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MLB · WORLD SERIES PREVIEW · Game 1 Friday 23 October 2026 · American Family Field, Milwaukee
Tampa Bay Rays (98-64) vs Milwaukee Brewers (103-59)
KEY NUMBERS 📊
103: Brewers wins, a franchise record and the best in MLB
4-0: Milwaukee's NLCS sweep of the two-time defending champion Dodgers
4-2: Tampa Bay's ALCS win over Cleveland
7-0, 0.89 ERA: Peralta in 10 games since 26 August, with the Rays winning all 10
19th and 25th: Brewers and Rays payroll ranks
Who is in it? 🤔
Neither franchise has ever won a World Series, so someone gets their first. Milwaukee are back for the first time since 1982 after a franchise-record 103 wins and a sweep of the Dodgers. Tampa Bay are making their third trip after losing in 2008 and 2020.
It is also a small-market final. This is the first Series between two small-market clubs since Florida and Cleveland in 1997, and with Milwaukee 19th and Tampa Bay 25th in payroll, the AP says it is the first time two of the game's smallest spenders have met since 1991.
Why is Freddy Peralta the story? 🔥
Peralta was a two-time All-Star in Milwaukee, was traded to the Mets, had a 4.99 ERA in Queens by the end of July and was moved on again to the Rays. Since 26 August he is 7-0 with a 0.89 ERA in 10 games, and Tampa Bay have won every one of them, per USA TODAY.
He won Game 2 of the ALCS, got two big outs in relief in Game 4 and won Monday's 7-3 clincher to take the MVP award. Now he goes back to Milwaukee.
I don't know how the people, the fans are going to take it. But I'm happy to go over there. I have a lot of people I love over there.
Did Caminero's trot go too far? 🕺
Junior Caminero's seventh-inning homer in Game 6 came with a 38.66-second trot, and not everyone loved it. Joey Votto did. On MLB Network's MLB Now he pushed back on Chris "Mad Dog" Russo.
"No, he's got me smiling," Votto said, calling it a "game-changing, season-changing moment." He added: "I saw a young man who's about to go to the World Series, and really, he was just a kid." Expect plenty more of that energy in Milwaukee.
OUR TAKE 🐶
TV executives may hate this matchup. We love it. Two teams built on pitching and smart roster work, two fan bases that have never celebrated a title, and a revenge storyline on the mound.
Milwaukee have the better record and home field. Tampa Bay have the hottest arm in baseball. That is a fun Series.
THE BETTING ANGLE 🎯
Watch the rotation announcements. When Peralta pitches, and whether it is in Milwaukee or Tampa Bay, will shape every game line in the Series. We will be breaking it down at DawgHouse Picks.
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What next for the Rays and Brewers? (all games 8:00 PM ET on FOX)
Game 1, Fri 23 Oct: Rays at Brewers (Milwaukee), 1:00 AM UK Sat
Game 2, Sat 24 Oct: Rays at Brewers (Milwaukee), 1:00 AM UK Sun
Games 3 to 5, Mon 26 to Wed 28 Oct: Brewers at Rays (Tampa Bay), midnight UK
Games 6 and 7 if needed, Fri 30 and Sat 31 Oct: Milwaukee, midnight UK
HOW TO WATCH 📺: Every game is on FOX, FOX One and FOX Deportes in the US, and on TNT Sports 1 and HBO Max in the UK.
Who is lifting the trophy, Milwaukee or Tampa Bay? Let us know below.
Sources
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