The Tampa Bay Rays are headed to American Family Field on Friday, October 23, 2026, for a World Series showdown against the Milwaukee Brewers at 8:00 PM ET. Nick Martinez gets the ball for Tampa Bay against Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski in what is a high-stakes, winner-takes-steps-toward-the-title affair on the biggest stage in baseball. The game airs nationally on FOX and FOX ONE, with radio coverage on WDAE 95.7 FM for Rays fans back home. This is World Series baseball, and the Rays are in it.
Rays vs. Brewers World Series Starting Pitchers
Nick Martinez — Tampa Bay Rays
Martinez draws one of the most important starts of the Rays' season — a World Series assignment that underscores the trust the organization has placed in him. A veteran presence with experience across multiple organizations, Martinez brings a multi-pitch mix and the kind of competitive makeup you want on the mound when October margins shrink to razor-thin. The Rays will need him to work deep into the game and limit the Brewers' offense in a ballpark that can get loud in a hurry.
Jacob Misiorowski — Milwaukee Brewers
Misiorowski is one of the more electric arms Milwaukee has developed, a power pitcher with the kind of stuff that plays up in high-leverage situations. Getting to him early matters. The Rays cannot afford to fall into a passive approach against a starter who thrives when hitters get defensive. First-pitch strikes and an aggressive game plan at the plate will be essential.
Keys to Watch: Tampa Bay Rays at Milwaukee Brewers
- Plate discipline against Misiorowski: If he is throwing strikes early in the count, the Rays need to be selective enough to work counts without taking called strikes in hittable zones. Force him to work.
- Martinez keeping the Brewers off the bases: American Family Field is a different environment than Tropicana Field back home. Martinez will need to minimize traffic on the bases and strand any runners who do reach.
- Bullpen management: In the World Series, every leverage decision is magnified. The Rays' coaching staff has built a reputation for creative bullpen deployment, and that chess match becomes critical if Martinez exits before the seventh.
- Situational hitting: World Series games are often decided by one or two swings. The Rays need to execute with runners in scoring position rather than leaving opportunities stranded on the bases.
- First-inning tone-setting: How Martinez handles the top of the Milwaukee lineup in the first inning will set the emotional tone for Tampa Bay's dugout. A clean first inning is worth more in October than in any regular-season month.
World Series Game Prediction
This is a tight matchup on paper. Martinez is a proven arm who has navigated high-pressure situations before, and the Rays' ability to build a game plan around opposing starters has been a hallmark of this organization. Misiorowski is dangerous, but the Rays have enough offensive discipline to make him work. Expect a low-scoring, competitive game that likely comes down to the seventh inning and beyond. Rays take this one in a close, grinding win that keeps their World Series hopes firmly alive.
Coverage: FOX / FOX ONE, 8:00 PM ET | Radio: WDAE 95.7 FM | Spanish radio: WQBN 1300 AM / TUDN
