The World Series is back in Tropicana Field tonight. After dropping both games in Milwaukee, the Rays have the opportunity to start to make this series a bit more interesting if they can manage to win at home. Win Game 3 and, well, they’re not right back in the series, but it’s plausible that they could pull the thing off. Lose Game 3 and there won’t be a ton of suspense, at least not unless they manage to find a way to send the series back to Wisconsin.
Obviously, it’s not like the first two games that were played have been blowouts. Each game was decided by one run. Not much would have had to change for the Rays to win one or both games. Maybe as little as a play in each game going a bit more like “we look like a good team” and a bit less like “our defense suddenly looks like the 2026 Orioles.” Yet as far as a best-of-seven series goes, two close losses has the same impact as two blowout losses.
The game will get under way at 8pm on Fox, or at least that’s the scheduled start time. There are often network-induced shenanigans to delay the actual start by a few minutes.
Rays lineup
- Yandy Díaz – DH
- Ryan Vilade – 1B
- Chandler Simpson – LF
- Junior Caminero – 3B
- Ben Williamson – 2B
- Jonny DeLuca – CF
- Victor Mesa Jr. – RF
- Nick Fortes – C
- Taylor Walls – SS
Rays starting pitcher Freddy Peralta was a Brewer when 2026 began. They pulled the “trade a pitcher before his final year ahead of free agency” move with him in sending him to the Mets, though Peralta kind of stunk for the Mets. The Rays gave him a chance and he’s done better for them, including during this postseason. This revival has probably made him a good bit of money in the coming free agency period.
Brewers lineup
- Jackson Chourio – LF
- Jake Bauers – 1B
- Christian Yelich – DH
- William Contreras – C
- Brice Turang – 2B
- Garrett Mitchell – CF
- Cooper Pratt – SS
- Sal Frelick – RF
- David Hamilton – 3B
Milwaukee’s starting pitcher, Robert Gasser, has started one game in each of Milwaukee’s previous postseason series this year, allowing one run over nine innings. One thing that is kind of boring about the modern postseason is that starting pitchers going even five innings is a rarity.