World Series Game 3 Discussion: Milwaukee Brewers (2-0) @ Tampa Bay Rays (0-2)

The controversies and speculation are aplenty as the Milwaukee Brewers take a two-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays into game three of the World Series. For the third time this postseason, the Brewers take the road having won the first two games of the series, with a chance to put the most pressure possible on their opponent.

Since 2018, when the rebuild was complete, the World Series was on everyone’s mind. During each run between then and now, only a few players stayed; one of those was Freddy Peralta. Most people had the belief that he was going to be the arm to start game one of the World Series for the Brewers, instead, it’s game three for the Rays.

While the former ace facing his former team is heartfelt and bittersweet, the Brewers have a chance to quiet Tropicana Field…or will it be loud, filled with Brewers faithful looking to witness their club win their first World Series? As ticket prices rise in Milwaukee, they fall in Tampa Bay. Wisconsinites have teamed together, as some reports have said that nearly 30% of the tickets sold for games three and four were from The Good Land.

Tonight, the sweet-swinging Brewers will look to continue their postseason success as they enter riding a seven-game winning streak. While the Rays tried to get sneaky with their rotation plans, it has yet to faze the Brewers offense as they have taken down Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez. Tonight, against their old friend, they’ll have their hands full. The first meeting between the two has already occurred, and it wasn’t a pleasant homecoming for Peralta, as he allowed seven runs on eight hits, two home runs, and a pair of walks on July 20th as a New York Met.

To further the confidence of the Brewers’ bats against Peralta, each player in the lineup has at least one hit in their career against him, with William Contreras leading the way batting .500 with a couple of RBIs, and Jackson Chourio batting .444 with an RBI and two stolen bases.

As has been the case in each of the last three games that the Brewers have been in, Robert Gasser is handed the ball in an attempt to provide some length and relief to the bullpen. Perhaps the biggest question mark entering the postseason became the biggest surprise, as Gasser has allowed just one run through nine innings pitched. He’s facing a lineup that hasn’t seen a ton of him, nor had a lot of success, as five of the nine starters for the Rays haven’t recorded a hit.

The biggest storyline for the Rays lineup entering play tonight is that manager Kevin Cash and Co. have benched Jonathan Aranda for the first time this postseason, despite having reached base in five of his eight World Series plate appearances. Now, it’s expected that he’ll make an appearance in the lineup once Gasser leaves the mound, but the biggest thing that has gone right for the Rays offense this World Series is now gone. Replacing Aranda is Ryan Vilade, who the Brewers have seen twice, where he’s struckout once.

For the first time since 2021, the Brewers will play a postseason game on the East Coast, as first pitch is slated for 7 p.m. You’ll be able to watch the game on FOX and listen to the game on WTMJ.