World Series 2026: Brewers jump ahead of Rays early, Jacob Misiorowski and bullpen secure 1-0 series lead

After waiting 44 years for a return to the World Series, the Milwaukee Brewers had to survive a stressful ninth inning in Game 1.A decent start by Jacob Misiorowski, a sharp bullpen performance and an early rally added up to a series-opening 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night, even after closer Trevor Megill allowed a run in the ninth and was in danger of allowing more. Milwaukee leads 1-0, much like it did in its last Fall Classic in 1982, which the club lost in seven games.Game 2 is scheduled for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET, with Rays ace Drew Rasmussen and Brewers rookie Logan Henderson set to take the mound. Both teams are in pursuit of their first World Series title.There it is!Brewers officially take Game 1.@MLBONFOX pic.twitter.com/t3zrBgqv2q— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) October 24, 2026 The Brewers had reason to be confident going into the opener. Even with Misiorowski's so-so performances in his previous two starts, he's still the presumptive NL Cy Young Award winner, while the Rays opted to start Nick Martinez instead of Rasmussen on normal rest.Misiorowski opened the game with the fastest pitch in World Series history, and was solid for the next five innings. His lone blemish came thanks to an absolutely scorched line drive from Rays star Junior Caminero, which left the bat at 112.7 mph and had enough carry to fool Brewers center fielder Garrett Mitchell for a double. The Rays got their lone run three pitches later.And with that 103 MPH Miz fastball, the 2026 World Series is underway.📺: FOX, stream on @foxone: pic.twitter.com/g3SMes6SUq— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 24, 2026Misiorowski's final line was 5 innings, 4 hits, 1 run, 1 walk and 3 strikeouts on 73 pitches. The Brewers didn't push him into the sixth, instead opting to activate a bullpen that has been nails all postseason. That continued Friday, with Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby and Megill combining for five strikeouts in four innings.There was concern when Megill loaded the bases in the ninth inning, and even more when a would-be game-ending double play got overturned after shortstop Cooper Pratt's foot left second base. Was Cooper Pratt's foot off the bag on this potential game-ending double play? pic.twitter.com/8JpspjM3HY— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 24, 2026 That put the tying run on third base with two outs, but Megill struck out Jonny DeLuca to end the game.On the offensive side, Milwaukee struck early.Martinez is a throwback sort of pitcher compared to the high velocity-dominated era that Misiorowski epitomizes. Martinez usually sits in the low 90s. On a rate basis, he got fewer whiffs than any qualified pitcher in MLB during the regular season, he threw more pitches in the strike zone than any qualified pitcher and he walked the fewest batters of any qualified pitcher.The veteran right-hander pitches to contact, and was facing a Brewers lineup that gets more walks and swings at fewer pitches than any team in baseball. It was a fascinating matchup, and it was the Brewers who wound up drifting from their usual identity.It was to their benefit. The top of the Brewers' lineup came out swinging, with Jackson Chourio and William Contreras both recording hits on their first pitch. Brewers captain Christian Yelich had the big knock between them with an RBI triple and later scored on the Contreras single.THE BREWERS STRIKE FIRST 😤Christian Yelich immediately puts the Brewers on the board with an RBI triple! pic.twitter.com/8xOy2p4Gkk— MLB (@MLB) October 24, 2026The Brewers added an insurance run in the seventh inning on another first-pitch single from Chourio, which wound up being quite important.If there's a consolation for the Rays, this was a game the Brewers seemingly needed more than them. Tampa Bay certainly didn't treat this game as a must-win, opting to use the likes of Steven Matz, Kevin Kelly and Cole Sulser — its three least-used pitchers of the postseason — rather than any of its premium bullpen arms once Martinez was out with a one-run deficit.The Rays might have very well punted on this game, or at least decided this was a matchup not worth over-extending themselves. Game 2 looms as a far more favorable environment, but every alarm bell will be ringing if this series leaves Milwaukee with the Brewers up 2-0.