ST. PETERSBURG -- The 2026 World Series was threatening to be “scintillating … for a sweep.”
But now it’s scintillating on its own accord.
The Rays’ resounding bottom-of-the-12th rally has bought us a Game 5 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field. And we’ll see if their 4-3 win in Game 4 has turned the tables on a best-of-seven in which three of the first four games have been decided by a single run.
While the Brewers remain just a win away from their franchise’s first title, the nature of Tampa Bay’s first victory in this Series at least opens the door to the possibility that something psychologically substantial has occurred. Because now the Rays have pierced the Brewers’ prowess and reminded themselves of what made them special in the first place.
“There's really nothing to lose,” center fielder Jonny DeLuca said. “So just go out there and balls to the wall and compete and do anything to win the game.”
There is something to lose, of course. But DeLuca has a point in that the Rays were effectively, if not mathematically, dead. Yes, the 2004 Red Sox famously came back to win the ALCS against the Yankees after falling behind 0-3, but no team has ever done it -- or even so much as forced a Game 6 -- in the World Series.
The Rays are just crazy enough to try. And surviving the near-death experience that was Cooper Pratt’s go-ahead solo shot in the top of the 12th and then scoring twice without making so much as an out in the bottom of the inning breathes a different kind of life into a ballclub.
It also makes things at least a little more uncomfortable for a Milwaukee team trying to make organizational history. The Brewers were close enough to smell the champagne in Game 4; now, they know another loss could change the whole tone of this tale.
“I think the guys understand it's going to be hard,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “It's going to be hard. You're playing the best team in the American League. They proved it all year long, and they came up big today. It's going to be hard. When you're achieving something like this, it's going to have its adversity.”
The Brewers still have plenty of math on their side. Just as importantly, they have the Miz. Young ace Jacob Misiorowski, on the verge of receiving his first NL Cy Young honor, gets the opportunity to further etch his name into franchise lore with this Game 5 start, while the Rays are going to have to cobble things together after using Game 1 starter Nick Martinez in relief on Tuesday.
“I'm going to guess most guys are going to say they're capable of an inning or more,” said Rays manager Kevin Cash, “given it's Game 5 of the World Series.”
For objective observers, this Game 5 is a gift. This World Series had been lopsided in the win-loss ledger but captivating otherwise. The only blowout win by the Brewers featured a two-out, eight-run outburst that was itself historically significant. Every other game has been settled by the slimmest of margins, allowing us to zero in on every ounce of strategy and execution along the way.
So there’s been plenty to like about watching these two similarly styled squads duke it out. And there’s plenty to like about getting to watch some more.
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 5 is Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET and airs nationally on FOX and FOX Deportes with streaming on FOX One.
All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB's exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL postseason in French.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Brewers: RHP Jacob Misiorowski
Key stats: MLB regular-season leader in ERA (1.80), strikeouts (252), WHIP (0.80), opponents' average (.157)
Misiorowski was in the bullpen for the final innings of Game 4 but was never going to pitch in relief, Murphy said in the wake of the Rays’ comeback win. The situation wasn’t right to risk using him and losing the opportunity to start him on regular rest in the event the series extended to a Game 5. Now, that’s just what Misiorowski and the Brewers face.
“You can't blow that type of situation on a one-run lead on the road,” Murphy said. “If we were in the 13th inning and we had a three-run lead, that might have been a little bit different. Probably still wouldn't have.”
Misiorowski is 1-0 with a 2.70 ERA in his three Game 1 starts in this postseason against the Padres, Dodgers and Rays. He allowed one run on four hits in five innings of World Series Game 1 and will be pitching on four days of rest.
Rays: TBD
Five pitchers finished the regular season in the Rays’ rotation, and they used all of them within the past four nights: Drew Rasmussen in Game 2 on Saturday, Freddy Peralta in Game 3 on Monday, then Griffin Jax (to start), Martinez (for two innings in relief) and lefty Ian Seymour (one inning in relief) in Game 4 on Tuesday. That means the Rays don’t have a fully rested starter ready to handle Game 5.
It seems unlikely that they would ask Rasmussen to come back on three days’ rest, given his injury history and their preference to prioritize him pitching on extra rest. That means their best -- and perhaps only -- option is a bullpen game with their season on the line. But if they win Game 5 and send the series back to Milwaukee, they’ll have Rasmussen and Peralta lined up for Games 6 and 7.
