Rays to meet Brewers in 2026 World Series showdown

The Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cleveland Guardians 7-3 to reach baseball's World Series for the third time on Monday. Junior Caminero and Yandy Diaz both crushed decisive two-run home runs and starting pitcher Freddy Peralta delivered a gem to send the Rays into a Fall Classic showdown with the Milwaukee Brewers. Tampa Bay's victory means Major League Baseball will have a new champion this season: neither the Rays or the Brewers have ever won a World Series. Tampa Bay lost in the Fall Classic in 2008 and 2020, while the Brewers were beaten in their only previous appearance in the 1982 World Series. Milwaukee will head into the World Series as top seeds and favorites after sweeping the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series last week. But Tampa Bay advance brimming with confidence after recovering from a 2-1 deficit to complete a 4-2 American League Championship Series victory at Tropicana Field in Florida. Richie Palacios had driven Tampa Bay into the lead in the bottom of the second inning, with a two-out, two-strike double that brought home Chandler Simpson and Victor Mesa Jr for a 2-0 lead. Tampa Bay tacked on another run in the third inning when Caminero scored after...