Brewers and Rays face off in first small-market World Series since 1997

The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays are competing in the 2026 World Series, marking the first matchup between two small-market franchises since 1997. Both teams are seeking their first championship, with the Brewers having not reached the World Series in 44 years and the Rays coming up empty in two previous appearances. The series has ignited discussions about MLB's economic system, as the players' association supports the current model while the league pushes for a salary cap. Both teams demonstrated outstanding performances throughout the regular season, with the Brewers winning 103 games and the Rays 98, showing their capabilities on the big stage.

• 3:43 AMYahoo Sports — Brewers-Rays World Series inspires both dreams and nightmares around MLB