Two teams that have never won it. One of them will.

No Dodgers, no Yankees, no former champion of any kind. The 2026 World Series is Milwaukee against Tampa Bay, and baseball gets a first-time champion either way.

Milwaukee went 103–59, the best record in baseball, and is in the World Series for the first time since 1982, when it lost to St. Louis in seven games. Tampa Bay has been here twice, in 2008 against Philadelphia and in 2020 against the Dodgers, and lost both. This year the Rays beat Cleveland four games to two in the ALCS with an $88.7 million Opening Day payroll, 26th of 30.

The two franchises arrived on the modern map together. The Brewers began as the Seattle Pilots in 1969 and moved to Milwaukee a year later. In 1998 they left the American League for the National — the same season the Devil Rays played their first game. They have shared the league structure since its first day. They have never shared a World Series.

The Brewers got here by sweeping the Dodgers, 4–0, the same score the Dodgers handed them in the 2025 NLCS. Their series MVP, Jake Bauers, made his major league debut with the Rays, on June 7, 2018.

Games 3, 4 and 5 are at Tropicana Field, the last fixed dome in baseball. Hurricane Milton sent the Rays to Steinbrenner Field for 2025; the Trop was repaired and reopened for 2026, and a new $2.3 billion ballpark has since been approved. This may be one of the last Octobers under that roof.

In Milwaukee, there is an absence. Bob Uecker called Brewers games on the radio for 54 seasons, from 1971 through 2024, and died in January 2025. This is the first pennant the Brewers have won without him.

Games 1 and 2 are October 23 and 24 at American Family Field. Games 3 and 4 are October 26 and 27 in St. Petersburg, with Game 5 there on October 28 if needed. Games 6 and 7, if needed, return to Milwaukee on October 30 and 31.

Want to be there? Tell us which game, home or away, and we'll take it from there. 310.275.4200