William Contreras Wins World Series MVP as the Brewers Beat the Rays 4-1 for Their First Title: What It Means for 2027 Fantasy

The Milwaukee Brewers are World Series champions for the first time in the franchise's 57-year history. Milwaukee beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field to win the series four games to one, a night after Tampa Bay had extended it with a 12-inning walk-off. Catcher William Contreras was named World Series MVP after hitting .381 in the series, and ace Jacob Misiorowski earned the clinching win despite leaving in the sixth inning with a right calf cramp.

With the season over, the focus shifts to what the title run tells fantasy managers about 2027, and to whether Misiorowski's late exit is anything to worry about.

How Game 5 was won

Misiorowski set the tone. He worked 5 2/3 innings, his longest outing of the postseason, and allowed just two hits with two strikeouts and one walk. Milwaukee's offense chipped away with the kind of contact that defined its season: RBI singles from Cooper Pratt and David Hamilton, and an RBI double from Contreras in the sixth inning off reliever Garrett Cleavinger. Pratt added a sacrifice fly that scored Contreras to make it 4-0.

First baseman Jake Bauers also made several key defensive plays, and the Brewers' bullpen closed it out after Misiorowski departed.

Contreras: the MVP and the best fantasy catcher's case

Contreras went 8-for-21 (.381) with a double and four RBIs over the five games, according to MLB.com. He threw out four of nine would-be base stealers and won 10 of his 13 challenges under the automated ball-strike system, a new dimension of catcher value that the 2026 postseason put on full display. He is the eighth catcher to win World Series MVP.

For fantasy purposes, Contreras' October reinforces what his profile already said: he is one of the few catchers who hits in the middle of a lineup and plays nearly every day, which gives him counting stats few at the position can match. Expect him to be drafted among the top catchers in 2027 drafts. The ABS challenge skill does not show up in standard scoring, but it helps his pitchers and may keep him in the lineup even more often.

Misiorowski's calf: what we know

Misiorowski met with a trainer on the mound with two outs in the sixth inning, 86 pitches into his start, and the Brewers announced a right calf cramp. Reports indicated the issue came on suddenly. He was visibly frustrated, but he was not lined up to pitch again in the series, and no timetable was given because none was needed: the season ended about an hour later.

A calf cramp is not a structural injury, and nothing reported so far suggests otherwise. Misiorowski now has a full offseason to recover. The bigger 2027 consideration is workload. He threw a full regular season plus a deep October run, and teams often manage young power arms carefully the following spring. That is a normal caution, not a red flag.

He enters 2027 as one of the most valuable young starters in the game, with the velocity and swing-and-miss stuff that profiles as a fantasy ace. Dynasty managers should not discount him because of Wednesday's exit.

Other Brewers to watch in 2027 drafts

Jackson Chourio. His four-hit night in Game 3 put Milwaukee one win from the title. He combines power, speed and a premium lineup spot, and he will be an early-round target.

Cooper Pratt. The young infielder delivered in the biggest moments of the series, including a go-ahead homer in the 12th inning of Game 4 and two RBIs in Game 5. His postseason raises his profile as a breakout candidate.

The bullpen. Milwaukee's relief corps was a strength all year, though the 12-inning Game 4 showed its limits. Saves in Milwaukee are worth tracking through the winter, as closer roles often change in the offseason.

The Rays' outlook

Tampa Bay's run to the World Series was remarkable, and several of its key contributors are interesting 2027 fantasy names. Junior Caminero remains the centerpiece, and the Rays' young core gained valuable experience. Their pitching staff, stretched thin by the end of the series, is likely to look different by spring, with Freddy Peralta, who started Game 3 against the team he used to pitch for, headed to free agency.

Betting angle: 2027 futures

Champions often open as short-priced favorites in the following year's futures markets, and Milwaukee will likely be among the National League favorites when 2027 odds are posted. The value question is whether the Brewers keep this roster together. Their championship was built on young, cost-controlled talent, which should give them continuity, but the offseason (and the labor situation) will determine the market.

The Verdexed angle

Verdexed's MLB model rested with the end of the season. Its full 2026 log of predictions is on the MLB predictions page, along with the daily picks pieces published by the backend throughout the postseason.

What's next

Free agency opens with the end of the World Series. Teams have five days to make option and qualifying-offer decisions, and the collective bargaining agreement expires Dec. 1. Milwaukee's front office will now pivot to keeping a championship core intact. For fantasy managers, the first 2027 draft rooms are only a few months away, and Contreras, Misiorowski and Chourio will all be near the top of the Brewers' board.