Brief
Brewers and Rays clash in low‑payroll World Series showdown
The 2026 World Series pits two of baseball’s smallest‑payroll clubs, the Brewers and the Rays, against each other for the first championship in 44 years for Milwaukee.
By Felo News Desk · Published
The New York Post reports that the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays will open the 122nd World Series on Friday in Wisconsin, a matchup that pits two low‑payroll clubs against each other for a championship that could be Milwaukee's first since 1982.
Both clubs have reached the Fall Classic despite payrolls that sit near the bottom of the league. Spotrac ranks the Rays with the 28th‑highest payroll and the Brewers at No. 19, a stark contrast to the Yankees and Dodgers, who routinely spend far more. The Post notes that the Brewers have only appeared in one previous World Series, a loss in 1982, while the Rays last reached the series in 2020 and 2008.
Each team has built its success on a distinctive style of play. The Rays led the majors in singles and excel in strikeouts, bunts and steals, ranking second in stolen bases. The Brewers, while not as contact‑driven, rely on opposite‑field hitting, gap power and a disciplined walk rate, finishing second in runs scored despite hitting the second‑fewest home runs. Statcast data cited by the Post identifies the Brewers as the fastest team in MLB, while the Rays rank second in steals.
Defensively, both clubs are strong. The Rays’ outfield is highlighted as particularly robust, and the Brewers boast a postseason batting‑average‑on‑balls‑in‑play of .229, aided by solid in‑field work. Pitching also differs: the Brewers’ bullpen is described as the best in October, whereas the Rays’ rotation has been the league’s leader.
Milwaukee starter Jacob Misiorowski is singled out as a key figure, with the Post calling him “the hardest‑throwing starting pitcher in baseball history.” His performance will be crucial as the series begins, offering a contrast to the Rays’ strategic, small‑ball approach.
Key facts
- The Brewers and Rays will open the 122nd World Series on Friday in Wisconsin. (nypost.com)
- The Rays have the 28th‑highest payroll and the Brewers the 19th‑highest, according to Spotrac. (nypost.com)
- Milwaukee’s last World Series appearance was in 1982; Tampa Bay’s previous appearances were in 2020 and 2008. (nypost.com)
- Jacob Misiorowski is highlighted as a standout starting pitcher for the Brewers. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “This World Series has no Goliaths but plenty of Davids who play a different brand of baseball”
