A championship matchup 44 years in the making arrives as the Milwaukee Brewers face the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the 122nd World Series to determine the 2026 champion. Both historic franchises enter the Fall Classic seeking their first World Series title. While the Rays have reached the ultimate stage twice before in 2008 and 2020, the Brewers return for only the second time in franchise history and the first since 1982.
Both clubs earned their pennants after dominant regular seasons. The Brewers powered through the National League with a stellar 103-59 record, capturing the NL Central crown by 14 games. In the postseason, Milwaukee dispatched the San Diego Padres in four games in the National League Division Series before sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in four games in the League Championship Series. The Rays secured the AL East by 4.5 games, swept the New York Yankees in three games in the ALDS, and overcame a 2-1 deficit against the Cleveland Guardians by rattling off three consecutive victories to win the ALCS in six games. Entering the opener, the Rays have enjoyed three full days of rest, while the Brewers benefit from a full week off.
Milwaukee enters the series opener with a notable roster addition, reinstating veteran ace Brandon Woodruff after months of recovery from a shoulder injury. Woodruff has not appeared in a major league game since July 4, but he proved his readiness by throwing live batting practice to the team’s top hitters during the week, earning a spot on the 26-man World Series roster at the expense of Chad Patrick. Woodruff did not pitch in either the NLDS or NLCS.
“I expressed how I felt about things and kind of where I was, and I was very truthful and very open,” Woodruff said. “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 it.”
Brewers manager Pat Murphy emphasized that the decision was strictly based on Woodruff’s competitive capability rather than sentimentality. “We feel like there’s a window where he can help us. That was the whole decision,” Murphy said, noting that Woodruff specifically requested not to be included as a sympathy selection.
Despite his return, Woodruff will not start Game 1. That responsibility goes to Jacob Misiorowski, who has started every Game 1 of the postseason for Milwaukee. Although Misiorowski has experienced fatigue and shorter outings following a career-high workload of regular-season innings, he has consistently kept the Brewers competitive, resulting in victories in both of his previous postseason starts.
The Rays counter on the mound with Nick Martinez, a decision that affords extra rest to Tampa aces Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta. Martinez registered a 3.10 ERA during the regular season. In postseason play, he labored through 3 2/3 innings allowing two earned runs against the Yankees before delivering a strong 5 3/1 innings performance in the ALCS, yielding just two hits and one run.
Both managers deployed distinct tactical lineups for the opener. Milwaukee kept Jackson Chourio in the leadoff spot, followed by Jake Bauers batting second and Christian Yelich third. William Contreras handles cleanup duties, backed by Brice Turang and Garrett Mitchell. Cooper Pratt starts at shortstop batting seventh, with Sal Frelick and David Hamilton completing the bottom of the order in a balanced alignment alternating right-handed and left-handed batters.
Tampa Bay maintained its top order with Yandy Diaz and Jonathan Aranda batting first and second. In a strategic twist, speedster Chandler Simpson—who has hit zero career home runs in his two seasons—occupies the traditional power spot batting third to set the table for cleanup hitter Junior Caminero. Liam Hicks and Jonny Deluca fill out the middle of the order, while Victor Mesa Jr., Ben Williamson, and Taylor Walls round out the lineup.
