FIDDLER'S FACTS: Milwaukee vs. Tampa Bay a World Series worth watching

There is nothing worse in sports than playing an opponent that thinks it can win.

Such is the case in the 2026 World Series, where the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays meet.

The Brewers and Rays are similar in many ways. Both clubs have excellent pitching and top managers in Pat Murphy (Milwaukee) and Kevin Cash (Tampa Bay). Both managers come from modest playing careers – Murphy toiling in the minor leagues and Cash in the minor and major-league ranks, mostly as a back-up catcher.

They both know how to win tight games, using sacrifice bunts to perfection and stressing smart base-running, both areas of the game that our Toronto Blue Jays have failed miserably.

Neither manager is too excited about the “pitch count” and they don’t mind using a reliever back-to-back-to-back in consecutive days. Both use the eye test – not the computer – as is the case in many places.

As for starting pitching, Cash has Drew Rasmussen, who has allowed just three runs in 22 innings while late-season acquisition Freddy Peralta has been lights out in the playoffs. In addition, both teams have depth and quality in the bullpen.

As for Milwaukee, Murphy uses all-star fireballer Jacob Misiorowski for four or five innings, then relies on an outstanding bullpen to close the door. It’s not conventional but it works.

Each team has two or three key hitters and a cast of players hoping to rise to the occasion – a situation that often makes for an unlikely World Series hero.

It will be a World Series worth watching. Game 1 went Oct. 23 in Milwaukee. Game 2 is Oct. 24 at the same location.

In local baseball, the UPEI Panthers captured the Atlantic Canadian championship by edging UNB 4-3 in the final at Memorial Field on Oct. 18. The Panthers have been in Ottawa for the past few days competing in the national university championship, and they’ll give a good account of themselves.

They have a number of standouts from the Charlottetown Islanders NBSBL champions, including an outstanding pitcher in Tanner MacLean, and top hitters Duncan Picketts, Simon Dubois and Sam Worth.

The UPEI Panthers (2-3-1) hope to continue their strong early-season play against visiting Dal on Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

The Panthers lost a tight one here Oct. 21, a 3-2 shootout affair to a strong St F.X. club, which had the better of the play.

UPEI has great goaltending as was the case against St. F.X., when Joe Ranger played very well in relief of injured Jakob Robillard.

The Panthers have a good sampling of Island boys on the club, including top defencemen Cole Larkin and Isaac Vos, clever centre Colby Huggan, Southport’s Simon Hughes, as well as forwards Keefe Marshall, Brett Arsenault, Donovan Arsenault and the pit bull on ice Keiran Gallant, from Covehead.

The UPEI women’s hockey team dumped Moncton 3-2 in New Brunswick on Oct. 21 as Chloe McCabe scored and set up another as the Panthers improved to 3-0 in the early going.

I see where the P’s have moved talented and speedy Kali MacDonald from defence to forward. This will likely give the club more offence.

The Panthers are on the road the next two weeks and back home in early November.

The NFL heads into Week 7 and most football handicappers are struggling after major upsets on Oct. 18, especially Arizona’s road upset of the L.A. Rams, Tennessee over Indianapolis and the Browns over Baltimore. Let’s take a look at this week.

The lowly Dallas Cowboys (2-4) travel to Philadelphia to meet the injury-riddled Eagles, minus QB Jalen Hurts and likely running back Sequin Barkley. Philly has holes on both offence and defence. Dallas can score and Philly can’t, so bet Dallas by a TD.

The Rams (2-4) visit the very dangerous Vegas Raiders (3-3) in Sin City and this looks like an upset. The Rams have two great receivers in Puca Nucua and Devante Adams, but Adams is out – a big loss. Vegas, with Kirk Cousins, will upset.

Green Bay (4-2) at Detroit (3-2): A big divisional game and the Lions are coming off a bye week. I expect their defence to stiffen and the pass rush gets to Jordan Love. Lions by four points.

Cincinnati (3-2) at Baltimore (4-2): The Bengals are meeting a club that doesn’t score much and QB Lamar Jackson is doubtful. The Bengals have a big edge, as they can score and their D is getting better. The Bengals by plus-3 points.

Live harness racing continues with a 12-dash card in Charlottetown Oct. 24 at 12:30 p.m. The $6,000 feature is in Race 11, where Papis Rocket is coming off a 1:51.4-and-change win and looks the favourite over Merigo Magic, Malevolent and five others.

No Gilles Barrieau this afternoon as he has Cattle Call and other drives in the McIsaac-Barrieau and New Brunswick Breeders in Woodstock.

The Grand Circuit Breeders Crown goes Oct. 24 at Scioto Downs, outside Columbus. The three-year-old colt division is minus Beau Jangles and Redland Rocket Man after not qualifying last week. That’s disappointing.

Brandon Blvd, Odds on Mr Mamba, Sweet Lovin Lou, Al Papi are not favourites – those roles go to Gentlemans Club and Melillo. Go figure.

James MacDonald handles Sangria Summer in the three-year-old filly division at $660,000 but missed out on drives as his passport permitted him to drive just Canadian-owned horses.

Dr. Ian Moore’s two-year-old colt pacer Shalom Hanover raced on Oct. 23 in the B.C. freshman colt event for $700,000 and his filly We Want it All (Bulldog Hanover) in the companion race.

A rare occurrence on at Northfield, Ohio, on Oct. 21 when Amy MacDonald won a conditioned trot in 1:59 with Manhattanup No Ice and husband Anthony scored two races later with Sterling Hanover (by Walner) in 2:00.

Another sad day in harness racing where talented driver Scott Knight died as a result of a terrible accident in British Columbia, leaving behind his wife and five children. What a journey for that family. Heart-breaking. I hope everyone supports that cause.

If you thought that the CDP simulcast room was mostly for gamblers and non-athletes, think again. Cindy Coady, Dr. Maurice’s partner, finished the half-marathon last week in the big P.E.I. Marathon weekend here in Charlottetown.

A quick glance at the Harrisburg sale catalogue and there are a number of Atlantic sire stake graduates slated for the sales ring. Good luck to all.

Fred MacDonald’s column appears every Saturday in The Guardian. He can be reached at fiddlersfacts@hotmail.com.