Milwaukee Brewers News Roundup — October 22, 2026

The Milwaukee Brewers will face the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series beginning Friday night in Milwaukee, marking the first championship matchup between two franchises that have never won a title since 1980.

The Brewers earned the top seed in the National League with 103 wins and swept the Dodgers in the NLCS after defeating the Padres in four games. The Rays won 98 games and captured the AL pennant by sweeping the Yankees and defeating the Guardians in six games behind a dominant pitching staff led by closer Bryan Baker, who recorded 41 saves. Both teams built their rosters through different approaches, with Tampa Bay relying on trades and the draft while Milwaukee developed most of its core through homegrown talent and international signings.

The two organizations have a history of trading with each other, most notably when Milwaukee acquired shortstop Willy Adames from Tampa Bay in May 2021 in exchange for pitchers J.P. Feyereisen and Drew Rasmussen. Adames became a cornerstone player for the Brewers before signing with the Giants as a free agent after 2023, while Rasmussen is now set to pitch for the Rays in the World Series. The teams have also completed subsequent deals involving Aaron Civale, Danny Jansen, and Mike Brosseau.

The Brewers' postseason success has been bolstered by unexpected contributions from trade deadline acquisitions Antonio Senzatela and JoJo Romero, who have bucked the team's historical struggles with relief pitchers obtained late in the season. Both relievers have pitched effectively in the playoffs despite posting poor regular season numbers after the deadline, providing crucial support alongside the team's closer trio of Aaron Ashby, Abner Uribe, and Trevor Megill. Jacob Misiorowski will start Game 1 for Milwaukee, while the Rays have not yet announced their opening game starter.