What are the starting lineups?
Brewers: The Brewers flipped Sal Frelick and Garrett Mitchell in the order for Game 4, moving Mitchell down and Frelick up. But that was after using the same lineup for the first three games of the World Series, including Game 2 against Rasmussen. So if it’s Rasmussen on short rest, it would make sense to revert to that order.
1. Jackson Chourio, LF
2. Jake Bauers, 1B
3. Christian Yelich, DH
4. William Contreras, C
5. Brice Turang, 2B
6. Garrett Mitchell, CF
7. Cooper Pratt, SS
8. Sal Frelick, RF
9. David Hamilton, 3B
Rays: The Rays plugged an extra right-handed bat into their lineup against Misiorowski in Game 1, but Ben Williamson went 0-for-3. Let’s stick with something close to their “standard” lineup against right-handed starters, with the “Big Three” atop the order, and see how they adjust.
1. Yandy Díaz, DH
2. Jonathan Aranda, 1B
3. Junior Caminero, 3B
4. Liam Hicks, C
5. Chandler Simpson, LF
6. Jonny DeLuca, CF
7. Victor Mesa Jr., RF
8. Richie Palacios, 2B
9. Taylor Walls, SS
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
Brewers: With the benefit of hindsight, did Murphy regret getting only one batter for Trevor Megill in Game 4? “Yes,” he said, while stressing he would make the same decision again given the circumstances at the moment. The good news is that Megill (five pitches) and Abner Uribe (19 pitches) will be ready for Game 5. Aaron Ashby (31 pitches for seven outs) will probably be available, too. That’s the carryover benefit of the Brewers’ 10-1 rout and Robert Gasser’s stellar six-inning start in Game 3.
Rays: Well, the season is on the line, so it’s all hands on deck. It’s hard to imagine the starters (Martinez, Rasmussen, Peralta and Jax) being available, and Seymour threw 32 pitches in his inning of work in Game 4. Closer Bryan Baker also had to pitch two innings for the first time since 2024, but he only threw 21 pitches -- and hadn’t touched the mound in more than a week. But again, the season is at stake, and there would be an off-day Thursday to rest if they can make it past Game 5. Right-hander Cole Sulser and lefties Steven Matz and Garrett Cleavinger didn’t pitch in Game 4, making them the freshest arms available. As Cash said, nothing is decided, but “most guys” should be capable of working an inning or more.
Any injuries of note?
Brewers: The biggest question mark for the Brewers on the eve of the World Series was Brandon Woodruff, and he answered those questions by getting the final three outs of Game 3. Since he talked about getting ready for Game 4 if needed, it’s a good guess that Woodruff will make a case to be in the mix for Game 5.
Rays: Starter Shane McClanahan was ruled out for the postseason, although he will be ready to go next spring. Otherwise, nothing new.
Who is hot and who is not?
Brewers: Chourio’s 10 hits are tied for the most in the first four games of a World Series -- with 1928’s Babe Ruth! With two more hits in Game 4, Chourio also set a record for most postseason hits before turning 23; he has 31 hits in 24 games, besting Andruw Jones’ 30 hits in his first 45 postseason games. … Pratt became the first rookie in World Series history with four hits in a potential clincher, including his go-ahead homer in the top of the 12th inning. He’s hitting .333 with an .829 OPS in the postseason.
Rays: Simpson picked up three hits in Game 4, continuing to show what an X-factor he can be for this lineup. Hicks also had a pair of hits, including a key single in the game-winning rally, and he’s starting to show more life at the plate after a shaky start to the postseason. Díaz had two hits in Game 3, plus a hit and a walk in Game 4 after two hitless games. There are still a bunch of hitters scuffling through this series against Milwaukee’s dominant staff, but perhaps the way Game 4 ended will change their outlook.
Anything else fans might want to know?
• The Rays are the fifth team to force a Game 5 in the World Series after falling behind 3-0. The 2024 Yankees were the last team to do it, joining the 1970 Reds, the 1937 Giants and the 1910 Cubs. None of them forced a Game 6.
• The Brewers are one of five current franchises that has never won the World Series, with the Mariners, Padres, Rays and Rockies. Milwaukee would escape that list with one more win.
• The Rays lost Game 5 in both of their prior trips to the World Series, losing the Series clincher in Philadelphia in 2008 then dropping Game 5 to fall in a 3-2 hole in 2020.