Brewers Hold Off the Rays 3-2 in World Series Game 1, and Drew Rasmussen Faces His Old Team Against Logan Henderson in Game 2

The Milwaukee Brewers took a 1-0 lead in the World Series on Friday night, beating the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2 at American Family Field. Christian Yelich tripled in a run in the first inning, Jacob Misiorowski gave the Brewers five strong innings, and closer Trevor Megill survived a wild ninth after a replay review overturned what looked like a game-ending double play.

Game 2 is Saturday at 8 p.m. ET on FOX, again in Milwaukee. Tampa Bay sends Drew Rasmussen, a former Brewers draft pick, to the mound against Milwaukee right-hander Logan Henderson.

How Game 1 was won

The Brewers struck immediately. Jackson Chourio got on in the first inning, Yelich drove a triple to center to bring him home, and William Contreras followed with a single to left that scored Yelich. That two-run first gave Misiorowski a cushion before he had thrown a meaningful pitch in a tight spot.

Misiorowski set the tone in his own way. His very first pitch of the series broke the record for the fastest pitch in World Series history, and he went on to allow one run on four hits over five innings, with one walk and three strikeouts on 73 pitches. It was not a dominant strikeout performance, but it was efficient, and it handed the game to a bullpen that held the lead until the ninth.

Tampa Bay starter Nick Martinez took the loss, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings with five strikeouts. The Brewers added a third run, and that turned out to matter.

The ninth inning

Megill entered with a 3-1 lead and nearly gave it away. Jonathan Aranda and Chandler Simpson hit back-to-back one-out singles, and a double steal involving pinch-runner Jorge Mateo and Simpson put the tying run in scoring position. Junior Caminero then walked on a full-count pitch in the dirt to load the bases.

Liam Hicks hit a ground ball that looked like a game-ending double play, but a replay review overturned the out at second, ruling that the Milwaukee infielder's foot had come off the bag. The Rays had their second run, and the inning stayed alive. Megill then struck out Jonny DeLuca with runners on second and third to end the game.

The ninth was a reminder that the Rays' lineup is built on speed and contact, and that it can put pressure on any pitcher with a string of singles and stolen bases. Milwaukee will have to be cleaner late in the games.

Game 2 pitching matchup

The table below compares the Game 2 starters, based on their regular-season numbers.

Rasmussen went 16-5 during the season with a 0.91 WHIP, and he has been even better in October, allowing three runs in 19 innings with 23 strikeouts. He was drafted by Milwaukee and traded to Tampa Bay in 2021, which adds a storyline to his start. He is the Rays' most reliable starter and their best chance to even the series.

Henderson posted a 2.47 ERA with 110 strikeouts over 98 1/3 innings in the regular season. He is not the high-velocity weapon that Misiorowski is, but he has been effective and gives the Brewers a solid option at home.

Betting angle

The Game 2 matchup favors low scoring. Both starters have been excellent, and both teams have relied on pitching and defense throughout the postseason. Game 1 produced five runs in total, and a similar game is a reasonable expectation on Saturday.

The series price has moved toward Milwaukee after Game 1, as it always does when a team takes the opener at home. Tampa Bay has reason to like its chances with its best starter on the mound in Game 2, and a split in Milwaukee would send the series to Tampa Bay even at a game apiece. For the model's view, check the MLB predictions page.

Props are where the matchup shows up most clearly. Rasmussen's strikeout total and Henderson's are the obvious places to look given their run prevention, and the Rays' stolen-base attempts are worth watching after the ninth-inning double steal.

The fantasy angle for 2027

This series also matters for next year's fantasy drafts. Misiorowski's record-setting velocity and his ability to work efficiently on the biggest stage will push him up 2027 draft boards, and keeper and dynasty managers should take note. Yelich's October has shown he can still be an impact hitter, and his 2027 value will depend on his health.

On the Tampa Bay side, Rasmussen's breakout season makes him a top-tier 2027 starter, and Caminero remains one of the most valuable young hitters in fantasy. The Rays' speed, led by Simpson, is a reminder of how valuable stolen bases have become in rotisserie leagues.

What's next

Game 2 is Saturday night, and the series then shifts to Tampa Bay for the middle games. A Brewers win would give Milwaukee a 2-0 lead and put Tampa Bay in a difficult position heading home. A Rays win would send the series south tied, with the Rays' home crowd behind them.

Either way, the pitching matchups have been the story of this series, and Game 2 looks like more of the same.