The 2026 World Series is here, and for the first time since 1980, it features 2 teams looking for their first championship. And for the first time since 2023, it does not involve the Los Angeles Dodgers. That's right. Baseball might be saved after all. Let's take a look at both these teams and analyze them.
After being swept by the Dodgers in last year's NLCS, the Milwaukee Brewers were hungry. They wanted to finally get over the hump. The Brewers traded away Freddy Peralta (more on him later) and Tobias Myers to the New York Mets and traded Caleb Durbin and Andruw Monasterio to the Boston Red Sox. At the trade deadline, they missed out on Tarik Skubal, but they signed JoJo Romero and Dustin May. The Brewers didn't spend too much money, but it didn't matter as they clinched the NL Central for the 4th straight year and clinched the NL's #1 seed for the 2nd straight year. The Brewers took down the Padres in the NLDS to return to the NLCS and set up a rematch with the Dodgers. It was the opposite of last year's matchup, as the Brewers swept out LA to win their first NL pennant in team history and their first trip to the World Series since 1982. Jake Bauers was named NLCS MVP after driving in six RBIs and hitting a home run. The Brewers pitching staff is led by NL Cy Young favorite Jacob Misiorouski, and it's hard to imagine he doesn't have a big impact in this series. Bauers, Christian Yelich, Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio and more are going to be hard to stop. Can they finally bring a World Series home to Wisconsin after over 50 years? They'll need to get past an opponent who is quite similar to them.
The Tampa Bay Rays had two mediocre years in a row after making five straight playoff appearances. They needed to figure things out and return to the playoffs. In the offseason they signed Cedric Mullins, Steven Matz, and other veterans to give some experience to this team. At the trade deadline they acquired Freddy Peralta, Liam Hicks, Tyler Wells, and more. They won the AL East for the first time since 2023 and the #1 seed in the AL for the first time since 2020. They swept out their main rival, the Yankees, in the ALDS to set up a date with the Cleveland Guardians. The Rays went down 2-1 in the series, but won the next three games in the series to return to the World Series for the first time since 2020. However, they'll play their first World Series game at Tropicana Field since 2008 (all games were played in Texas in 2020 due to COVID-19). Peralta won ALCS MVP, meaning both LCS MVPs will play their former team in the World Series. Junior Caminero, Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda and more will be hard to stop. And good luck getting hits off of Drew Rasmussen or Freddy Peralta.
Now for my predictions. I'd honestly be fine either way, but I am taking the Brewers to win in 5 games. I could see it being closer, but I just think the Brewers are hungrier and more well-rounded than the Rays. I'm super excited for this series because it's 2 smaller-market teams who've never won it before. I can't wait.
