Rays vs Brewers World Series 2026: Tampa Bay Beat Guardians in Game 6 to Set Up First-Time Champion Clash
Freddy Peralta, the ALCS MVP, led the Rays past Cleveland 7-3 in Game 6. Tampa Bay now meet Milwaukee, with Game 1 at 8am Saturday Malaysia time.
The 2026 World Series will crown a first-time champion. The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series on Monday night (US time) at Tropicana Field, taking the series 4-2 and setting up a meeting with the Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the two-time defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Peralta leads the way in Game 6
Freddy Peralta set the tone in front of a sellout crowd of 40,230 in St Petersburg, Florida. The right-hander worked five and a third innings, allowing one run on five hits, and was named ALCS MVP after collecting his second win of the series in three appearances. Tampa Bay acquired him from the New York Mets in early August, a deadline move that has paid off in October.
The bats then put the game away. Junior Caminero, one of the Rays' brightest young hitters, struck a two-run homer off Guardians closer Cade Smith in the seventh inning, his first career postseason home run, to make it 5-1. Yandy Diaz added another two-run shot in the eighth off Hunter Gaddis. Cleveland scored late, but never threatened to force a Game 7.
How the ALCS turned
Cleveland won Game 1 7-3 and led the series 2-1 after a 3-2 win in Game 3. Tampa Bay then won three in a row: 7-3 in Game 4, 3-1 in Game 5 and 7-3 in Game 6. The Guardians' attack dried up badly in that stretch. They scored seven runs in their Game 1 win and only 10 across the other five games.
It ends a strong late-season story for manager Stephen Vogt's side. Cleveland were 61-66 on 19 August before winning 24 of their last 35 games to take a third straight AL Central title. Their wait for a World Series title, which dates back to 1948, goes on.
Brewers end a 44-year wait
Milwaukee were the best team in baseball in the regular season, winning 103 games under manager Pat Murphy, and they carried that form into the NLCS. The Brewers beat the Dodgers 2-1, 7-4, 6-2 and 6-4, finishing the sweep in Los Angeles on 15 October. Garrett Mitchell hit the go-ahead homer in Game 4 and first baseman Jake Bauers was named NLCS MVP.
The sweep had extra meaning: the Dodgers had swept Milwaukee in the 2025 NLCS. This is the Brewers' first World Series since 1982, when they were still an American League club and lost in seven games to the St Louis Cardinals.
There is also a neat twist. Peralta pitched for Milwaukee from 2018 to 2025 before being traded to the Mets in January, so the Rays' ALCS hero will face his old club on the biggest stage.
World Series schedule in Malaysia time
All games start at 8pm US Eastern time, which is 8am the following day in Malaysia. Milwaukee have home advantage.
- Game 1: Rays at Brewers, Saturday 24 October, 8am
- Game 2: Rays at Brewers, Sunday 25 October, 8am
- Game 3: Brewers at Rays, Tuesday 27 October, 8am
- Game 4: Brewers at Rays, Wednesday 28 October, 8am
- Game 5 (if needed): Brewers at Rays, Thursday 29 October, 8am
- Game 6 (if needed): Rays at Brewers, Saturday 31 October, 8am
- Game 7 (if needed): Rays at Brewers, Sunday 1 November, 8am
Tampa Bay are in their third World Series in the franchise's 29 seasons. They lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 and to the Dodgers in six games in 2020. Whichever side wins this time, it will be a first title. According to NPR, it is the first World Series since 1980 to guarantee a first-time champion.
Key takeaways
- The Rays beat the Guardians 7-3 in Game 6 to win the ALCS 4-2, after trailing 2-1.
- Freddy Peralta was named ALCS MVP after two wins in the series.
- The Brewers swept the Dodgers 4-0 to reach their first World Series since 1982.
- Neither franchise has won the World Series, so 2026 will produce a first-time champion.
- Game 1 is in Milwaukee at 8am on Saturday 24 October, Malaysia time.
FAQ Q: Who won the 2026 ALCS? A: The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 4-2, clinching the series with a 7-3 win in Game 6 at Tropicana Field.
Q: Who is the 2026 ALCS MVP? A: Rays pitcher Freddy Peralta, who won two games in the series, including Game 6, where he allowed one run in five and a third innings.
Q: What time does World Series Game 1 start in Malaysia? A: Game 1 between the Rays and Brewers in Milwaukee starts at 8am on Saturday 24 October, Malaysia time (8pm Friday US Eastern).
Sources: CBS Sports, Taipei Times / AP, NPR, MLB.com, ABC7 Sarasota