The 2026 World Series has finally arrived, with the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays set to square off in Game 1 on Friday night at American Family Field in Milwaukee.
Future 2026 National League Cy Young Award winner Jacob Misiorowski will take the mound for the “Brew Crew,” while Tampa will trot out Drew Rasmussen in a game where runs could come at a premium.
Below, I will break down tonight's contest and provide a same-game parlay (SGP) you can tail for World Series Game 1!
So, here's my Brewers vs Rays picks for Friday, October 23.
Brewers vs Rays Odds
Brewers vs Rays Parlay, Picks
Picks:
- NRFI (-164)
- Brewers ML (-158)
Find the best lines available on our live MLB odds page, and be sure to download the Action Network app for more picks and analysis.
For the front leg of our SGP, I'm backing no runs scored in the first inning.
It's no surprise I'm putting a ton of faith in Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski, who had one of the best seasons we have seen on the mound in quite some time.
The 24-year-old starter was nothing short of phenomenal throughout his 30 appearances in his second season in the Major Leagues.
In just shy of 175 frames on the mound in 2026, Misiorowski recorded exceptional metrics across the board, boasting a 1.80 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, and a whopping 252 strikeouts (K’s), ranking atop the entire MLB in all three statistical categories.
He commonly draws comparisons to Randy Johnson due to his freakish 6 '7", 190-pound frame and a four-seam fastball that consistently hits 100-105 MPH.
The righty uses his large frame on the mound to his advantage, keeping the ball hidden through an aggressive lower-half rotational drive and long-arm extension that significantly reduces opposing hitters' reaction time.
While Misiorowski hasn't been as impressive in the postseason so far, I expect a monster Game 1 performance from the young gun.
On the Rays, Drew Rasmussen also had a breakout 2026 campaign, posting a 2.67 ERA (7th) and 0.91 WHIP (3rd) over 30 outings.
The 31-year-old righty has been even more dominant in the playoffs with just three earned runs allowed in 21 frames. I am expecting a full-on pitching duel to kick off Game 1 of the World Series.
For the second leg, I'm confident backing the Milwaukee moneyline in what I expect to be a close, hard-fought Game 1 win in front of a packed crowd at American Family Field.
Despite Milwaukee’s extensive time away from the field after sweeping the Dodgers in just four games, the Brewers have thrived at home all year, and I couldn't ask for a better pitcher on the mound in this World Series than Misiorowski.
While I am expecting a low-scoring affair where runs may not be scored until a few innings into the game, I have far more faith in a Brewers lineup that has been exceptional throughout the playoffs.
Though I believe this World Series has serious potential to go all seven games, I ultimately love the “Brew Crew” to reign supreme, starting with a Game 1 victory on Friday night.
Brewers vs Rays Same-Game Parlay
Parlay Odds: +163 (FanDuel)
