Game 1 of Rays-Brewers World Series sees slight step back in ratings from 2024 and '25

The small-market World Series did nearly as well ratings-wise as the recent pair of big-market World Series in Game 1.

Game 1 of the 2026 Fall Classic between the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays drew a combined average of 12.2 million viewers on Fox and Univision, according to preliminary numbers acquired by Sports Business Journal's Austin Karp . The game reportedly peaked at 13 million.

The final number will be available Tuesday afternoon.

For now, the 12.2 million number is a step back from the recent pair of World Series featuring the Los Angeles Dodgers, as Game 1 in 2024 against the New York Yankees drew 15.2 million and Game 1 in 2025 against the Toronto Blue Jays drew 13.3 million.

That said, 12.2 million is still above some doom-and-gloom expectations brought on by a Fall Classic between teams in two of MLB's smallest markets. Excepting the past two World Series, it's the best number since the ratings collapse brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. By comparison, Game 1 of the 2023 World Series between the Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks drew a record-low 9.4 million.

There had been a bogus 15.2 million number floating around on social media Saturday that appeared to be brought on by an AI hallucination drawing from a Sports Media Watch comment section .

Game 1 of this World Series saw the Brewers take a 1-0 lead over the Rays via a strong pitching performance from Jacob Misiorowski and the bullpen . That lead has since expanded to 2-0 with a four-run Brewers comeback on Saturday .