The 2026 World Series brings together two top seeds chasing their first championship, and the Brewers and Rays look built for a series that could come down to the smallest details. Both teams got here playing the kind of baseball that keeps the action moving: lots of balls in play, plenty of athletic plays, and not much wasted motion.
That’s why the discussion around this matchup starts with the pitching staffs, especially Milwaukee’s. Tom Verducci pointed to the innings from Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson as one of the biggest keys for the Brewers, noting that neither of their top two starters has worked past the fifth inning this postseason. Milwaukee’s bullpen has been excellent, but Verducci sees a seven-game series ahead, not the shorter runs the Brewers needed in the NLDS and NLCS.
Ryan Phillips had the same basic concern, calling the Brewers’ bullpen the difference-maker. Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, JoJo Romero and Trevor Megill have all been central to Milwaukee’s postseason success, and Phillips expects that group to have to keep carrying the load.
Karl Rasmussen also focused on the rotation, saying the Brewers need quality starts to help preserve a bullpen that has already logged plenty of October work. Nick Selbe agreed that Milwaukee has turned heavy bullpen usage into a winning formula so far, but he expects the series to stretch longer and believes Pat Murphy will need more from his starters. Selbe singled out Logan Henderson, Dustin May and Robert Gasser as the Brewers’ potential difference-makers.
On the Rays’ side, Verducci said the key is simple: foul balls. Tampa Bay has the best contact team in baseball, and he believes the Rays need to wear down Milwaukee’s pitchers, especially the starters, by putting the ball in play. He also noted that the Brewers’ extreme velocity and power sinkers make slugging against them a tough ask.
The offensive x-factors lean toward the middle of each lineup. Phillips chose Junior Caminero, calling him one of the few players capable of changing a whole series with one swing. He acknowledged that Caminero has been quiet in the playoffs and has struck out a lot, but he also pointed to a key home run in Game 6 of the ALCS as a possible turning point.
Rasmussen picked the Rays’ big three of Junior Caminero, Jonathan Aranda and Yandy Diaz, saying their early struggles in the ALCS helped put Tampa Bay in a 2-1 hole against the Guardians before they caught fire and fueled three straight wins. Selbe went in a different direction and chose rookie Victor Mesa Jr., citing his hot second half even though he has been quiet in October.
For Milwaukee, Verducci went with Jackson Chourio, despite his .171 postseason average and his issues chasing pitches. He said Chourio and Christian Yelich are the Brewers’ best sluggers against off-speed pitches, which matters against a Rays staff that leans heavily on the change-up.
Phillips selected William Contreras, calling him the best hitter in the postseason and one who has come through in big spots. Rasmussen’s pick was Jake Bauers, whose patience at the plate has already helped the Brewers chase opposing starters in the NLCS.
Selbe chose Garrett Mitchell, pointing to the impact he’s made on both sides of the ball and the fact that his two NLCS hits were both game-changing late homers.
The MVP conversation brought a few more big names into the spotlight. Verducci said Christian Yelich could be the one to deliver the defining moment, even a walk-off hit.
He noted that Yelich’s postseason exit velocity is 91.9, up from 88.9 in the regular season, and that he has waited longer for a World Series than all but four active players. Verducci also highlighted Yelich’s .542 slugging percentage against off-speed pitches.
Phillips stuck with the Brewers and Contreras, while Rasmussen said Bauers would take home World Series MVP by getting on base repeatedly and disrupting Tampa Bay’s pitchers. Selbe went with Mitchell, saying his ability to affect the game in multiple ways makes him a strong candidate.
As for the series result, the panel didn’t stray far from Milwaukee. Verducci took the Brewers in seven, citing the teams’ similarities in batting average, opposite-field hitting, bunt hits and singles, along with the fact that both clubs have stolen at least 162 bases. He also pointed to Milwaukee being 23-5 at home since Aug. 4 and described the matchup as a return to “analog baseball” with close, low-scoring games.
Phillips predicted Brewers in five, saying they’ve been baseball’s best team all season and won’t slow down now. Rasmussen chose Brewers in six, giving Milwaukee the edge offensively and expecting the Brewers to win a road game in Tampa before closing the series at home.
Selbe also had the Brewers in seven, saying he trusts Milwaukee’s lineup a little more and believes the slight advantages across the board favor the Brewers in a tight, low-scoring matchup. One of his bold calls: at least two blown saves in the eighth inning or later.
In Other News...
Brewers Are Betting Big On Jacob Misiorowski Fix In Game 1
Jacob Misiorowskis postseason has come with as much adjustment as adrenaline, and the Brewers used the off time before World Series Game 1 to address it. Pitching coach Chris Hook and coordinator Jim Henderson spent Misiorowskis 11-day reset working through the delivery issues that had started to chip away at the impact of his fastball, a pitch Milwaukee needs to be right if it wants him to look like the force it believes he can be.
Now the 23-year-old is lined up to take the ball in Game 1, which gives the Brewers a chance to start the series with one of their most electric arms on the mound. It also adds another layer to an already unusual postseason for Misiorowski, who is set to become the youngest pitcher to start three Game 1s in the same run, with Milwaukee clearly betting that the fixes will show up when the spotlight is brightest. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Woodruffs Brewers Return Suddenly Comes With One Big Catch
Brandon Woodruffs path back from an anterior shoulder capsule injury has started to look real again, with the right-hander back to throwing bullpens and recently getting through his first live outing. For a Brewers club that has spent the season waiting on his return, the progress is meaningful enough to keep his name in the conversation as the postseason picture sharpens, even as the final decisions around the roster draw closer.
Matt Arnold sounded encouraged by what he has seen from Woodruff, but there is still a complication hanging over the Brewers World Series roster plans. League rules can affect whether an injured player can be swapped in if the injury is viewed as recurring or pre-existing, and with Milwaukee expected to announce its 26-man roster soon, Woodruffs status remains one of the more intriguing questions left to settle. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers World Series Menu Is Pure Wisconsin And Fans Will Love It
American Family Field is rolling out a championship menu that leans hard into Wisconsin comfort and ballpark indulgence, with new items like the Walk-Off Burger, Prime Rib, Beef Wellington and Brat Rangoons set to greet fans for the World Series. The spread was built to give the ballpark a distinctly local feel while offering plenty of choices for a big October crowd.
The details make the menu even more intriguing because the planning started long before the Brewers had any idea theyd be hosting this stage. There is also a special Klsch on tap at the stadium, adding another local touch to a setup that feels tailor-made for a postseason run, even if the full story of how it all came together is still waiting to be told. [Read more 🡒]