Rays and Brewers open World Series chasing their first championship

Tampa Bay entered Game 6 of the American League Championship Series with a chance to finish the job at home. An October 19 preview from CBS Sports focused on Freddy Peralta and the Rays' opportunity to eliminate Cleveland.

Milwaukee would be the opponent awaiting them. The Brewers were the National League champions, according to NPR News, setting up a World Series in which neither club had previously won the title.

On October 20, CBC News reported that Tampa Bay had beaten Cleveland 7-3 in Game 6. Junior Caminero and Yandy Diaz each hit a two-run homer, and Peralta pitched 5 1/3 innings.

The victory completed a run of three straight wins for Tampa Bay, according to Japan Times. The Rays took the American League Championship Series in six games. ESPN reported that this would be their third World Series appearance in 29 seasons.

By October 21, attention had shifted to the connections between the finalists. Forbes identified Drew Rasmussen, Freddy Peralta, Jake Bauers and Ozzie Timmons among the links between the two clubs.

On October 22, Japan Times framed the best-of-seven matchup as a test of the claim that only big-spending teams can win the World Series. Both finalists had reached the championship despite their frugal approach.

The series is scheduled to begin October 23 in Milwaukee, according to CBS Sports. The provided coverage contains previews of the opener, not a Game 1 result.

A first-time champion is guaranteed, but this is not the first World Series between two clubs seeking their first title. NPR News reported that it is the first such matchup since 1980. CBC News described the finalists as two of Major League Baseball's most frugal franchises.

Game 1 will provide the first answers about how these teams match up. CBS Sports identified whether Jacob Misiorowski can reclaim his ace stuff as a central question for the opener.

Defense and relief pitching are also in focus. An earlier CBS Sports preview highlighted infield defense and Bryan Baker's fastball as potential deciding factors. ESPN cautioned that the small-market, low-homer description does not tell the whole story of either team.