s a big credit to Trev for locking back in right there and making some huge pitches after you have that emotional dump and then have to get back on it.”

Tampa Bay trailed 3-1 and hadn’t put a runner on since the sixth until it mounted its comeback attempt against Megill.

Jonathan Aranda, who went 3 for 3 with a walk, and Chandler Simpson hit consecutive one-out singles. A double steal involving pinch-runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson put runners on second and third before Junior Caminero walked on a 3-2 pitch in the dirt to load the bases.

Liam Hicks hit a grounder to the right side, and Turang ranged well to his left to field the ball before throwing to Pratt to start what initially was called a 4-6-3 double play.

Fireworks went off, players poured onto the field and Milwaukee fans roared — before the crowd hushed as it watched the play again on the videoboard.

“You’ve got to think worst-case scenario there,” Megill said. “I thought the challenge was at first base, maybe a bobble or something. But it was pretty clear once the replay went up that it was on the play at second base. Zoomed in and it didn’t look good. It’s all right. We picked up Cooper there. He’ll pick us up tomorrow.”

The call was overturned by umpire Alfonso Márquez at the MLB Replay Center, which caught Pratt by surprise.

“Obviously, it was close,” the 22-year-old rookie said. “I just didn’t think it was enough to overturn, so I wasn’t thinking anything of it. The video I saw, thought my cleat was dragging. … There must have been some other angles that I haven’t seen. It ultimately didn’t matter because we won.”

The Brewers won because Megill got DeLuca to swing and miss at a 2-2 pitch, capping a night in which Tampa Bay went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position.

“This is an extremely confident group,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “You know that. We know that. They’re going to be fine. I think the frustration comes from we were one swing of the bat away right at the end of potentially taking the lead.”

The Game 1 winner has gone on to win the World Series 62.8% of the time.

This marks the first World Series featuring two potential first-time champions since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals in six games. The only other major league teams without a World Series title are the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners.

Milwaukee took a 2-0 lead in the first inning against Nick Martinez. NL Cy Young Award favorite Jacob Misiorowski allowed one run and four hits over five innings to help the Brewers stay in front before relievers Abner Uribe and Aaron Ashby shut down the Rays through the eighth.

Misiorowski, who had a season-low three strikeouts, opened the game with a 103.5 mph fastball — the fastest pitch ever thrown in a World Series.

“The adrenaline kind of took over, and I tensed up and threw it hard,” Misiorowski said. “Then I settled down, and that was the game plan, to settle in and do me. Don’t try and overdo it.”

Milwaukee’s Jackson Chourio and William Contreras each had two hits, including an RBI single. Contreras also threw out two runners trying to steal.

Tampa Bay managed to hang around thanks in part to Martinez, who gave up those two runs in the first but held Milwaukee scoreless thorugh the rest of his five-inning stint. The Brewers added an insurance run in the seventh when Chourio singled home Pratt.

Then came all the action in the ninth, with the Brewers’ premature celebration followed by a team-wide sigh of relief as Pratt offered some parting words to Megill.

“I just said, ‘Thank you, man. Thanks for picking me up,’” Pratt said. “That’s what this game is. It’s a game of pick-me-up. He picked me up today.”

Up next

Drew Rasmussen (16-5, 2.67 ERA) pitches for Tampa Bay and Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47) starts for Milwaukee in Game 2 on Saturday night. In this postseason, Rasmussen is 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA and Henderson is 0-0 with a 3.00 ERA.

It’s game 1 of the World Series Friday night in Milwaukee at American Family Field. The Tampa Bay Rays will start RHP Nick Martinez while it will be RHP Jacob Misiorowski taking the mound for the Brewers. First pitch is scheduled for 7pm central time and the game broadcast will be available via Fox.

We get game one of the World Series tonight. I guess I’m sort of cheering for the Brewers but really it doesn’t matter.

But in games three and four, Ernie Clement will be ‘providing player-first coverage’, which should be fun.

Lineups:

Go Baseball Go.

MILWAUKEE — It is a vital item on the Milwaukee Brewers’ packing list for every road trip, right along with the bats and balls and uniforms and equipment, folded up and unfurled in the visiting clubhouse upon arrival.

