The 2026 World Series matchup is officially set, and if you had the Tampa Bay Rays facing off against the Milwaukee Brewers back on March 25, you’re either a prophet or just incredibly lucky. DraftKings Sportsbook had the Rays at a staggering +8000 to win it all, with the Brewers at a chunky +3500. Can you even imagine dropping a hundred bucks on either of those tickets right now? We’re talking minimum profits of $3,400, maxing out at $7,900 if you hit both. But let’s be real, almost nobody saw this coming, and those golden tickets are few and far between.
Those Opening Day Odds? Yeah, Nobody Saw This Coming.
Johnny Avello, DraftKings’ director of sportsbook operations, summed it up perfectly: “There are not a ton of customers holding tickets from Opening Day on either of these clubs.” It just wasn’t the expected Fall Classic, especially after two straight seasons where the heavy favorite took home the trophy. But this year? This wild matchup is pure gold for “long-shot backers” who finally have something truly exciting to cheer for. Avello noted how the usual suspects, the big market teams like the Dodgers and Yankees, sucked up most of the World Series action for much of the season. Los Angeles, the two-time defending champs, especially drew a huge share. The Rays, frankly, weren’t even on anyone’s radar. “The Rays weren’t expected to do this well,” Avello stated. “They didn’t take the action of the bigger-market teams.” Bettors had so many chances to snag the Rays at a long price, but they simply didn’t take them. The Brewers were a bit more in the picture, not quite the same long shot, so they saw a little more steady action from March right through August. But even for Milwaukee, the real attention didn’t kick in until late in the season, with a “steady flow of action the last three weeks of the regular season” and continued interest once the playoffs began.
They Were The Best, No Matter What The Books Said
Don’t let those long odds fool you, these teams *earned* their spots. The Brewers absolutely tore it up, finishing with the majors’ best regular-season record at an incredible 103-59. They then went on to stun the Dodgers, sweeping the two-time defending champions in the best-of-seven NLCS. Over in the American League, the Rays weren’t far behind, posting the AL’s best record at 98-64. Tampa Bay didn’t just win their playoff series, they dominated. They swept the mighty Yankees 3-0 in the ALDS before taking down Cleveland in a gritty ALCS that went six games. Avello himself can’t deny it: “You can’t take anything away from these two teams. The best teams got to the World Series, and both were remarkable at home and good on the road.” This isn’t some fluke; these are two absolute powerhouse teams who proved their worth every step of the way.
Brewers Are The Favorite, But Those Rays Tickets Are Still Gold
Even if you missed those ridiculously high Opening Day odds, you still could’ve gotten some sweet value when the playoffs started. The Rays were still sitting at +800, and the Brew Crew at +550. Fast forward to Thursday afternoon, just over 24 hours before Game 1’s first pitch, and the landscape has shifted. The Brewers are now the favorites at -165, while the Rays, hitting the road for Games 1 and 2, are the +145 underdogs. And no surprise, bettors are flocking to the favorite. Avello confirmed, “Bettors like Milwaukee. They’re laying the price with the Brewers.” Get ready for an epic best-of-seven series that kicks off Friday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. This World Series is going to be a battle, and for those few lucky souls who had faith in the underdogs from day one, it’s about to be a wild ride!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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