It’s a question we consider around this time each year as the postseason approaches: Will we see a first-time World Series champion?
Yes, the Dodgers have won back-to-back titles and are going for a historic three-peat next month. But among the five clubs that have not yet won a World Series, three are in this year’s playoff field: the Brewers, Padres and Rays.
Each has reached the Fall Classic before and come close to winning it all. But each is still seeking that first title. Here’s a look at how this trio has gotten to the playoffs this year and why each club has a chance to finally break its championship drought:
Brewers: 57 years
The history: The only time the Brewers reached the World Series came in 1982, when Robin Yount, Paul Molitor & Co. brought Milwaukee to within one win of a championship, ultimately losing to the Cardinals in seven games (the Brewers were in the American League back then). The Crew came oh so close to a return to the Fall Classic in 2018, but lost in a seven-game National League Championship Series against the Dodgers.
How they got here: This year’s edition set a franchise record for wins behind strong starting pitching (entering Thursday, Milwaukee’s starters had posted a fifth-ranked 3.64 ERA) and timely hitting (the Brewers led MLB with an .801 OPS with runners in scoring position) -- areas the organization has prided itself in for years -- and the driving forces behind its uncanny ability to reach the postseason year after year despite a below-average payroll and a lack of big-ticket stars.
Why they could win it all: The Brewers have the most dominant pitcher in the league atop their starting rotation, a luxury they have not had in postseasons past. Flamethrowing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, the NL Cy Young Award frontrunner, leads MLB with a 1.86 ERA, .159 opponents’ batting average and 247 strikeouts this season.
The right-hander behind him hasn’t been too shabby, either. Logan Henderson has pitched to a 2.47 ERA in his age-24 campaign and has been a great complement to the Miz. There are certainly questions about the rotation beyond those two -- particularly after Kyle Harrison’s season went south, but having a pair of locked-in starters can go a long way in October.
Padres: 57 years
The history: The Padres have been to the World Series twice -- they lost in five games to the Tigers in 1984, and they were swept by the dynastic Yankees of the late 20th century in 1998. The closest San Diego has come to getting back to the Fall Classic since then was in 2022, when the Padres reached the NLCS but lost in five games to the Phillies.
How they got here: The Padres of recent vintage have had a pattern of good seasons followed by mediocre ones -- San Diego made the playoffs in 2020, ’22 and ’24 with underwhelming campaigns in between. But this year makes a franchise-best three straight that the Padres are playing in October, and they hope this is finally the year. What’s gotten them here are their bullpen and their bats, particularly in a sizzling late-season stretch to fuel their surge to a postseason berth.
Why they could win it all: When you’ve got Mason Miller at the back of the ’pen, you’ve got an overpowering closer who is almost an automatic save with his triple-digit fastball and devastating slider. But in front of him, left-hander Adrian Morejon has been a workhorse (2.80 ERA over 83 2/3 innings entering Thursday) and the rest of the relief corps has been largely excellent. That could make things get late early for opponents if the Padres jump out to an early lead.
On that note … at the plate, the Padres’ lineup has caught fire at just the right time, with a September team OPS (.823) that leads the Majors. In particular, Fernando Tatis Jr. is on a tear -- after inexplicably going without a homer through his first 55 games in 2026, Tatis has been on a home run binge with eight so far this month. If the trend continues into October, watch out.
Rays: 28 years
The history: The Rays have also played in the World Series twice, losing to the Phillies in five games in 2008, and coming up short in a six-game loss to the Dodgers in the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign.
How they got here: Tampa Bay has a budding superstar in AL MVP candidate Junior Caminero to anchor their lineup, but the biggest driver of the Rays’ success this year has been the starting rotation, which features Drew Rasmussen, Nick Martinez, Shane McClanahan and Freddy Peralta. It’s been among the best in baseball, ranking behind only the Yankees and Dodgers in collective ERA entering Thursday (3.53).
Why they could win it all: The aforementioned starting pitching will be key, particularly McClanahan since he’s nearing a return from an injured list stint due to left forearm tightness. But beyond that, there’s something electric going on with this club, led by the charismatic Caminero, who has been delivering walk-off hits like it’s all in a day’s work and has shown the ability to spark his ballclub with his contagious energy.
The whole is greater than the sum of the parts for the Rays, and that’s been the blueprint for Tampa Bay’s success when it has been competitive -- which was every year from 2018-23, before a two-year hiatus preceded a return to the October stage.