The time has finally arrived.
The Tampa Bay Rays will take on the Milwaukee Brewers in the first game of the 2026 World Series tonight at American Family Field with the first pitch slated for just after 8:00.
A benefit of the series happening between Tampa Bay and Milwaukee is that weather will not play a factor with Milwaukee sporting a retactable roof and the playing under the domed confines of Tropicana Field, so a replay of the 2008 World Series is impossible. These games will 100% be determined
by the skill of the players on the field and not by the elements
On Thursday afternoon, Kevin Cash mad the somewhat suprising announcement that All-Star Nick Martinez would be taking the mound for Tampa Bay in game one while Cy Young hopeful Jacob Misiorowski will go to the rubber for Milwaukee.
The 36-year old Martinez joined the Rays just prior to the start of Spring Training, signing a 1-year deal. Martinez signed with Tampa Bay partly due to his desire for a spot in the starting rotation and the Rays were happy to oblige. Over the course of the regular season, Martinez showcased that he was capable of being a solid member of a starting rotation, providing the Rays with an All-Star campaign, compiling a 3.10 ERA | 3.96 FIP with a 15.1 K% and MLB leading 3.6 BB%.
Martinez has made only two appearances in the postseason thus far. He took the mound for game three of the ALDS against the New York Yankees and then again for game four of the ALCS, meaning he has only pitched three times over the past month (last regular season appearance was on September 27th).
It’s fitting that the Tampa Bay Rays will have to face perhaps the toughest pitcher in all of baseball for the first game of the World Series.
24-year old Jacob Misiorowski has been absolutely electric for the Brewers since reaching the big leagues last June. The start of his MLB career was so incredible that he was named to the All-Star game with only a few weeks of big league experience under his belt. The league learned his ways and Misiorowski struggled down the stretch in 2025 as the rookie had to adjust to figure out MLB lineups.
The adjustment was made in 2026 and it led to Misiorowksi becoming the best starting pitcher in all of baseball. Overall, Misiorowski compiled a 1.80 ERA | 2.17 FIP with a 37.9 K% & 6.6 BB% over 174.2 IP.
At the end of the 2026 regular season, Misiorowksi led all pitchers* in ERA, FIP, K%, K-BB%, AVG, WHIP, and Sierra; he should be unanimously named the Cy Young award winner.
*minimum of 100 IP
It will be an incredibly tough matchup for the Rays but there are signs that Misiorowski might be tiring. Misiorowski has made two appearances for Milwaukee thus far in the postseason, and his walks are up and strikeouts are down from the regular season. Thus far over his two outings, Misiorowski has a 3.24 ERA | 1.90 FIP with a 29.7 K% & 10.8 BB% over 8.1 IP.
Misiorowski’s calling card is his elite fastball that he routinely pumps in at triple digits. The Rays have struggled against high velocity all season long and it was evident during the ALCS that the Guardians were challenging the Rays key offensive players with velocity above the zone. The Rays were able to disrupt that strategy later on in the series, but no one on the Guardians staff had a fastball like Misiorowski.
For the pregame festivities, the Brewers will have franchise legend and MLB Hall of Famer Robin Yount, as well as former team owner and MLB commisioner Bud Selig, throw out the ceremonial first pitches, while four-time GRAMMY nominee Mickey Guyton will sing the National Anthem.
