The Fall Classic opens Friday night in Milwaukee. The Brewers host the Rays at 7:00 PM CT on FOX, and the winner of this series will be a first-time champion no matter what.

Jacob Misiorowski takes the ball for Milwaukee. He went 16-5 with a 1.80 ERA, led the majors in ERA, struck out 252 and posted a 0.802 WHIP. Tampa Bay answers with Nick Martinez, 15-6 with a 3.10 ERA, because Drew Rasmussen and trade-deadline pickup Freddy Peralta both pitched earlier in the week.

The Brewers earned the home field at 103-59. They swept the defending champion Dodgers in the NLCS. The Rays went 98-64 and beat the Guardians in six games for the American League pennant.

History sits on both dugouts. The Brewers are in the World Series for the second time ever and the first time since 1982. The Rays are here for the third time after losing in 2008 and 2020. Neither has ever lifted the trophy.

On paper this is a tough night for hitters. Misiorowski's 0.802 WHIP says there is no free pass coming. The Rays will try to make him work early and get into a Milwaukee bullpen that has carried its share all month.

Joe Davis and John Smoltz call the game on FOX, with Ken Rosenthal and Tom Verducci on the dugouts. Game 2 is Saturday night back at American Family Field before the series shifts to Tropicana Field on Monday.

One of these teams will be 1-0 by midnight and one step closer to a first title. The other will spend the night answering what went wrong in Game 1.

Key Facts

  • Game 1: Rays at Brewers, Friday 7:00 PM CT, American Family Field, FOX
  • Pitchers: Jacob Misiorowski (16-5, 1.80 ERA, 252 K, 0.802 WHIP) vs Nick Martinez (15-6, 3.10)
  • Road here: Brewers swept the Dodgers in the NLCS; Rays beat the Guardians in six
  • Records: Brewers 103-59, Rays 98-64; Milwaukee holds home field
  • History: Neither franchise has ever won the World Series; Brewers' first appearance since 1982, Rays' third (2008, 2020)

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