RAYS VS. BREWERS GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS | MLB WORLD SERIES 2026

 

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ENTIRE FIRST INNING OF 2026 WORLD SERIES

 

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3 WORLD SERIES LESSONS FROM BREWERS' REFULAR SEASON MATCHUP WITH RAYS

Mar 30, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) watches his two-run home run off of Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Nick Martinez (28) during the sixth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark Hoffman/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

For a decent projection of the 2026 World Series matchup, the natural first place to look is at how the Brewers and Rays matched up in the regular season. And thankfully for Milwaukee, the results point in their favor. The Brew Crew won two of their three regular-season games against the Rays, all in America's Dairyland, by a nine-run margin — Milwaukee scored 16 runs to Tampa Bay's seven.

Granted, this was so long ago that both teams look completely different by now. They haven't faced each other since early April, and the Rays have undergone a major transformation since that fateful World Series preview. Their bullpen has pulled itself together, and offensively, this team has found a rhythm that will be hard to stymie.

Nonetheless, there are still details to pull from that series that'll surely reflect on this year's World Series matchup and hopefully give us a sign of what's to come.

1. Brewers need to ride the hot hands of William Contreras and Jake Bauers to beat the Rays.

The NLCS MVP, Jake Bauers, began his emergence as Milwaukee's breakout offensive hero with an electric series against the Rays, hitting three balls and scoring three runs, including a home run, in 10 at-bats versus Tampa Bay. The same could be said for star catcher William Contreras, who rocked four hits, including a home run for two RBIs in 12 chances in that series.

It's only right for Bauers and Contreras to finish their season the same way they started it — cooking at the plate against the Rays, with all the confidence in the world and the support of Milwaukee behind them. It's almost certainly a recipe for offensive success.

2. Brice Turang can change the narrative of his playoffs facing Tampa Bay in the World Series.

It hasn't been an easy postseason run for one of the best second basemen in baseball, despite showing his chops defensively as an elite fielder in a vital position. But offensively, Turang has struggled in the postseason, batting just .222 for six hits in 27 plate appearances. But if he can channel some of what worked for him in the regular season against Tampa Bay, when he hit three balls in eight at-bats for four RBIs and three walks, he can wipe the slate clean and start anew.

3. If history repeats itself, Milwaukee's pitchers don't need to be perfect to win against the Rays.

These weren't the best games for the Brewers' bullpen, allowing multiple runs in every game and seven in the series. But Milwaukee's steadfast defense and consistent strikeout potential kept them in every game, every inning, limiting Tampa Bay's explosive innings that helped them get to this point in the postseason.

Starters Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson allowed a combined eight hits in 11 innings, but only three earned runs in total. And frankly, they should both be far more confident and prepared for this outing than they were in their first go-around against the Rays. So if they can channel some of that same energy, the Brewers have a serious shot at winning their first World Series in franchise history.

- Dylan Carter

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SPRING TRAINING ROUNDUP: ASTROS BEAT NETS IN 10-8 SLUGFEST

USA TODAY Sports 

 Shay Whitcomb hit two RBI doubles and Jacob Melton smashed the eventual game-winning home run as the Houston Astros put together 10 consecutive runs and held off the host Washington Nationals 10-8 in a spring training game Friday in Palm Beach, Fla.

Melton's two-run homer in the seventh inning put the Astros ahead 9-4, and Joey Loperfido added a run-scoring double in the eighth before Washington pushed back. Alex Call hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the frame and two runs scored on his fielder's choice in the ninth -- one on a throwing error -- before Houston put the game away.

Hunter Brown (1-0) got the win with two innings of relief for Houston, in which he allowed one run, two hits and one walk. Grae Kessinger went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs for the Astros.

Nats reliever Jake Irvin (0-1) was shelled for seven runs (six earned) on five hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings. CJ Abrams opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first and an RBI single in the second to steer Washington to a 4-0 lead. The teams combined for 22 hits.

Pirates 12, Rays 8

Gilberto Celestino hit a grand slam and totaled five RBIs, Jared Triolo hit a three-run homer and host Pittsburgh outlasted Tampa Bay in Bradenton, Fla.

Bryan Reynolds hit his second homer of spring training in the bottom of the first after the Rays had opened a 3-0 lead. Mitch Keller (1-0) got the win despite allowing three runs on four hits and two walks in two innings. He struck out two.

Jose Siri had three RBIs on a sacrifice fly, a fielder's choice and a single for the Rays. Reliever Erasmo Ramirez (0-1) gave up Triolo's home run.

MLB ROUNUP: WILD-CARD SERIES ALL END WITH SWEEP

Reuters 

Ketel Marte's single keyed a four-run rally, Zac Gallen battled through six innings and the Arizona Diamondbacks swept their National League wild-card series with a victory 5-2 over the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday.

Arizona overcame a 2-0 deficit to complete a sweep of the best-of-three series, having escaped a 3-0 hole to win the opener 6-3 Tuesday. The Diamondbacks will open the NL Division Series on the road against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday.

Gallen (1-0) allowed two first-inning runs but kept the NL Central champions from adding on. The right-hander gave up five hits, struck out four and walked three in a 100-pitch effort.

The Diamondbacks scored four runs in the sixth to go in front 5-2. Marte lined a two-run single to center to put the Diamondbacks up 3-2, chasing Peralta. Tommy Pham scored on a bases-loaded wild pitch by Abner Uribe, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. blooped an RBI single to shallow left.

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