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The 2026 World Series is now just one day away, with the Milwaukee Brewers having completed a four-game sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, October 15.
Since then, the Brewers have had a week to prepare for the historic series against the Tampa Bay Rays. The time off has been beneficial for Milwaukee, and excitement in the city is building.
On Friday, Game 1 will be played at American Family Field, a moment that has been eagerly anticipated. Below are the key notes around Milwaukee ahead of Game 1.
Brandon Woodruff Watch
The biggest story in Milwaukee revolves around Brandon Woodruff, who is working diligently to return to the mound for the World Series. Woodruff has not pitched in a game since July 4, but he faced live hitters for the first time in his rehab earlier this week and is progressing well.
It has come to light that a Major League Baseball rule prevents teams from replacing a player on the playoff roster if the injury is considered recurring or pre-existing. While this rule has generated significant discussion, it is ultimately a decision for Milwaukee to make. A social media image of Woodruff surfaced on Wednesday and drew attention, but there is nothing concrete to infer from it at this time.
Game 1 Starting Pitchers
Jacob Misiorowski will start Game 1 of the World Series for Milwaukee on Friday night. Misiorowski has been the ace of the staff and the best pitcher in baseball in 2026, making this an obvious choice.
For the Rays, the starter has not been officially announced, but it is expected to be Drew Rasmussen, the ace of their staff who has been excellent throughout the postseason. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic made a case for Nick Martinez to start on Thursday.
History for Milwaukee
When the Brewers take the field on Friday night, it will be their first World Series game since 1982. To reach this point, Milwaukee has already made history, including becoming the first team in the wild-card era to sweep a 100-win team by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS.
The Brewers have never won a World Series title, but that could change very soon.
Patrick McAvoy has experience in local and national sports coverage at the New England Sports Network, focusing on baseball and basketball. Outside of journalism, Patrick earned an MBA from Brandeis University. For business and marketing inquiries regarding "Milwaukee Brewers On SI," please contact Scott Neville at [email protected].