Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Jason Misiorowski has been one of the major reasons for the Brewers making it to the 2026 World Series (AP News photo)
2026 World Series: Brewers vs. Rays Battle of the Small Markets
That’s Amaury News and Commentary
By Amaury Pi-González
The 122nd edition of Major League’s Fall Classic begins Friday. Once in a while (not often enough), baseball becomes the fairest of any sport. That is the case in 2026, with two excellent teams opening in Milwaukee this week for a best-of-7 series against Tampa Bay. It’s the first time these two teams have met in a World Series. The Brewers have never won a World Series; the Milwaukee Braves won their first title in 1957.
–Milwaukee. Is the smallest television and media market in Major League Baseball (MLB), ranking 30th out of 30 teams. The Milwaukee Brewers led the major leagues and the National League with 103 regular-season wins and, most importantly, did something nobody expected: they swept the two-time in-a-row World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
World Series history. 1957 Milwaukee Braves won vs. NY Yankees 4-3… 1958 Braves vs. NY Yankees lost 3-4… 1982 Milwaukee Brewers lost vs. St. Louis Cardinals 3-4. The Brewers have never won a World Series; the city of Milwaukee won its first World Series title in 1957 as the Milwaukee Braves.
City of Milwaukee population: 502,000
–Tampa Bay is MLB’s 19th-largest television and media market. The Rays led the American League East (considered one of, if not the,elite divisions) with the Yankees and Red Sox. The Rays won 98 regular-season games, tops in the American League.
World Series history: 2008 vs. Philadelphia, lost 1-4. 2020 vs. LA Dodgers, lost 2-4. Note:2020: In the wake of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the World Series was played at a neutral site (Globe Life Field in Arlington) for the first time.
City of Tampa population: 417,635
Player to watch in this World Series.
Milwaukee’s 24-year-old right-handed pitcher Jacob Misioroswki, the best pitcher in baseball, will win the National League Cy Young Award. His numbers: 16-5, 1.80 ERA, 174.2 Innings pitched, and 252 strikeouts. He owns a lethal 4-seam fastball, which he throws at a record-average 101 to 105 mph, with a terrific curveball. The kid is 6’7″, 200 lbs. He should start Game #1 this Friday.
I am not predicting this, but just saying: there’s only been one perfect game in World Series history, thrown by Yankee pitcher Don Larsen in the 1956 World Series, when he retired all 27 Brooklyn Dodgers. If Misioroswki shows up with his best stuff… Who knows? Misioroski could throw a perfecto anytime, anywhere, including the World Series.
My prediction: Milwaukee in 6.
“I always got nervous the nights we played in the World Series. First pitch, I was nervous. Then after that, forget it; I’d start playing.” -Yogi Berra.
Amaury Pi-Gonzalez – Cuban-born Pi-González is one of the pioneers of Spanish-language baseball play-by-play in America. Began as Oakland A’s Spanish-language voice in 1977 ending in 2024 (interrupted by stops with the Giants, Mariners and Angels). Voice of the Golden State Warriors from 1992 through 1998. 2010 inducted in the Bay Area Radio Hall of fame.
Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.
⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.
Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.
Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.
📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street
Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm
Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.
