Controversy and speculation abound as the Milwaukee Brewers take a two-game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays for Game 3 of the World Series. For the third time in the postseason, the Brewers hit the road after winning the first two games of the series, with a chance to put as much pressure on their opponent as possible.
Since 2018, when the rebuild was completed, the World Series was on everyone’s minds. Between then and now, during each game, only a few players remained; one of them was Freddy Peralta. Most people thought he was going to be the arm that would pitch Game 1 of the World Series for the Brewers; instead, it’s Game 3 for the Rays.
While the former ace facing his former team is heartfelt and bittersweet, the Brewers have a chance to silence Tropicana Field…or will it be loud, filled with Brewers faithful looking to see their club win its first World Series? While ticket prices rose in Milwaukee, they fell in Tampa Bay. Wisconsinites teamed up, as some reports indicate that nearly 30% of tickets sold for Games 3 and 4 came from The Good Land.
Tonight, the Brewers will look to continue their postseason success as they begin a season-high seven-game winning streak. While the Rays have tried to be sneaky with their rotation schemes, that has yet to deter the Brewers offense as they have knocked out Drew Rasmussen and Nick Martinez. Tonight, against their old friend, they will have their hands full. The first meeting between the two has already taken place, and it was not a pleasant return for Peralta, as he allowed seven runs on eight hits, two home runs and two walks on July 20 as a New York Met.
To boost the Brewers’ batting confidence against Peralta, every player in the lineup has at least one career hit against him, with William Contreras leading the way at .500 with a few RBIs, and Jackson Chourio at .444 with an RBI and two stolen bases.
As has been the case in each of the last three games the Brewers have played, Robert Gasser receives the ball in an attempt to provide some length and relief to the bullpen. Perhaps the biggest question mark heading into the playoffs became the biggest surprise, as Gasser allowed just one run in nine innings pitched. He faces a lineup that hasn’t seen much of him or had much success, as five of the Rays’ nine starters haven’t recorded a hit.
The biggest storyline for the Rays lineup entering tonight’s game is that manager Kevin Cash benched Jonathan Aranda for the first time in the postseason, although he reached base in five of his eight plate appearances in the World Series. Now he’s expected to make an appearance in the lineup once Gasser leaves the mound, but the biggest thing that went right for the Rays offense in this World Series is now gone. Aranda’s replacement is Ryan Vilade, who the Brewers have seen twice since he was scratched once.
For the first time since 2021, the Brewers will play a playoff game on the East Coast, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. CT. You can watch the game on FOX and listen to the game on WTMJ.
Gn sports
