The 2026 MLB World Series opens with a matchup between two clubs chasing the first championship in franchise history: the Milwaukee Brewers and the Tampa Bay Rays. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday, October 23, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, where the National League champion Brewers will host the American League champion Rays. First pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−05:00), which is 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC−04:00) and 00:00 UTC on Saturday, October 24.
Game 1 takes place Friday, October 23, at American Family Field. Milwaukee gets the opening two games at home before the series shifts to Tampa Bay for Game 3. The scheduled first pitch is 7:00 p.m. in Milwaukee (CDT, UTC−05:00). Fans following from outside the United States should note that the date changes to Saturday, October 24, at 00:00 UTC.
The World Series is a best-of-seven series. The first team to win four games takes the Commissioner’s Trophy. Games 5, 6, and 7 are only played if needed, and the schedule can change, so check the official MLB postseason schedule for the latest information.
MLB’s latest Game 1 preview lists right-hander Jacob Misiorowski for Milwaukee and right-hander Nick Martinez for Tampa Bay. The matchup gives the Brewers a chance to lean on Misiorowski’s high-velocity fastball at home, while Martinez gets the ball in the biggest game of the season after earning the opportunity in Tampa Bay’s rotation.
Misiorowski’s stuff can overwhelm hitters, but the key will be getting ahead in counts and finishing at-bats efficiently. Milwaukee’s opponents in earlier playoff rounds extended innings by fouling off pitches, which limited how deep he could work. Tampa Bay could try a similar approach, forcing him to throw strikes and making the Brewers turn to their bullpen earlier than planned.
Martinez’s task is to keep Milwaukee’s lineup from building momentum in front of a home crowd. The Rays can shorten the game if he works efficiently and hands a manageable score to their relievers. Starting-pitcher listings and lineups can still be updated, so check MLB’s official Game 1 Gameday page before first pitch.
The Brewers finished the regular season with a franchise-record 103 wins and swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series. They are back in the World Series for the first time since 1982, when they lost to the St. Louis Cardinals. This is the first World Series game to be played at American Family Field, making the opener a landmark night for Milwaukee fans.
The Rays won 98 regular-season games, topped the American League, swept the New York Yankees in the Division Series, and then beat Cleveland in six games to claim the AL pennant. Tampa Bay has reached the World Series previously in 2008 and 2020, but has not won the championship. Like Milwaukee, the club has an opportunity to secure its first title.
Both teams have shown that pitching depth and timely hitting can carry them through October. Watch whether Milwaukee’s hitters make Martinez work early, whether Tampa Bay can keep Misiorowski’s pitch count rising, and which bullpen handles high-leverage situations best. Defensive execution, baserunning, and avoiding free passes may matter as much as a single big hit.
In the United States, Game 1 is scheduled to air nationally on FOX and FOX Deportes, with streaming available through FOX One. FOX coverage may also be available through FOXSports.com and the FOX Sports app with an eligible TV-provider login. MLB.TV subscribers can access FOX-televised postseason games when authenticated through a participating pay-TV provider. Availability and authentication requirements vary by service and location.
For viewers outside the United States, MLB says international live coverage is available in many markets, with Canada subject to separate broadcast arrangements. Check MLB’s official broadcast information and your local rights-holder for the correct service in your country.
All scheduled game times are 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC−04:00), equivalent to 7:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT, UTC−05:00) for games in Milwaukee. The Tampa Bay games are also scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EDT. Confirm the latest schedule through MLB’s official postseason schedule.
The game is still listed as upcoming in the latest available official schedule, so a final score is not yet available to report. Once play begins, use MLB Gameday for inning-by-inning scoring, lineups, pitching changes, and the final result. The most useful early indicators will be the starting pitchers’ command, how quickly each lineup adapts, and whether either bullpen is called on before the middle innings.
Whatever the result of Game 1, this series guarantees a first-time World Series champion. Milwaukee is seeking to turn a record-setting regular season and a dominant NLCS into its first title, while Tampa Bay hopes to complete a postseason run that has already carried it past two American League opponents. The opener will set the tone, but four wins—not one night—will decide the championship.
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