MILWAUKEE — The headlines and press releases are practically written already: World Series between Tampa Bay, Milwaukee draws record-low ratings.
But just because something’s lightly watched doesn’t make it any less aesthetically pleasing. So perhaps we should look at this Rays-Brewers World Series like an indie film at your local art house theater, light on the box office haul but thick with intrigue.
After all, these are the two best teams in baseball, evidenced both by regular season performance (103 wins for the Brewers, 98 for the Rays) and playoff dominance (Brewers 7-1, Rays 7-2). There is star power, in Tampa Bay slugger (and home run trot aficionado) Junior Caminero and Jacob Misiorowski, the Brewers ace who lives life somewhere around 102 mph on the radar gun.
Why watch? We posed this question to a handful of Rays and Brewers:
Baseball the way it oughta be
The Rays strike out less than any team in baseball - and led the majors with 45 sacrifice bunts. The Brewers were fifth with 37 – and fifth in stolen bases, with 162.
“I feel like if you want to see great baseball – you want to see all facets of the game, small ball and hitting homers, great pitching, great defense – I feel like this is a World Series for you. A style in which the game was originally invented to be played. I feel like this is a great World Series to watch.”
-Chandler Simpson, Rays outfielder
Pass the baton
Don’t call it small ball. Both teams have plenty of ways to beat you offensively yet also carry potentially dominant starting pitching – from the towering Misiorowski to an old friend the Brewers know well: Rays Game 3 starter Freddy Peralta, who spent nine seasons in Milwaukee.
"It will be an old-fashioned baseball game. Obviously, both teams are capable of hitting the home run, having the big moment. But you’re going to see a lot more team baseball. I like to call it California baseball – I grew up with bunting, hit-and-runs. Both teams are very capable of doing a lot of things.
“I’m lucky to get a front row seat to the Miz. But the old teammate, Freddy – I know how much this series is going to mean to him. Hopefully we get the best of him, but I’d like to see him pitch this series.”
-Robert Gasser, Brewers left-hander
Lunchpail guys
Jake Bauers, the NLCS MVP, cycled through five organizations before sticking with the Brewers. Half the Rays’ pitching staff was not with the club at the start of 2025 and their ace, Drew Rasmussen, has undergone three major arm surgeries.
“I feel like there’s a lot of personalities within this team that relate to fans in general and casual fans. I look around and I see a bunch of guys where nothing was given to them. They worked hard for every single thing they’ve ever had.”
-Cedric Mullins, Rays outfielder
No need for the longball
Sure, Junior Caminero has hit 87 home runs the past two seasons. The Brewers have five guys with at least 18. Yet the teams’ respective pitching staffs have given up the third-fewest (Brewers) and ninth-fewest (Rays) home runs to opponents. Lock in.
“I think you’re going to get some of the best baseball in this series. You think about a lot of these teams, it’s a lot more slug, this and that. Us and them, we just match up really good against each other. I think it’s going to be a lot of baseball, instead of a lot of home runs.
“I’m just ready to be a part of it and battle our butts off to win a World Series.”
-Chad Patrick, Brewers right-hander
Small markets, huge stars
There’s just one player on either squad – Brewers veteran Christian Yelich – making more than $20 million per season. The Brewers hail from the 38th-largest market in the country, while the Rays’ region is bifurcated geographically. Yet the Rays eliminated the Yankees and the Brewers knocked out the Dodgers and they have plenty of stars in their own right.
“Just appreciating the game of baseball. Two smaller-market, quote-unquote small-ball teams. There’s going to be a lot of really good pitching, a lot of really good defense. Just really appreciating the game of baseball as a whole. People will really enjoy it.
“So many of our guys are so exciting to watch. (Second baseman) Richie) Palacios is having a great postseason. Chandler is lightning in a bottle. Junior is a highlight anytime he steps on the field. Any of our pitchers – they’re all doing great. “On the other side, you’ve got Misiorowski throwing 100 all the time. Brice Turang – what a great player. It’s going to be a good series to watch.”
-Garrett Cleavinger, Rays left-hander
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why watch the 2026 World Series? Let Rays and Brewers players explain