3 winners, 2 losers from Brewers’ first two World Series victories of 2026

For the third time this postseason, the Milwaukee Brewers have a 2-0 series lead. Their current two-game advantage, which just so happens to be in the World Series, is the result of a pair of electrifying wins over the AL-pennant-winning Tampa Bay Rays on Friday and Saturday night.

As was the case in the NLDS, in which Pat Murphy's squad defeated the red-hot San Diego Padres, the Brewers' first two wins of the World Series were a narrow victory with an odd late-inning play and an improbable comeback with heroic moments. In the NLDS, it was Ty France's roof-scrapping fly ball in the Brewers' 3-2 victory that would certainly classify as odd, and in the World Series, it was an overturned challenge on the would-be final play of the game that fit the description. The Brewers eventually won the World Series opener, also by a score of 3-2, but not before fireworks prematurely went off at American Family Field, and the FOX TV crew started funneling onto the field before the game was finalized.

Then, much like the Brewers' improbable comeback against Mason Miller and the Padres in Game 2 of the NLDS, Milwaukee completed an unlikely four-run comeback over the Rays in Game 2 of the World Series. Whereas Jackson Chourio delivered a memorable walk-off in the Brewers' second NLDS victory, it was Sal Frelick's game-tying homer and Cooper Pratt's go-ahead bloop single that fans won't soon forget from Milwaukee's second World Series win of 2026.

In addition to the similarities between the Brewers' start to the World Series and the start to their NLDS victory, there were a number of standout performances and notable developments from Milwaukee's first two wins of the 2026 Fall Classic. As such, let's take a look at three winners and two losers from the Brewers' first two victories in their World Series matchup against the Rays.

3 winners from Brewers' pair of victories in Games 1 and 2 of 2026 World Series

1. The Brewers' bullpen (once again)

The dominance of Milwaukee's bullpen was a major factor in the Brewers' first pennant win since 1982, and that dominance has now carried into the World Series. The Brewers advanced to the Fall Classic without characteristically strong performances from Jacob Misirowoski and Logan Henderson, and neither was their normal dominant self in their World Series starts over the weekend. As a result, Milwaukee's relief corps was asked to cover 10 innings in the first two games of the Fall Classic, and did so while allowing just one earned run, which came on the aforementioned overturned call at the end of Game 1.

Between Abner Uribe's impressive bounce back after his shaky performance in Game 3 of the NLCS, Aaron Ashby's record-breaking dominance, Trevor Megill overcoming an abnormal ninth inning to secure a save in Game 1, and the trio of JoJo Romero, Dustin May, and DL Hall bridging the gap in Game 2, the Brewers' bullpen is a key reason why Milwaukee brings with them to Tampa Bay a 2-0 series lead.

2. Sal Frelick

With his heroic game-tying homer in the sixth inning of Game 2, Sal Frelick became just the fifth player in Brewers franchise history to hit a home run in the World Series. He joined Robin Yount, Cecil Cooper, Ted Simmons, and Ben Oglivie, all of whom obviously crushed homers back in 1982, on the list of Brewers to hit a home run in the Fall Classic. Of all people, Frelick, who had just four homers during the regular season, was the first Brewer to put the ball over the fence in this year's World Series.

In addition to his game-changing homer, Frelick also collected a single that led to the Brewers' third run of Game 2, which scored due to a fielding error from Rays' first baseman Jonathan Aranda. Without Frelick advancing Cooper Pratt to third base with a single in the at-bat prior to Aranda's error, the run may not have scored, and the Brewers' comeback may have come up short. Add a single in Game 1 to the mix, and Frelick, who is expected to start most games due to Tampa Bay's all-right-handed starting rotation, is off to a strong start in the World Series.

3. William Contreras

No list of postseason "winners" thus far is complete without William Contreras. Not only did the Brewers' All-Star catcher impress during the NLDS and NLCS, but "Wild Bill" is already off to a strong start in the Fall Classic. In Game 1, Contreras went 2-for-3 with an RBI, two singles, and a walk, and threw out two would-be base stealers from behind the plate. He also made some incredible blocks behind home plate with runners on third base to preserve the Brewers' narrow lead.

In Game 2, Contreras drove in the Brewers' first run by perfectly executing a hit-and-run, which completely shifted the momentum in the bottom of the first inning. Contreras continued to play excellent defense behind the plate, blocking nasty secondary pitches from Ashby late in the game. Contreras has taken his game to another level during the postseason, and it's a large reason why the Brewers are in the admirable position they find themselves in on October 26.

2 losers from Games 1 and 2 of the 2026 World Series

1. The fundamentals (surprisingly)

The Brewers and Rays are known for doing the little things well. Strong baserunning and near-perfect defense are two things the two pennant-winning teams prioritize more than a majority of their opponents, and it's a large reason why they have both had so much success in 2026. However, through the first two games of the World Series, the fundamentals have somewhat eluded both teams.

The Rays made a pair of baserunning blunders in Game 1, including Victor Mesa Jr. ending an inning on a failed stolen base attempt of third base while leadoff hitter Yandy Díaz was at the plate. Though it was the result of an unfortunate stumble around second base, Brewers' infielder David Hamilton was also thrown out at third base after trying to stretch a double into a triple. Then, in Game 2, each team made a costly defensive error. Pratt's first-inning throwing error allowed an unearned run to score, and Aranda's aforementioned fielding error cut the Brewers' deficit down to just one. For two teams who got to the World Series in large part due to their fundamentally sound play, the miscues in Games 1 and 2 have been surprising.

2. Yandy Díaz

Every player on both teams with at least five at-bats through the first two games of the World Series has collected a base hit, except for Rays' 2x All-Star Yandy Díaz. The 35-year-old Díaz, who won the AL's batting title in 2023 and boasts a career .291 batting average, has certainly hit some balls hard, but to this point has nothing to show for it.

Díaz did reach on Pratt's aforementioned error in Game 2, and came around to score, but zero hits and zero walks through the first two games of the World Series was certainly not what the Rays nor Díaz envisioned. Díaz was performing well in the postseason, and some even thought he was deserving of the ALCS MVP award, but that performance has not yet translated to the Fall Classic, in which his team has dropped the first two games.

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