Three X-factors that could shape the 2026 World Series: Infield defense, Bryan Baker's fastball and more

The Brewers and the Rays head to Milwaukee for Game 1 on Friday to kick off the seven-game series with a ring on the line One way or the other, baseball will have a first-time World Series champion this season. The Milwaukee Brewers (established in 1970) and Tampa Bay Rays (established in 1998) will meet in this year's Fall Classic, and one of them will win their first title. The Brewers have been to the World Series once before (1982). This is the third pennant for the Rays (also 2008 and 2020). "2020 was as special as any season I've been a part of," Rays manager Kevin Cash said following Tampa's ALCS Game 6 win over the Cleveland Guardians.

"But saying that, we didn't have 40,000 people behind us [during COVID]. Excited to see what those 40,000 people can bring on Games 3, 4 and 5, for sure." This year, the teams with the best record in each league will meet in the World Series. In baseball, though, the best team doesn't always win a short postseason series, and sometimes those short series can be decided on a fortunate bounce, a fortunate umpire's call, or a role player having the best week of his life. It's baseball. Randomness will always play its part. Every edge, no matter how small it