Junior Caminero and the Tampa Bay Rays finished off the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night, taking the ALCS 4-2 and punching their ticket to a World Series matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers.
The opener is scheduled for Friday night, and it brings together two No. 1 seeds that rolled through October after strong regular seasons. Milwaukee blasted through the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS with a sweep and has been waiting around for the ALCS to wrap, which gives the Brewers time to line up their rotation. That setup points to NL Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorowski as the Game 1 starter.
There is still some concern about rust after Milwaukee breezed past the two-time defending champs in the previous round, but the Brewers enter the Fall Classic in a strong position.
Tampa Bay had a tougher path. After dropping to 2-1 against Cleveland, the Rays answered with wins in Games 4, 5 and 6 on Saturday, Sunday and Monday to get through. Their ace, Drew Rasmussen, who pitched on Sunday, should be available for Game 1.
The stakes are simple: one of these teams is about to win its first title in franchise history. Milwaukee has one previous World Series appearance, losing in 1982, while the Rays’ last trip ended in defeat to the Dodgers in the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season.
Oddsmakers were quick to post opening lines after Tampa Bay’s clincher, and Milwaukee opened as a -160 favorite. That gives the Brewers an implied 61.54 percent chance to win the series, with home-field advantage on their side.
The betting market also expects this matchup to last. Milwaukee winning in six games is the most likely outcome at +360, while a sweep is priced at +900 for the Brewers and +1300 for Tampa Bay. The series total is 5.5, with the OVER drawing the heavier juice.
The SI Betting team will release game picks, series predictions and more this week. Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
In Other News...
Rays Payroll Debate Just Got Harder To Ignore
The payroll conversation around the Rays has only gotten louder because the gap between Tampa Bay and the leagues heavy spenders keeps showing up in the standings and in October. The Brewers sit in the middle of the pack by comparison, but both clubs are still built around value, with most of the roster coming through on bargain contracts rather than the kind of high-priced core that has defined recent World Series winners.
For Tampa Bay, that model is still the defining feature of the roster, and it is easy to see why the debate keeps coming back whenever the playoff field gets smaller and the richest clubs remain in it. The Rays have been able to stay competitive by squeezing production from young, inexpensive talent and maximizing every dollar, but the broader question is whether that approach can keep matching up against teams that can simply absorb mistakes and add more impact talent when they need it. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Face A World Series Problem Their Speed May Not Solve
The Rays have made speed part of their identity all season, and that has carried straight into October. Tampa Bay and Milwaukee both pushed the running game to the front of the scouting report during the regular season, finishing first and second in stolen bases, and neither club has backed off in the playoffs. It figures to be one of the most interesting subplots of the World Series, especially with the Rays trying to use quickness as a way to create pressure in a matchup where every extra base can matter.
Chandler Simpson has been a central figure in that approach, giving Tampa Bay a true threat once he reaches. The bigger question is whether the Rays can also handle the other side of the equation, because Milwaukee comes in with a reputation for controlling the running game better than almost anyone. If Tampa Bay cannot keep that from becoming a factor, the Series may end up turning on whether its speed can create enough chaos to offset what the Brewers do best. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Fans Heading To The World Series Face A Brutal Parking Problem
With the World Series landing at Tropicana Field, the biggest headache for fans may not be inside the ballpark but outside it. Parking and transportation are expected to be a problem with large crowds converging on St. Petersburg, and local transportation companies say demand is already rising as they get ready for the event.
St. Pete Police are urging attendees to plan ahead and look at alternative ways to get there rather than counting on a simple drive-and-park routine. The advice is straightforward: give yourself extra time, consider rideshare or other transit options, and think about a drop-off plan before heading out, because getting in and out of the area is likely to be the part of the trip no one remembers fondly. [Read more 🡒]