Brewers Tab Jacob Misiorowski for World Series Game 1 as Rays Await 5 p.m. PT Opener

Q: Will Misiorowski's historic arm or the Rays' mystery starter draw first blood in this battle for a maiden World Series title?

Milwaukee has the clearer edge in Game 1, though Tampa Bay’s likely choice of Drew Rasmussen makes this close enough to feel like a true ace duel. Misiorowski brings the most overpowering profile in the series. He led MLB in ERA, strikeouts, WHIP and opponents’ average, and his velocity remains elite. Even with some postseason signs of vulnerability — more foul balls, deeper counts and two outings that ended before the fifth inning was complete — he has still limited damage and now arrives on 11 days’ rest. That matters for a pitcher whose recent October issue has been efficiency more than effectiveness. The Rays’ mystery is not really much of a mystery. All signs point to Rasmussen, and if it is him, Tampa Bay will counter with one of the hottest starters in baseball. He owns a 1.29 postseason ERA with a 23-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 21 playoff innings, and the Rays have won 14 of his last 15 starts. He has also been unusually deep into games for a Tampa Bay starter, which could help neutralize Milwaukee’s bullpen edge. Still, the safer pick to “draw first blood” is the Brewers. They have home-field advantage, the more rested staff, and the better bullpen on current postseason form. If Misiorowski gives Milwaukee even five strong innings, that late-game bridge has been dominant. So the likeliest answer is Misiorowski’s side strikes first — but if Rasmussen is the name Tampa Bay finally posts, this opener could turn into a low-scoring coin flip.

3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Oct 22

Game 1 of the 2026 World Series is set for Friday, with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays opening against the Milwaukee Brewers at 5 p.m. PT.
Milwaukee named right-hander Jacob Misiorowski as its starter, while Tampa Bay had not announced a Game 1 pitcher at the time of the report.
Misiorowski enters with a 1.80 ERA, 2.17 FIP and 252 strikeouts against 44 walks over 174.2 regular-season innings.
His last postseason outing came in Milwaukee's 2-1 win over the Dodgers on Oct. 11, when he allowed one run over 4.1 innings with five strikeouts.
The matchup guarantees a first championship for either franchise, with Fox, Fox One and ESPN Radio carrying the opener nationally.