Milwaukee Brewers vs Tampa Bay Rays Picks and Prediction for Monday October 26 2026

The 2026 World Series will shift venues on Monday night, when the Milwaukee Brewers visit the Tampa Bay Rays. First pitch is scheduled for October 26, 2026 at 8:00 pm EST. Tropicana Field will be the scene and the game will be televised on Fox. Odds makers have installed the Rays as a -118 home favorite and the total is sitting at 7. Be sure to check out our free MLB picks for more MLB predictions throughout the postseason.

Milwaukee two wins away from first World Series title

The Milwaukee Brewers have made eight playoff appearances in the last ten years and have won nine of their first ten games so far this postseason. The Brewers (2-0) finished 15 games above .500 on the road during the regular season and are 3-1 on the road in the playoffs. In Game Two, SS Cooper Pratt delivered a game-winning RBI single in the seventh inning to lift Milwaukee to a 5-4 home victory. OF Sal Frelick went 2-for-4 with a home run for the Brewers. 

Twenty-seven year old southpaw Robert Gasser (5-5 3.87 ERA) will head to the hill for the Brewers in this contest. In two October starts, Gasser (9 IP) has allowed just one run and fanned six batters. The Brewers ranked second in the majors with a 3.22 bullpen ERA and closer Trevor Megill has notched five saves this postseason. 

Milwaukee leads all playoff teams with a .745 OPS and has hit 11 home runs in ten games. C William Contreras has been on fire this postseason with a .395 batting average and three long balls. Leadoff hitter Jackson Chourio has contributed a team-high eight RBIs for the Brewers.

Tampa Bay still with belief at home

The Tampa Bay Rays tied Milwaukee with a major league best 55 home victories during the regular season and are 4-1 at home this postseason. The Rays (0-2) are making their third World Series appearance in their 29-year franchise history and are still in search of their first title. During Saturday’s road loss, Tampa Bay scored four runs in the opening frames capped by a Liam Hicks two-run blast. 

Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash will give the nod to thirty year old righty Freddy Peralta (10-11 4.42 ERA) in Game Three. Peralta, who was acquired in a trade deadline deal from the Mets, has allowed just two runs across 16 plus frames this postseason. Tampa Bay ranked 15th in the majors with a 4.12 bullpen ERA and closer Bryan Baker (7 IP) has notched five saves while not allowing a run in the playoffs. 

For the playoffs, Tampa Bay ranks sixth with a .640 OPS and have swiped 15 bases. The Rays have hit eight long balls and have scored 41 runs in 11 playoff games. Leadoff hitter Yandy Diaz has scored a team-high eight runs and 1B Jonathan Aranda has contributed 13 hits in 42 at-bats.

Milwaukee Brewers vs Tampa Bay Rays Picks and Prediction

Pick: Tampa Bay Rays -118

Milwaukee P Brandon Woodruff (shoulder) and Tampa Bay P Shane McClanahan (forearm) will not pitch in this series. The Rays had not lost consecutive games since early September and got an off day to reset. The Brewers have won five of their six home games by one run and that is due to come to an end on the road. Take the Rays to hold serve at home.

Pick: Under 7 (-115)

In the NLDS, Milwaukee jumped out to a 2-0 series lead at home and then lost at San Diego by a 4-3 final score. Tampa Bay SP Freddy Peralta was the opening day starter for the Mets and has been electric over the last month plus. Both bullpens are rested and that will result in a slow scoring affair. Take the under.

Final Score Prediction: Tampa Bay Rays win 4-2