The Milwaukee Brewers are one victory away from their first World Series championship, but the Tampa Bay Rays have kept the series alive. Tampa Bay rallied for a 4–3 win in 12 innings on October 27, trimming Milwaukee's lead to 3–1 and preventing a four-game sweep.
Game 5 is scheduled for Wednesday, October 28, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. Milwaukee can clinch the championship with a win, while Tampa Bay must win to force Game 6 on Friday, October 30. The game will air nationally on FOX, with streaming available through FOX One.
2026 World Series schedule and results
The official MLB postseason schedule lists four completed games, with Game 5 confirmed and Games 6 and 7 scheduled only if necessary.
Date | Game | Matchup | Result or time (ET) | Status |
| Friday, Oct. 23 | Game 1 | Rays at Brewers | Brewers 3, Rays 2 | Final |
| Saturday, Oct. 24 | Game 2 | Rays at Brewers | Brewers 5, Rays 4 | Final |
| Monday, Oct. 26 | Game 3 | Brewers at Rays | Brewers 10, Rays 1 | Final |
| Tuesday, Oct. 27 | Game 4 | Brewers at Rays | Rays 4, Brewers 3 (12 innings) | Final |
| Wednesday, Oct. 28 | Game 5 | Brewers at Rays | 8 p.m. | Confirmed |
| Friday, Oct. 30 | Game 6 | Rays at Brewers | 8 p.m. | If necessary |
| Saturday, Oct. 31 | Game 7 | Rays at Brewers | 8 p.m. | If necessary |
All remaining games are scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, equivalent to 7 p.m. Central Time, 6 p.m. Mountain Time, and 5 p.m. Pacific Time.
If the Rays win Game 5, the series returns to Milwaukee for Game 6. Game 7 would also take place in Milwaukee, but only if Tampa Bay wins both Games 5 and 6.
Thursday, October 29, is a scheduled off day between Games 5 and 6. The remaining dates and start times are subject to change, so fans planning to attend or watch should confirm the schedule before each game.
Where to watch the World Series on TV and online
FOX will televise the remaining World Series games in English, while FOX One offers live streaming and FOX Deportes carries Spanish-language television coverage.
According to MLB's official broadcast announcement, ESPN Radio provides national English-language commentary, and Univision's TUDN Radio carries Spanish-language radio broadcasts. MLB Network also offers studio coverage and analysis throughout the championship.
Fans can watch or listen through several options, depending on their subscriptions and location:
- FOX: Watch through a television provider, an over-the-air antenna where available, or a supported live-TV streaming service carrying the network.
- FOX One: Stream the games with an eligible FOX One subscription.
- FOX Deportes: Watch Spanish-language television coverage through a participating provider.
- ESPN Radio and TUDN Radio: Follow national English-language and Spanish-language radio broadcasts, respectively.
- MLB.TV: Access live World Series broadcasts under the service's postseason viewing rules.
MLB's 2026 postseason streaming information explains that U.S. MLB.TV viewers need authentication through a participating pay-TV provider carrying FOX to watch live World Series telecasts. International viewing arrangements may differ, with restrictions depending on the subscriber's location.
A standalone MLB.TV subscription should not be treated as an unrestricted alternative to FOX in the United States. Viewers using a streaming service should confirm that their plan includes the appropriate channel or live-game access before first pitch.
How the Brewers can clinch — and how the Rays can force Game 7
Milwaukee enters Game 5 leading the best-of-seven series 3–1. The first team to win four games becomes World Series champion, leaving the Brewers one victory from the title.
Tampa Bay must win three consecutive games, beginning October 28, to complete the comeback.
| Result | What happens |
|---|---|
| Brewers win Game 5 | Milwaukee wins the World Series 4–1. |
| Rays win Game 5 | Milwaukee leads 3–2, and Game 6 takes place October 30. |
| Rays win Games 5 and 6 | The series is tied 3–3, forcing Game 7 on October 31. |
| Brewers win Game 6 | Milwaukee wins the championship 4–2. |
| Rays win Games 5, 6 and 7 | Tampa Bay wins the championship 4–3. |
Tampa Bay's comeback attempt began with a dramatic Game 4 finish. Milwaukee moved ahead 3–2 in the top of the 12th inning when Cooper Pratt hit a solo home run, putting the Brewers three outs from a sweep.
The Rays answered in the bottom half. Jonny DeLuca drove in the tying run with a single, and pinch-hitter Ben Williamson followed with the game-winning hit to secure a 4–3 victory.
The Associated Press reported that Tampa Bay became just the fifth team to win Game 4 of a World Series after losing the first three games. Each of the previous four teams lost Game 5.
No team has recovered from a 3–0 deficit to win the World Series. Tampa Bay must break that precedent to claim its first championship, while Milwaukee needs only one victory across the remaining three possible games.
Why the World Series uses a 2-3-2 schedule
The World Series follows a 2-3-2 home-field format. The team with home-field advantage hosts Games 1 and 2, then returns home for Games 6 and 7 if the series lasts that long. Its opponent hosts Games 3, 4 and 5.
Home-field advantage belongs to the league champion with the better regular-season record, rather than automatically alternating between the American and National Leagues.
Milwaukee earned that advantage after finishing the 2026 regular season 103–59, compared with Tampa Bay's 98–64 record.
As MLB explains in its 2026 World Series guide, the Brewers hosted the opening two games at American Family Field. The Rays then took over as hosts for the next three games at Tropicana Field.
If Tampa Bay wins Game 5, the series shifts back to Milwaukee. Game 6 would be played at American Family Field on October 30, followed by a potential Game 7 on October 31.
The format gives Milwaukee home-field advantage in a possible deciding game, but it does not guarantee the Brewers another opportunity to play at home. A victory in Game 5 would end the series in Tampa Bay.
Both teams are chasing their first World Series title
Neither Milwaukee nor Tampa Bay has won a World Series championship, ensuring that the 2026 matchup will produce a first-time winner.
The Brewers previously reached the World Series in 1982, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in seven games. Tampa Bay made appearances in 2008 and 2020 but fell short against the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively.
Milwaukee entered the 2026 postseason with baseball's best regular-season record and advanced to the World Series after sweeping the defending champion Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
Tampa Bay reached the Fall Classic by defeating the Cleveland Guardians in six games in the American League Championship Series.
The Brewers can end their championship wait in Game 5 on October 28. Tampa Bay, having survived elimination once, must win again to bring the series back to Milwaukee.
A Brewers victory would settle the championship in five games. A Rays victory would extend the series to October 30, keeping alive the possibility of a winner-take-all Game 7 on October 31.