Brewers host Rays in Game 1 of first all-first-timer World Series since 1980
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The Milwaukee Brewers host the Tampa Bay Rays in World Series Game 1, both chasing a first title.
It is the first such matchup since 1980.
Background
The Milwaukee Brewers are the National League champions and No. 1 seed, and the Tampa Bay Rays are the American League champions and No. 1 seed; neither franchise has ever won a World Series. The Brewers' only prior appearance was 1982, a seven-game loss to the St. Louis Cardinals, while the Rays lost the 2008 and 2020 World Series. It is the first World Series matching two teams that have never won the title since 1980, when the Phillies beat the Royals, and only the seventh since the Wild Card round was added in 1995 to pair the two No. 1 seeds.
How it unfolded
- Oct 15, 2026The Brewers swept the Dodgers 4-0 in the NLCS to reach the World Series.
- Oct 20, 2026MLB and ESPN publish the World Series schedule: Rays vs. Brewers, both No. 1 seeds.
- Oct 21, 2026MLB announces the full broadcast schedule on FOX Sports, FOX One and FOX Deportes; a poll of nearly 30 MLB experts by The Athletic favors the Brewers 85% to 15%.
- Oct 23, 2026Game 1: Rays at Brewers, 8 p.m. ET at American Family Field in Milwaukee, with Nick Martinez starting for Tampa Bay against Jacob Misiorowski for Milwaukee.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- An MLB.com panel of 51 voters heavily favors the Brewers, with 44 expecting the series to go at least six games.
- Bulls
- The Athletic's Jayson Stark and Tyler Kepner pick Milwaukee, citing a deeper, less-exhausted pitching staff and an untouchable bullpen.
- Bears
- The Athletic's Chad Jennings and Will Sammon lean Tampa Bay, pointing to rotation depth and Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta rolling.
Still unverified
The 2026 postseason schedule is described as "subject to change"; ticket prices may drop before first pitch, as is historically the case.