They play in two of MLB’s smallest markets, are nowhere near baseball’s highest spenders and hardly hit home runs in an era obsessed with power.
Yet the 103-win Milwaukee Brewers and 98-win Tampa Bay Rays were the best teams in their respective leagues practically all season.
And soon, one will be crowned World Series champions for the first time in franchise history.
“I respect the hell out of them,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said of the Rays.
“They’ve done an incredible job of winning baseball games. … They try to beat you in different ways, which is similar (to us).”
Here’s what you need to know about the 2026 World Series, which begins Friday night at Milwaukee’s American Family Field:
Small market, big results
The timing of this small-market matchup is compelling, as it comes right before baseball’s collective bargaining agreement expires on Dec. 1.
A work stoppage is all but certain as the MLB owners, with an argument posed around competitive balance, push to implement a salary cap, which the MLB Players Association staunchly opposes.
But the Brewers — who rank 19th in projected payroll at $154.7 million, per Cot’s Contracts— just swept MLB’s top spender, the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the NLCS. The Rays, who rank 27th at $112.9 million, swept the Yankees in the ALDS.
With two of baseball’s most analytical front offices and deepest scouting departments, the Brewers and Rays prove there are ways to win beyond just outspending the competition.
Miz magic
Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski, 24, is set to bring historic heat to the Fall Classic.
The NL Cy Young Award favorite went 16-5 with a 1.80 ERA and 252 strikeouts over 174.2 innings in his first full MLB season.
His four-seamer averaged — averaged! — 100.6 mph. Misiorowski threw a record-shattering 1,115 pitches that touched triple-digits.
Misiorowski is starting Game 1 for Milwaukee. He totaled just 8.1 innings over his first two playoff starts, as the San Diego Padres and Dodgers fouled off 51 of his pitches, or 28%.
“I bet Tampa Bay is going to do pretty much the same thing,” Misiorowski said. “So, I think I’ve just got to stick to my strengths and pound the zone.”
Tampa Bay counters with Nick Martinez in Game 1, allowing ace Drew Rasmussen to start Game 2 on extra rest.
Rasmussen — who has a 1.29 ERA over three playoff starts — made his MLB debut with the Brewers in 2020. The Rays acquired him in a 2021 trade sending Willy Adames to Milwaukee.
Peralta’s path
Rasmussen isn’t the only pitcher who has history with both teams.
Peralta — the ALCS MVP who is lined up to start Game 3 for Tampa Bay — spent his first eight seasons with the Brewers, finishing fifth in NL Cy Young voting last year.
The Brewers traded Peralta to the Mets last winter, wanting to maximize his value before he hits free agency.
While Peralta didn’t work out with the Mets — he went 5-9 with a 4.99 ERA — he’s returned to form since an August trade to the Rays.
After making adjustments under pitching coach Kyle Snyder, Peralta posted a 3.25 ERA in 10 regular-season starts with Tampa and has a 1.08 ERA this postseason.
Small ball
The Brewers hit 154 home runs this season, tied for the second-fewest in the majors. The Rays hit 169, which ranked 22nd.
Yet these were two of baseball’s better offenses — a testament to their abilities to get on base and win via small ball.
The Rays and Brewers tied for the best team batting average at .258. Milwaukee posted the best on-base percentage (.341), while the Rays struck out less often than any other club. Both finished within the top five in stolen bases.
What makes their offenses tick doesn’t always show up in the box score.
In NLCS Game 2, Milwaukee’s David Hamilton stole second base twice and also advanced there after forcing a throwing error on a pick-off attempt. He scored all three times.
NLCS MVP Jake Bauers drew a key 12-pitch walk in Game 2, then ended an 11-pitch battle with a go-ahead homer in Game 3.
The Rays won ALDS Game 2 after the Yankees committed four errors, succumbing to the pressure applied by Tampa Bay’s speed and contact-oriented approach.
During the season, the Rays scored 32.1% of their runs on homers, while the Brewers scored 34.4% of theirs that way. Those were the lowest rates in the majors.
“If we had a club that was built with a bunch of boppers, we probably wouldn’t be bunting and stealing bases either, but our club’s built differently in comparison to some other clubs,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.
“This group here does everything on a nightly basis just to win the game.”
Brewers bullpen
As tough as it is to crack Misiorowski and the Brewers’ rotation, the Rays may have no choice.
Milwaukee’s bullpen has been even deadlier, pitching to a 1.33 ERA this postseason.
Trevor Megill is 4-for-4 in save chances without surrendering a run. Aaron Ashby hasn’t allowed a run in 12.1 innings. Abner Uribe (2.84 ERA), JoJo Romero (1.69 ERA) and DL Hall (0.00 ERA) have been similarly stellar.
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