Rays win third pennant, set World Series matchup with Brewers

The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Cleveland Guardians 7–3 in Game 6 on October 19, winning the American League Championship Series 4–2 and clinching their third American League pennant in 29 major-league seasons. They are scheduled to open the World Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on October 23.

Yandy Díaz and Junior Caminero each hit a two-run home run. Together, those homers produced four of Tampa Bay’s seven runs—about 57% of its total. Palacios also drove in two runs with a double in the second inning. Freddy Peralta pitched 5⅓ innings.

Six games for Tampa Bay, four for Milwaukee i

The 4–2 score means the Rays won four games in the best-of-seven ALCS and the Guardians won two. Cleveland’s two victories made this a six-game series, not a sweep. The Game 6 loss ended Cleveland’s postseason run.

Milwaukee took a shorter route to the World Series, sweeping the Los Angeles Dodgers 4–0 in the National League Championship Series. The Brewers advanced after four games; Tampa Bay needed six, two more than Milwaukee. Both teams won their league championship series, but their paths to the final round differed in length.

The result gives Tampa Bay its third pennant since joining the major leagues. The team’s previous pennants came in 2008 and 2020. The gaps were 12 years between the first two and six years between the 2020 and 2026 pennants.

World Series opener scheduled in Milwaukee i

Game 1 is scheduled for October 23 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, with an 8 p.m. Eastern start, or 7 p.m. Central. That is four calendar days after Tampa Bay’s October 19 clincher. The matchup is Rays at Brewers, with Milwaukee listed as the home team for the opener.

The scheduled game will determine the opening result of the World Series; it has not yet been played. Tampa Bay’s win settled the American League side of the matchup, while Milwaukee secured its place by sweeping the Dodgers.