Hall of Famer John Smoltz calls 11th World Series for FOX
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The gist
Hall of Famer John Smoltz and Joe Davis are calling the Brewers-Rays World Series on FOX.
It is Smoltz's 11th Fall Classic, with both teams chasing a first title.
Background
John Smoltz is a Baseball Hall of Famer and former Cy Young winner who spent 20 years with the Atlanta Braves and has been FOX's lead color commentator since 2016. He works alongside Joe Davis, the Los Angeles Dodgers' lead play-by-play man and FOX's lead MLB voice, and the pair called the Braves-Dodgers NLDS and Dodgers-Brewers NLCS (earlier playoff rounds) this postseason. The 2026 World Series pits the Milwaukee Brewers against the Tampa Bay Rays, both chasing their first title, and is only the second Fall Classic between two teams with roofed home ballparks, after the 2023 Rangers-Diamondbacks series.
How it unfolded
- Oct 20, 2026FOX Weather published a piece on the 2026 World Series being the second between two teams with roofed home ballparks, noting meteorologist Ian Oliver sat down with Smoltz about weather and baseball.
- Oct 23, 2026Smoltz appeared on FS1's Wake Up Barstool to describe the mental pressure pitchers face in the postseason and his strategy for slowing the game down.
- Oct 23, 2026In a Yardbarker Q&A, Smoltz previewed the Brewers-Rays matchup at American Family Field, calling it his 11th World Series as a FOX analyst.
- Oct 23, 2026Heavy reported Smoltz and Joe Davis will call the 2026 World Series on FOX, Smoltz's 11th season working the event.
- Oct 23, 2026Golf Post reported Adam Wainwright, on the podcast We Need A Fourth (SmartLess), recounted that during a spring 2003 round Tiger Woods told him he thought Smoltz was probably the best amateur golfer in the world.
- Oct 24, 2026In a Chiefs Wire podcast interview, Smoltz discussed Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce buying a minority stake in the Cleveland Guardians.
- recentlyDuring Game One of the World Series, Smoltz mixed up New York Mets pitcher Tylor Megill with his brother Trevor Megill.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Smoltz said he doesn't make predictions because "you get crushed either way," but that the World Series winner "is going to have the most runners on base" and it will come down to the little things.
- Public
- Ex-pitcher Adam Wainwright recounted Tiger Woods telling him in 2003 that Smoltz was probably the best amateur golfer in the world.