The Milwaukee Brewers host the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 1 of the World Series on Friday, October 23, 2026, at American Family Field, with first pitch scheduled for 8:00 PM ET on FOX. This is the moment Brewers fans have waited a generation for — the Fall Classic coming to Milwaukee. Jacob Misiorowski gets the ball for the Brewers against Tampa Bay's Nick Martinez. The stakes couldn't be higher: a World Series title is on the line, and it starts right here, right now, on the banks of the Menomonee River.
Brewers vs. Rays World Series Game 1 Matchup and Starting Pitchers
Misiorowski draws the most important start of his career, taking the mound for Game 1 of the World Series in front of what figures to be a sold-out, electric American Family Field crowd. The right-handed pitcher has climbed through the organization to reach this moment, and now the entire franchise rests on his right arm. This is the biggest stage the Brewers have seen in decades, and Misiorowski is their guy.
On the other side, the Rays send Nick Martinez to the mound. Martinez is a veteran presence, a pitcher who has bounced around the majors and shown an ability to eat innings and keep lineups off balance. Tampa Bay doesn't do anything by accident — their pitching decisions are always deliberate, and choosing Martinez for Game 1 signals they believe he gives them the best matchup against Milwaukee's lineup.
Keys to Watch in World Series Game 1
- Misiorowski's command early: The Brewers' starter will need to establish his stuff quickly against a disciplined Rays lineup. Tampa Bay is known for working counts and grinding at-bats. If Misiorowski can get ahead in counts, Milwaukee controls the pace of the game.
- Milwaukee's home crowd: American Family Field hasn't hosted a World Series game in the franchise's history. The energy inside that stadium Friday night will be unlike anything this fanbase has experienced. Whether that electricity lifts the Brewers or rattles them is worth watching closely.
- Rays' lineup management: Tampa Bay has long operated with an unconventional, analytically driven approach to roster construction and in-game decisions. Expect the Rays' dugout to be active — matchup-driven substitutions, aggressive bullpen usage, and situational at-bats that put pressure on Milwaukee's defense.
- Brewers' run support: Martinez is capable of keeping a game close. Milwaukee will need to find ways to string together offense and not let this one turn into a low-scoring chess match that favors Tampa Bay's bullpen depth.
Broadcast Information for World Series Game 1
Game 1 airs nationally on FOX, with Spanish-language coverage available on Fox Deportes. Radio coverage is on WTMJ 620 locally in Milwaukee, ESPN Radio nationally, and WDAE 95.7 FM in Tampa Bay.
World Series Game 1 Prediction
The Brewers take Game 1. Misiorowski rises to the moment, American Family Field provides a genuine home-field advantage, and Milwaukee scratches out enough offense against Martinez to steal the opener. Brewers 4, Rays 2. The city of Milwaukee is about to get very loud.
