Get ready, baseball fans, because Game 1 of the 2026 World Series kicks off on Friday in Milwaukee, and we’re guaranteed to see a first-time champion crowned. It’s the Milwaukee Brewers, making their second Fall Classic appearance since 1982, against the Tampa Bay Rays, who are in their third shot at a title after 2008 and 2020. This is it, folks, seven games with a ring on the line, and one of these teams is finally breaking through.
This year’s Fall Classic is a clash of the titans, with the teams boasting the best record in each league going head-to-head. But if you think that means a straightforward series, you haven’t watched enough baseball. Randomness is a huge part of this game, and every single edge, no matter how tiny, could swing everything. Rays manager Kevin Cash knows the hype is real, especially with a packed house. He was pumped after their ALCS Game 6 win over the Cleveland Guardians, saying, “2020 was as special as any season I’ve been a part of. But saying that, we didn’t have 40,000 people behind us [during COVID]. Excited to see what those 40,000 people can bring on Games 3, 4 and 5, for sure.” You can feel the energy already.
What’s wild about these two clubs is how they merge “old-school” with cutting-edge. We’re talking contact-heavy approaches straight out of the classic baseball playbook, yet both the Brewers and the Rays are absolute analytical powerhouses. They’ve got armies of brilliant minds digging deep for every possible advantage. And one of the biggest “X-factors” emerging for this series is going to be the battle of the infield defenses, because these teams are all about small ball.
If you live for bunt hits, sacrifice bunts, and infield hits, this World Series is tailor-made for you. The Brewers and Rays were baseball’s two best at these small ball tactics during the regular season. Just look at the numbers: the Rays led all of baseball with 49 bunt hits, with the Brewers right behind them at 32. In sac bunts, the Rays again topped the league with 45, while the Brewers were still strong at 37, good for fifth overall. And when it comes to infield hits, both teams were tied for second in the league, each racking up 143! This ain’t your grandma’s slugfest, it’s a ground ball marathon. Rays speedster Chandler Simpson is a huge part of this, leading the entire league with a mind-blowing 42 infield hits, 11 more than anyone else. He also crushed 14 bunt hits. Brewers infielder David Hamilton led the league in bunt hits with 15, while Rays teammates Cedric Mullins (12) and Taylor Walls (11) also topped the 10-bunt-hit mark. This World Series is going to be a masterclass in “put the ball on the ground and run like crazy,” which means infield defense isn’t just about making the easy out; it’s about knowing when to make a play and when to just hold that ball.
So, get ready to witness a chess match on the dirt. Game 1 is Friday, and with all this small ball talk, every single ground ball is going to feel like a pivotal moment. The infielders for both these teams are going to earn their paychecks, big time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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