MLB Baseball 24-Hour Briefing

Last updated: October 24, 2026, 4:40 AM ET

World Series Game 1

The Brewers held off espn.com a late Rays rally in Friday's opener at Milwaukee, with Megill escaping a ninth-inning jam after a seeming game-ending double play. Jacob Misiorowski set a World Series record espn.com with a 103.5 mph pitch, and ESPN's live coverage covered every turn espn.com of the game.

Rays Strategy

Tampa Bay won't back off espn.com its aggressive basepath approach despite two costly baserunning mistakes in the opener. Manager Kevin Cash chose Nick Martinez espn.com to start Game 1 over staff ace Drew Rasmussen, a surprising call that drew attention across the league.

Roster Moves

The Brewers added Brandon Woodruff espn.com to the World Series roster, his first appearance since July 4 after a shoulder injury. Rankings of every player in the series, including Rasmussen versus Miz espn.com, show how closely the two rosters match up.

Series Context

Commissioner Rob Manfred said a small-market Rays-Brewers matchup espn.com is good for the game, though he still wants a salary cap. Only one of these two clubs has never won a title, and ESPN noted how rare espn.com a Series between two never-champion teams really is. The matchup also features two domed espn.com venues, with both teams boasting the best records in their leagues.

Umpiring and Officials

Nic Lentz and Gabe Morales will make espn.com their World Series umpiring debuts, joining a crew led by Hoye. Analysis of the series' breakout stars, including Misiorowski's unusual background espn.com, rounds out the coverage.

Around the League

Guardians manager Stephen Vogt says he will stay espn.com in Cleveland in 2027, dismissing Mariners speculation. Hideki Matsui, the former Yankees slugger, was hired espn.com as manager of Japan's Yomiuri Giants. Yankees manager Aaron Boone rejected calls espn.com for a culture change, insisting the clubhouse remains a strength. Former Reds infielder Todd Benzinger, a member of the 1990 champion team, died at 63 espn.com.

Coming Up

Game 2 of the World Series follows espn.com in Milwaukee, with ESPN's preview forecasting how many games the series will go.