See, the Brewers aren’t simply playing for Milwaukee. It is why they pack a banner with the state of Wisconsin, the Brewers logo and dozens of cities and towns and villages printed in the background.

From Ashwaubenon to Clam Lake, Fond du Lac to Wauzeka, the Brewers take a little piece of Wisconsin with them wherever they go.

And in Games 1 and 2 of the World Series, Wisconsinites are returning the favor.

They fanned out from all four corners of the state with one destination in mind: American Family Field, where, perhaps even moreso than the Packers and Bucks, Wisconsin’s Team truly resides.

The support – which fueled a feverish market for tickets– has been noticed by the men playing for those fans.

“You can feel the excitement in the city for this series and this team and it’s been a big honor being able to go out and represent them,” outfielder and team captain Christian Yelich, a Brewer since 2017, tells USA TODAY Sports.

“It’s been great to see all the happiness this team has brought to the state and the community.”

In Game 1, that happiness was palpable, not unlike the smoke rising from the tailgates that make Brewers games a uniquely Midwestern experience.

Tampa Bay Rays (0-0) at Milwaukee Brewers (0-0)

Time/Place: 8:00 p.m. ET, American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI

Broadcast: FOX

SB Nation Sites: DRaysBay/Brew Crew Ball

Pitching Matchup: RHP Nick Martinez vs. RHP Jacob Misiorowski

It’s Game 1 of the final series of the season, the World Series. At the end of it, possibly on Halloween Night, one of these teams will hoist the World Series Championship Trophy for the first time in Franchise history. This is the first time since 1980 that that could be said at the start of the World Series. Pretty cool stuff.

The Brewers have decided to make the obvious choice and start NL Cy Young Award presumptive Jacob Misiorowski in the opener. The Rays have decided to buck tradition and go with their third- or fourth-best starter in Nick Martinez. Now Martinez was spectacular in his start against the Guardians last week, but he’s clearly not the best pitcher on the team. Is this a clever ploy by the Rays to try and sneak an advantage by having their best two pitchers – Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta – get to start against pitchers other than The Mis? If so, it’s a bold strategy, Cotton. We’ll see if it pays off.

I just really, really hope it’s not some kind of indication that Rasmussen is hurt.

Lineups

Rays lineup

Yandy Diaz – DH
Jonathan Aranda – 1B
Chandler Simpson – LF
Junior Caminero – 3B
Liam Hicks – C
Jonny DeLuca – CF
Victor Mesa – RF
Ben Williamson – 2B
Taylor Walls – SS

SP: Nick Martinez – RHP

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: Jacob Misiorowski – RHP

Broadcast info

Time: 8:00 PM EDT
TV: FOX / FOX ONE, Fox Deportes
Radio: ESPN Radio

Robin Yount will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night in Milwaukee. The last time the Brewers played in the Fall Classic, in 1982, the Hall of Famer was their star shortstop. They lost Game 7 in St. Louis.

Forty-four years later, Milwaukee gets another chance to celebrate and possibly forever remove the Brewers from a list that nobody in baseball wants to be a part of. The Brewers are facing off against the Tampa Bay Rays, another of those teams that have never won a World Series championship. It's the first World Series between franchises that are vying for their first title since 1980 when the Philadelphia Phillies and Kansas City Royals faced off.

Five MLB franchises have never won a World Series, but by Halloween it will be an exclusive group of four. So who's closest? Here's how the five rank, from furthest to the closest to a first championship:

This article published here earlier this week contains my thoughts about this World Series and who I’m rooting for. You can also read more about these teams and this matchup at Sara Sancbez’s World Series preview for Cubs fans.

Can’t really add anything to that other than I’m hoping for a seven-game series because, well, more baseball is always good and after it’s over, we don’t know when we will next see MLB players on the field because of the looming owners’ lockout.

Enjoy the games.

7 p.m. CT: Rays at Brewers

TV: Fox-TV. Announcers: Joe Davis, John Smoltz, Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci.

Nick Martinez, RHP vs. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com preview

It is World Series time!

The Rays play in Milwaukee against the Brewers. Jacob Misiorowski pitches for the Brewers, while our old friend Nick Martinez pitches for the Rays.

