Brewers and Rays Bring 'Small Ball' Back to World Series Stage
Two teams with low payrolls and a focus on fundamentals will battle for the championship.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays are set to clash in the 2026 World Series, showcasing a style of baseball that has largely faded in an era of analytics and power hitting. Both teams, which sported some of the league's lowest payrolls, have advanced by prioritizing situational hitting, bunting, and productive outs.
The Brewers, with the second-lowest payroll in baseball, and the Rays, with the eighth-smallest, defied the league's trend towards home run dominance. They finished the regular season ranked 29th and 22nd in total home runs, respectively. Instead, their success has been built on strong batting averages, with both teams hitting .258 and leading the league in batting average with runners in scoring position.
Tampa Bay led the league in sacrifice bunts with 45, followed closely by Milwaukee with 37. The teams also ranked highly in bunt hits and infield hits, strategies that emphasize putting the ball in play and creating scoring opportunities through smart base running and placement rather than sheer power.
While the modern game often emphasizes exit velocity and launch angles, the Rays and Brewers have charted a different course. Tampa Bay had the highest soft-hit percentage and second-worst hard-hit percentage, while Milwaukee also showed a preference for ground balls and pulled the ball less often than most teams. This approach stands in stark contrast to the league-wide shift towards maximizing power and minimizing strikeouts.
Despite striking out at a higher rate than many teams, the Brewers have also shown they can tap into power when needed. They hit the second-fewest home runs in the league during the regular season but ranked ninth in home runs with runners on base and led the league in multi-run homers. The Rays also utilized the long ball effectively during their playoff run.
Pitching has been a cornerstone for both clubs. The Brewers' staff boasts a 2.03 ERA this postseason, with opponents hitting just .183 against them. The Rays' pitching staff has been nearly as effective, with a 2.59 ERA and opponents hitting .201. Key pitchers like the Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski and a deep, versatile Rays' bullpen have been instrumental in their success.
The World Series is scheduled to begin Friday in Milwaukee at 8 p.m. ET, airing on FOX.