The Milwaukee Brewers can clinch their first World Series title in franchise history Wednesday night when they visit the Tampa Bay Rays for Game 5 at Tropicana Field. Milwaukee leads the series 3-1 after a 4-3 loss in 12 innings Tuesday prevented a sweep, and the Brewers now get another crack at closing it out on the road. First pitch is set for 8 p.m.
ET in St. Petersburg, Florida, with the biggest question hanging over the night simple: can Tampa Bay’s offense find enough life to force a Game 6, or does Milwaukee’s pitching staff end the series here.
Game 5 Information
- Date: Wednesday, Oct. 28
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Venue: Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
- TV/Streaming: Fox, ERADM
- Series: World Series, Milwaukee leads 3-1
- Weather: 77 degrees, 1% chance of precipitation
Can Milwaukee Close It Out On The Road?
The Brewers have won three of the first four games of this series, including a 10-1 rout in Game 3, and enter Game 5 having gone 103-59 during the regular season, the best record in the National League. Milwaukee is 5-0 in its last five games counted in the data before Tuesday’s loss, a stretch that included wins of 3-2, 5-4 and 10-1 over Tampa Bay. The Brewers’ pitching staff has carried that run, posting a 2.06 ERA and 0.98 WHIP as a team this postseason with opponents hitting just .188 against them. Jacob Misiorowski is projected to start Game 5 for Milwaukee, carrying a 2.70 ERA and a 1-0 record so far in October.
Can The Rays’ Offense Wake Up?
Tampa Bay has scored more than four runs just once in its last five games, managing a combined nine runs across the three losses to Milwaukee in this series before Tuesday’s 4-3 extra-innings win. The Rays are hitting just .220 as a team this postseason with an OPS of .600, numbers that explain why a lineup built around Junior Caminero and Chandler Simpson has struggled to generate consistent traction against Milwaukee’s pitching. Caminero, who led Tampa Bay with 42 home runs and 101 RBIs during the regular season, is listed as day-to-day with a leg issue and has a return date of Oct. 28, meaning his availability for Game 5 is expected but not yet confirmed as of first pitch.
What Do The Injury Reports Show?
Tampa Bay’s injury list includes left fielder Gavin Lux on the 60-day injured list with left shoulder inflammation and left fielder Jacob Melton on the 60-day injured list with a right hamstring strain, both out for the remainder of the postseason. Starting pitcher Shane McClanahan remains out with left forearm soreness, and reliever Edwin Uceta is on the 60-day injured list with a right shoulder strain. Milwaukee’s injury report is shorter, with starter Quinn Priester out following right shoulder surgery and relievers Angel Zerpa and Brian Fitzpatrick both out after left elbow surgery, none of whom are factors for the Brewers’ current World Series roster construction.
Key Matchup: Misiorowski’s Fastball Against A Cold Rays Lineup
Jacob Misiorowski takes the mound for Milwaukee with a 2.70 ERA this postseason and the weight of a potential series-clinching start on his shoulders. He faces a Tampa Bay lineup batting .220 as a team with a .600 OPS, numbers that have made scoring runs a consistent problem for the Rays through four games. Tampa Bay’s path to extending the series likely runs through getting traffic on the bases against Misiorowski, since the Rays have managed just 93 hits in 422 postseason at-bats. Milwaukee’s bullpen has backed its starters all series, holding opponents to a .247 slugging percentage, which raises the degree of difficulty for any Tampa Bay comeback bid.
Players To Watch
Jacob Misiorowski, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
Misiorowski is projected to start Game 5 carrying a 2.70 ERA this postseason. He was previously named Milwaukee’s Game 1 starter for the series, and another strong outing would put the Brewers in position to clinch on the road.
Junior Caminero, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
Caminero led the Rays with 42 home runs and 101 RBIs during the regular season and carries an MLB Rating of 630.8, the highest on the roster. He is listed as day-to-day with a leg injury and his bat is central to any Tampa Bay rally.
Jackson Chourio, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Chourio leads the Brewers with a .291 batting average and has been a steady presence atop Milwaukee’s lineup throughout the postseason.
What To Watch
Milwaukee has not won a World Series title in franchise history, and a victory Wednesday would end the series in five games. Tampa Bay must win to force a Game 6 and keep its season alive, making every at-bat against Misiorowski significant. The Rays’ recent form, including just one run scored in their 10-1 Game 3 loss, has put pressure on their lineup to produce against a Brewers pitching staff that ranks among the stingiest in this postseason field.
For more on how Milwaukee built its series lead, see the recap of the Brewers’ 10-1 win in Game 3 and the preview of Game 4 at Tropicana Field. Background on Misiorowski’s postseason role is available in the story on his Game 1 starting assignment, and more on the venue can be found in the piece on roof conditions at Tropicana Field.
Don't stop here
Every Score. Every Story. One Home.
Breaking sports, entertainment and news from across the Total Apex network, updated all day.
Get the Full Story →