It is a 7:00 p.m. start on Fox.

Talk about it here.

Tampa Bay Rays vs. Milwaukee Brewers, October 23, 2026, 8:00 p.m. ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates are back on the couch once again for the start of the World Series, featuring two teams searching for their first title in franchise history.

The Tampa Bay Rays will travel to American Family Field to take on the Milwaukee Brewers in a Fall Classic that will celebrate the small market.

Both teams finished atop their respective leagues and made it through the first two rounds of the postseason. The Brewers took care of the San Diego Padres in four games before sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS to get payback for last year.

Meanwhile, the Rays swept their division rival, the New York Yankees, before dismantling the Cleveland Guardians in six games in the ALCS.

Both teams have slight connections to the Pirates, as the Brewers are a division rival of theirs. The Pirates won the season series against the Brewers 7-6, so that should say something about Pittsburgh and their slow, meteoric rise in the NL Central.

The Rays made a big trade with the Pirates in the offseason, where Tampa sent relief pitcher Mason Montgomery to the Bucs.

Be sure to check out our sister sites for coverage of the World Series: DRaysBay and Brew Crew Ball.

Location: American Family Field, Milwaukee, WI

Broadcast: FOX, FOX One app

Pitching Matchup: Nick Marinez vs. Jacob Misiorowski

BD community, this is your gameday thread for Game 1 of the 2026 World Series. Chime off in the comments section below.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays met during the opening week of the 2026 season. Now, nearly seven months later, they’ll meet again with both franchises chasing their first World Series championship.

Milwaukee hosts its first Fall Classic game since 1982 after sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS. The Brewers have won seven of their eight postseason games, powered by a roster assembled through shrewd acquisitions and player development.

Tampa Bay, meanwhile, returns to the World Series for the third time in franchise history after defeating Cleveland in the ALCS. The Rays have relied on a mix of star power and complementary players, with Chandler Simpson bringing elite speed and Junior Caminero supplying top-shelf power.

Taking the mound for Milwaukee in Game 1 is Jacob Misiorowski, the presumptive National League Cy Young Award winner. The 24-year-old posted a 1.80 ERA with 252 strikeouts in 174.2 innings during the regular season, relying heavily on a four-seam fastball that averaged 100.6 mph. Misiorowski faced Tampa Bay on April 1, allowing two runs over six innings while striking out seven.

Misiorowski’s four-seam fastball has seen its whiff rate drop from roughly 40% during the regular season to just 16% this postseason, leaving his breaking pitches to do more of the work. Still, he has recorded 11 strikeouts in 8.1 innings across two starts.

The Rays counter with veteran right-hander Nick Martinez, who posted a 3.10 ERA over 180 regular-season innings while walking just 3.6% of opposing hitters. Martinez relies on a six-pitch mix and exceptional command. He also faced the Brewers during the opening week, allowing two runs over six innings on March 30.

Martinez has leaned more heavily on his cutter this postseason, his most effective pitch by run value during the regular season. Unfortunately for him, it’s also a pitch that two of Milwaukee’s most dangerous hitters, Brice Turang and William Contreras, have handled especially well.

Neither starter has pitched particularly deep into games this postseason, and both offenses have a way of making pitchers work. That means the two teams’ very different bullpens could play a major role in the series.

Tampa Bay Rays (0-0) at Milwaukee Brewers (0-0) – 6:00 PM MDT

Pitching Matchup: RHP Nick Martinez (1-0, 3.00 postseason ERA) vs. RHP Jacob Misiorowski (0-0, 3.24 postseason ERA)

SB Nation sites:DRaysBay | Brew Crew Ball

Radio: ESPN Radio

TV: FOX

Lineups:

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks! 

A game 44 years in the making. At long last, Game 1 of the World Series is finally here. The Milwaukee Brewers will face the Tampa Bay Rays to determine who will be the champion in 2026.

Both teams are seeking their first World Series title. The Rays have been here twice before, in 2008 and again in 2020. The Brewers have been just once before, all the way back in 1982.

