2026 World Series Preview

The World Series. The ultimate goal in the game of baseball. World Series play dates back as early as 1882, but the Fall Classic that we know and are familiar with has existed since 1903. This edition, the 122nd in baseball's modern era, is a rarity. In this year's championship series: someone's winning their first. For the first time since 1980, this year's World Series will feature two teams who have never won the whole thing. In addition, it's a pair of small market teams with some very miniscule payrolls. Let me put it this way: if you combine the payrolls of the two teams in the World Series, you couldn't even afford Francisco Lindor.

So without further ado, let's talk about the two teams playing in this year's Fall Classic:

Tampa Bay Rays ($95.6M Payroll)

The American League East is on quite the roll lately. For the fifth time in the last nine seasons, the AL East is in the World Series, and that includes the last three years. Two years ago, it was the Yankees. Last year, it was the Blue Jays. This year, it's the Rays' turn. The Rays' appearance also continues a long roll that the state of Florida's been on since 2020, as their teams have been represented in each of the four championships ever since.

Regarding the Rays, they debuted in 1998 as the Devil Rays (along with the Arizona Diamondbacks), but unlike the Diamondbacks, who won a championship in Year Four, the Rays struggled at first. TB's first taste of postseason baseball was in 2008, and that saw them go all the way to the World Series, where they were defeated by the Phillies. The Rays returned to the Fall Classic in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, which saw them defeated by the Dodgers. Regarding this year, they're led by a dynamic hitting tandem that consists of Junior Caminero (the team leader in HRs), Yandy Diaz, and Jonathan Aranda, while Drew Rasmussen and Freddy Peralta, the latter being this year's ALCS MVP, are showing out on the mound.

The Rays swept the Yankees in the ALDS, and won a six-game ALCS over the Guardians.

Milwaukee Brewers ($146.2M Payroll)

When the Braves headed south to Atlanta after the end of the 1965 season, it left Milwaukee without baseball. 1969 saw the debut of the Seattle Pilots, but they fizzled that year and ended up relocating to Milwaukee on the following year, while going from Pilots to Brewers. The Brewers have been hard luck for years. They had one pennant to show for it, coming all the way back in 1982, but not much of anything after that. 1998 saw the Brewers actually move to the National League, and get this, it was the incoming Tampa Bay Devil Rays who caused that move. The Rays were placed in the AL East, which pushed out the Tigers and placed them in the AL Central, which pushed out the Brewers and moved them into the NL Central, where they've been ever since.

The Brewers had a few postseasons, but nothing like the last few years. 2018 was a great chance for them, winning the NL Central after a tiebreaker, and then going to the NLCS and making it to Game Seven, where they lost--at home--to the Dodgers. They've had a few good other chances, the best one coming last year. Great record, home field in the NLCS. Yes, they faced the Dodgers, but this was the Brewers' chance... and they blew it. Swept by the defending champions. That did it for me. I was convinced that all the Brewers were fooling people; they would lead us to believe their contenders, but they'd blow it.

The Milwaukee Brewers: the Carolina Hurricanes of baseball? Good years, do nothing with them, I get convinced that they'll never amount to anything, and then they show out? Look at what the Brewers did this year. Beat out the Padres in the NLDS, but that's nothing. You know what's something? Sweeping the Dodgers in the NLCS. Yeah.

For the 27th straight season, the World Series will air on Fox, with Game One taking place in Milwaukee on Friday, October 23. Game Two will take place in Milwaukee on Saturday, October 24, and that leads to the heart of the series at the Trop. Game Three will be part of the annual Sports Equinox on Monday, October 26, Game Four will take place on Tuesday, October 27, and if needed, Game Five will happen on Wednesday, October 28. Also if needed, Game Six will be back in Milwaukee on Friday, October 30, and finally, Game Seven will take place on Halloween Saturday, October 31.

This is going to be an amazing World Series, I just know it. And it'll be extra special because someone will win it for the first time ever!