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Where this World Series ranks among best matchups since 2000
Confirmed
In Short: The pitching matchups for the series feature a likely Cy Young winner and a past recipient, along with multiple impressive young pitchers and 15 combined All-Star nods among the six starters.
The 2026 World Series pits the Milwaukee Brewers against the Tampa Bay Rays, marking the first time both teams have reached the Fall Classic.
The Brewers, who clinched their first World Series berth since 1982, enter the series with a franchise-record 103 wins.
The Rays, who last appeared in the World Series in 2020 during the pandemic-shortened season, have 98 wins and are aiming for their first title.
Espn notes that the quality of the teams and their star power heading into the World Series contribute to the excitement, with both teams leading their respective leagues in wins.
The Brewers' success is particularly notable given their impressive four-game sweep of the Dodgers in the NLCS, showcasing their dominance.
Tampa Bay's journey to the World Series is also noteworthy, as the Rays were a 1998 expansion franchise and have reached the World Series in 2008 and 2020.
Pitcher Woodford, who was traded from the Rays to the Brewers earlier in the season, might not take part in a World Series parade before his career ends, but he'll always have 2026 — and a story to tell his children.
The series will be a tough act to follow, with Espn ranking all World Series since 2000 to see where the Brewers-Rays matchup fits in.
The hype surrounding the 2026 World Series is high, with both teams looking to put an exclamation point on their seasons.
Limited tickets are still available for the series, which could deliver some of the biggest moments of October.
What this adds
The Brewers and Rays have a greater chance of reaching the World Series than their small-market counterparts, according to BroBible.
The 2026 World Series will have a tough act to follow, as the 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays featured an 18-inning game and a Game 7 that might have been the greatest baseball game ever played.
Background
The Rays' 2026 World Series opponent, the Milwaukee Brewers, finished with an MLB-high 103 wins, while the Rays had 98.
The Milwaukee Brewers clinched their first World Series berth since 1982 by sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
What's confirmed
- The 2026 World Series pits the Milwaukee Brewers against the Tampa Bay Rays, marking the first time both teams have reached the Fall Classic.
- The Brewers, who clinched their first World Series berth since 1982, enter the series with a franchise-record 103 wins.
- The Rays, who last appeared in the World Series in 2020 during the pandemic-shortened season, have 98 wins and are aiming for their first title.
- Espn notes that the quality of the teams and their star power heading into the World Series contribute to the excitement, with both teams leading their respective leagues in wins.
- The Brewers' success is particularly notable given their impressive four-game sweep of the Dodgers in the NLCS, showcasing their dominance.
- Tampa Bay's journey to the World Series is also noteworthy, as the Rays were a 1998 expansion franchise and have reached the World Series in 2008 and 2020.
- Pitcher Woodford, who was traded from the Rays to the Brewers earlier in the season, might not take part in a World Series parade before his career ends, but he'll always have 2026 — and a story to tell his children.
- The series will be a tough act to follow, with Espn ranking all World Series since 2000 to see where the Brewers-Rays matchup fits in.
- The hype surrounding the 2026 World Series is high, with both teams looking to put an exclamation point on their seasons.
- Limited tickets are still available for the series, which could deliver some of the biggest moments of October.
What's still developing
- Success is measured largely in series as opposed to single-game results.
- They have a much greater chance of reaching the World Series than their small market counterparts.
- Not only was the 2025 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays the first seven-game affair since 2019, but it featured an 18-inning game and then a Game 7 that might have been the greatest baseball game ever played.
- The Yankees were back in the World Series for the sixth time in eight years, and the Marlins had rebuilt after their fire sale following their World Series title in 1997.
- The 29-year-old pitcher reported to spring training with the Tampa Bay Rays, but was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on March 24 despite posting a sterling 1.23 ERA in Grapefruit League play.
- Woodford has been a free agent since September 30.
- The pitching matchups for the three-game series were revealed on Monday, and feature a likely Cy Young winner as well as a past recipient, multiple impressive young pitchers and 15 combined All-Star nods among the six starters.
- He's looked as dominant as usual since his return on Aug. 29, posting a 2.73 ERA across five starts while holding opponents to a single run in four of those.
- The 2026 MLB playoffs continue on Monday with a pair of Game 2 matchups in the American League Divisional Series.
- All three potential games of the wild card series will be played in New York beginning Tuesday, Sept.
- Here are the dates and ticket prices for each game in that hypothetical series.
- Here are the four series that begin Sunday, Sept. 27: At the time of publication, the WNBA has yet to assign television slots for the Game 1s.
Sources
- BroBiblelink
- Espnlink
- Newsweeklink
- Foxsportslink
- CBS Sportslink
- USA Todaylink
- Justwomenssportslink
- Swishappeallink
- Ngscsportslink
- Fox Newslink
- Mlblink
- Padresmissionlink
- Truebluelalink
- Nbcsportsphiladelphialink
- WarpBeat — background on Rays Win ALCS Game 6, Advance to First World Series Since 2020 link
- WarpBeat — background on Brewers Sweep Dodgers to Reach First World Series Since 1982 link
- Talkin' Baseball — video link