Brewers and Rays Open World Series as Misiorowski Faces Nick Martinez; Woodruff Added to Roster

The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays open the 2026 World Series on Friday, Oct. 23, at American Family Field in Milwaukee, with Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski facing Rays veteran Nick Martinez in Game 1. First pitch is set for 8 p.m. ET on FOX and FOX Deportes, with streaming on FOX One, MLB.com reported.

Neither franchise has won a World Series. According to MLB.com, a Fall Classic between two teams both seeking a first title has not happened since 1980, when the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals, and has happened only one other time in the last 116 years, in 1920. The series also brings the World Series back to Milwaukee for the first time in 44 years; the 1957 Milwaukee Braves and the 1982 Brewers both played World Series games at County Stadium, which stood next to the current ballpark.

Rays hold back Rasmussen and start Martinez

Tampa Bay chose Martinez over ace Drew Rasmussen, who started Game 1 of both the American League Division Series and the AL Championship Series. The move gives Rasmussen an extra day of rest before Saturday's Game 2 and pushes former Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta, the ALCS MVP, to Game 3 at Tropicana Field on Monday, MLB.com's Adam Berry reported.

Martinez, 36, posted a 3.10 ERA over 180 innings in 31 regular-season starts and earned his first All-Star selection. The Rays went 24-9 in games he started this season, including the playoffs. In two postseason starts, against the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Guardians, he allowed three runs on seven hits over nine innings, according to MLB.com.

"When Nick pitches, we win," Rays manager Kevin Cash said. Martinez will be the third pitcher to start a World Series opener for the Rays, after Scott Kazmir in 2008 and Tyler Glasnow in 2020. "It fell on me, and my job is just to rack up as many outs as we can and keep us in this ballgame," Martinez said.

Misiorowski returns after an 11-day break

Misiorowski, 24, led the major leagues during the regular season in ERA (1.80) and strikeouts (252), CBS Sports reported. His postseason starts have been shorter: he threw 88 pitches in four innings in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the San Diego Padres and 94 pitches in 4 1/3 innings in Game 1 of the NL Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. iShook Daily previewed that NLCS matchup earlier this month.

His first pitch of the NLDS was clocked at 104.8 mph, the fastest postseason pitch since pitch tracking began in 2008, according to MLB.com. Friday's game will be his first start in 11 days, after Milwaukee swept the Dodgers in four games.

"I don't think there's much at all that needs to change. I think I've just got to stick to my strengths and pound the zone," Misiorowski said Thursday, as quoted by CBS Sports.

Woodruff added to Milwaukee's roster

The Brewers made one change to their 26-man roster on Friday morning, adding right-hander Brandon Woodruff in place of Chad Patrick, who did not pitch in the NLDS or NLCS, MLB.com's Adam McCalvy reported. Woodruff, 33, had been scheduled for season-ending shoulder surgery in August, according to MLB.com, and has not pitched in the majors since early July, MLB Trade Rumors reported.

According to MLB.com, the club's understanding as of Thursday afternoon was that the league would likely not approve a replacement if Woodruff were hurt during the series, because his shoulder injury was already known. "This is a guy that's one of the most successful, dominant big-game pitchers I've ever been around," Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said Thursday. "A lot of unknowns there, but obviously, the good version of that guy is somebody you'd love to have on your roster."

Tampa Bay also made a single roster change, adding left-hander Garrett Cleavinger in place of right-hander Brody Hopkins, and will carry 12 pitchers and 14 position players, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

Bullpens and the Game 1 record

Milwaukee's relievers are 7-1 with a 1.33 ERA this postseason, and Rays closer Bryan Baker has finished all seven of Tampa Bay's postseason wins while working seven scoreless innings, MLB.com reported. Jake Bauers was named NLCS MVP after driving in six runs against the Dodgers.

The Game 1 winner has gone on to win the World Series 77 times, or 63.6% of the time, and home teams have won the opener 72 of 121 times, according to MLB.com.

James Hoye will work home plate in Game 1 as crew chief in his third career World Series, Major League Baseball announced. The crew also includes Dan Bellino, Vic Carapazza, Tripp Gibson, Nic Lentz, Gabe Morales and Jim Wolf.