Baseball will crown a first-time champion in 2026. On Monday, 19 October, the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) to win the pennant. They will face the Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series (NLCS). Neither franchise has ever won the World Series.
How the Rays clinched the pennant
In front of a sold-out crowd at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, the Rays took control early and held on:
- 2nd inning: Richie Palacios hit a two-out, two-run double to make it 2-0.
- 7th inning: with Tampa Bay leading 3-1, Junior Caminero hit a two-run homer off the left-field foul pole to make it 5-1. Former Rays star Randy Arozarena was watching from the stands, and Caminero copied his famous celebration pose.
- 8th inning: Cleveland scored twice to cut the lead to 5-3, but Yandy Diaz answered with a 416-foot home run over the left-field wall to restore a four-run lead.
- 9th inning: closer Bryan Baker retired Steven Kwan, José Ramírez and Chase DeLauter to finish it.
MLB.com wrote that Tropicana Field had not been that loud since the Rays' run in 2008.
ALCS game by game
| Game | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 Oct | Guardians 7, Rays 3 |
| 2 | 13 Oct | Rays 3, Guardians 1 |
| 3 | 15 Oct | Guardians 3, Rays 2 |
| 4 | 17 Oct | Rays 7, Guardians 3 |
| 5 | 18 Oct | Rays 3, Guardians 1 |
| 6 | 19 Oct | Rays 7, Guardians 3 |
After falling behind 2-1 in the series, the Rays won three straight games to take it 4-2.
The Brewers' revenge sweep
Milwaukee's path was even more dramatic. A year after being swept by the Dodgers in the playoffs, the Brewers swept them right back, 4-0, ending Los Angeles' bid for a third straight title. According to MLB.com, they are the first team in history to be swept by an opponent in one postseason and then sweep that same opponent the next year.
| Game | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 Oct | Brewers 2, Dodgers 1 |
| 2 | 12 Oct | Brewers 7, Dodgers 4 |
| 3 | 14 Oct | Brewers 6, Dodgers 2 |
| 4 | 15 Oct | Brewers 6, Dodgers 4 |
In the clincher at Dodger Stadium, Shohei Ohtani's three-run homer helped Los Angeles to a 4-0 lead. Milwaukee came back with doubles from William Contreras and Jake Bauers, an RBI single from David Hamilton and a bases-loaded walk, before Garrett Mitchell's go-ahead homer in the sixth. Aaron Ashby recorded the final nine outs. Jake Bauers was named NLCS MVP. The four-run comeback tied the largest ever in a series-clinching LCS game.
Storylines to watch
- A first title either way. The Rays reached the World Series in 2008 and 2020 and lost both. The Brewers' only previous appearance was in 1982, when they lost to St. Louis in seven games, 44 years ago.
- Rest vs rhythm. Milwaukee will have had eight days off before Game 1. Tampa Bay has only a few days to reset after a six-game series. Long layoffs can leave hitters rusty, while short turnarounds tire pitchers.
- Comeback specialists. The Brewers became the first team to start a postseason with six comeback wins in their first eight games.
- Small-market showdown. Both clubs are known for winning on modest budgets through smart scouting, player development and pitching depth.
World Series 2026 schedule
All games start at 8 p.m. ET (5:30 a.m. IST the following day) and are shown on FOX in the US.
| Game | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fri 23 Oct | Milwaukee |
| 2 | Sat 24 Oct | Milwaukee |
| 3 | Mon 26 Oct | Tampa Bay |
| 4 | Tue 27 Oct | Tampa Bay |
| 5* | Wed 28 Oct | Tampa Bay |
| 6* | Fri 30 Oct | Milwaukee |
| 7* | Sat 31 Oct | Milwaukee |
*If necessary. The first team to win four games is champion.
For more on baseball's great feuds, read our piece on Yankees vs Red Sox.
Sources
- MLB.com – Rays finish off Guards to set up World Series clash vs. Crew
- MLB.com – Brewers end Dodgers’ three-peat bid with an NLCS sweep of their own
- CBS Sports – 2026 MLB playoff bracket: Schedule and scores
- OutKick / Fox News – Rays punch their ticket to the World Series, taking down Guardians in Game 6