Both teams were the best in their league this year. The Brewers ran through the National League with a 103-59 record, winning the NL Central by 14 games. The Rays won the AL East by 4.5 games. In the LDS, the Brewers dispatched the San Diego Padres in four games, while the Rays swept the New York Yankees in three. Then in the LCS, the Brewers swept the Dodgers in four games while the Rays fell behind to the Cleveland Guardians 2-1 through three games, but then rattled off three wins in a row to beat Cleveland in six.

The Rays have had three full days off since their last game. The Brewers have had a week off. Finally, after all the anticipation, we are back to baseball.

Also back to baseball is Brewers veteran ace Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff hasn’t pitched in a game since the 4th of July, but he has recovered from a shoulder injury and after throwing live BP to the Brewers top hitters during the week, Woodruff was put on the 26 man roster for the World Series.

“I expressed how I felt about things and kind of where I was and I was very truthful and very open. It came down to I want one thing, whether I was on the roster or not, and that’s to win. So whatever was decided, I was good with.” Woodruff said.

“We feel like there’s a window where he can help us. That was the whole decision. This isn’t a wow, we love Woody, he’s great for the organization, because he already said to us, I don’t want to be a sympathy pick. I want to be a pick because I can help the team. Then you go through all the things and say, can he help us? The answer is yes, he can definitely help us.” Pat Murphy said.

The Brewers removed Chad Patrick to make room for Woodruff. Patrick had not pitched in either the NLDS or NLCS.

Woodruff will not be starting Game 1, however. That honor, unsurprisingly, belongs to Jacob Misiorowski. Misiorowski has started each Game 1 of the postseason for the Brewers. He hasn’t been his usual sharp self that he was during the regular season, which can partially be attributed to fatigue after a long year with more innings than he’s ever thrown in his life. Even though he hasn’t pitched as deep into games or been as sharp, he’s still kept the Brewers in those games and the Brewers have won both of his starts.

On the flip side, the Rays will have Nick Martinez on the mound, allowing an extra day of rest for Tampa’s aces Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta. Martinez had a 3.10 ERA in the regular season. In his two starts in the postseason, Martinez went 3.2 IP and allowed two earned runs in his start against the Yankees. Then in the ALCS, Martinez went 5.1 IP, allowing just two hits and one run.

The Brewers are shaking things up a little with their lineup. Jackson Chourio remains in the leadoff spot, that’s unchanged. But following him is Jake Bauers batting second and Christian Yelich batting third. Then William Contreras is batting cleanup, followed by Brice Turang and Garrett Mitchell. Cooper Pratt is at shortstop batting seventh while Sal Frelick and David Hamilton round out the bottom of the order. That’s three righties in the lineup each with two lefties in between them.

The Rays lineup is also intriguing. Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda are batting 1-2 atop the order. That’s not new. But Chandler Simpson, the speedster, with a whopping zero career home runs in his two years in the league, is batting 3rd, a traditional power spot. His role is to get on base for the real power hitter batting cleanup, Junior Caminero. Liam Hicks and Jonny Deluca fill out the rest of the middle of the order. Then Victor Mesa Jr, Ben Williamson, and Taylor Walls round out the bottom of the lineup.

It’s the Brewers and the Rays in the 122nd World Series. Here we go.

Here we go everyone! The moment all baseball fans have been waiting for. The World Series! It all begins tonight as the Tampa Bay Rays arrive in Milwaukee for the first game of the Fall Classic. One of these teams is going to win their first World Series. Who wants it more?

Rays at Brewers (5:00 PST)

The Rays have right-hander Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10 ERA) on the mound tonight for Game 1. The one-year deal they dished out to him last offseason has more than paid off, but now they’ll up the stakes asking him to help the squad go up 1-0 in the World Series. It’s easily the biggest start of his career. How will the veteran do on the biggest stage in the sport?

Here’s how the Rays are lining up for this one:

The Brew Crew meanwhile have ace right-hander Jacob Misiorowski (16-5, 1.80 ERA) getting the call for this epic contest. Considered the overwhelming favorite to win this year’s NL Cy Young, Misiorowski is the best pitcher in the sport today and you literally can not ask for a better starter to take the ball for the first game of the World Series. The Brewers have to feel confident with their starter today.

And the Brewers’ starting nine:

One of these teams is going to be a game closer to their first championship. Who takes Game 1 of the World Series tonight?