Athletic Experts Pick 103-Win Brewers to Beat Rays in 2026 World Series
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 29
Athletic Experts Pick 103-Win Brewers to Beat Rays in 2026 World Series
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 29
Summary
More than 20 The Athletic MLB experts mostly backed Milwaukee to win its first World Series title, projecting a Fall Classic matchup with Tampa Bay as the 2026 postseason opens.
Milwaukee drew the strongest support because it owned MLB’s best record at 103 wins, fields a well-rounded roster and can lean on breakout ace Jacob Misiorowski in October.
Tampa Bay led a more divided American League vote, ahead of the Yankees and Red Sox, with experts citing the Rays’ season-long consistency and a roster strengthened at the trade deadline.
The biggest obstacle to that forecast is Los Angeles: the two-time defending champion Dodgers were the No. 2 NL pick and still carry a rotation headlined by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tarik Skubal, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell.
A Brewers-Rays series would guarantee a first title for one of two franchises that have never won one, adding a small-market subplot as labor negotiations loom this winter.