sportingnews
The Tampa Bay Rays kept their season alive with an extra-inning victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4, thanks to a dramatic bottom of the 12th inning. However, the Rays still trail 3-1 in the series and face a steep climb.
Tampa Bay used Nick Martinez out of the bullpen on Tuesday night, even though he was slated to start Game 5. As a result, the Rays will turn to Drew Rasmussen on three days' rest, hoping their ace can rebound from a rough outing in Game 2.
The Rays' offense has struggled, managing just one home run and 11 runs total in four games. While the offense isn't the team's strength, Tampa Bay needs stars like Yandy Diaz and Junior Caminero to step up.
For the Brewers, Tuesday's loss was deflating, but they remain in good position entering Game 5. Milwaukee sends ace Jacob Misiorowski to the mound for his first road start of the playoffs; he has yet to pitch outside of Milwaukee this October.
The Brewers' offense had its worst performance on Tuesday, but has still outplayed the Rays' offense this series. William Contreras and Jackson Chourio have been the best hitters for Milwaukee, and they hope to end the series tonight.
No team in World Series history has forced a Game 6 after falling behind 3-0, which is exactly what the Rays hope to do and the Brewers aim to prevent.
The Sporting News is tracking live scores, updates, and highlights for Game 5 of the 2026 World Series between the Brewers and Rays. Follow along for updates from Tropicana Field.
Key Analysis
The pitching decisions will be crucial: Rasmussen's short rest could be a risk, while Misiorowski's road debut adds intrigue. The Rays' offense must find a way to support their pitching, and the Brewers' bats need to bounce back from a quiet Game 4. With history on the line, Game 5 promises to be a pivotal matchup.
Originally reported by sportingnews.