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Well, we certainly know what a lot of the conversation will be about on the travel day. Check swings. Technically, there is nothing in the MLB rulebook that addresses what a checked swing is. Simply an umpire’s judgment. There was work in some leagues in the minors this year that tested technology on checked swings. The one by Yandy Díaz of the Tampa Bay Rays that ended Game 2 of the World Series was a close call by any standard. Maybe the technology is ready for the 2027 season, but it does seem like part of MLB’s future whenever it comes.
World Series Wrapup
Frelick Goes Deep, Pratt Redeems Self For 2-0 Lead
There is a running joke in hockey that the toughest lead to defend is 2-0. Then its 3-0 and 4-0. It is supposed to keep you on your toes because you never know what is going to happen. Baseball is a much different game. But when it comes to the Milwaukee Brewers, no lead feels safe, not even being up 4-0 in the top of the first inning. Sal Frelick hit a tying homer and rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt atoned for a first-inning error with an opposite-field go-ahead single in the seventh inning as the Brewers rallied to beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 in Game 2 of the World Series. The Brewers, who posted MLB’s best regular-season record at 103-59, did what they had to do to defending their home-field advantage by winning the first two games in the best-of-seven series. Now, the two teams head to Tampa Bay for the next three games.
While the Brewers made the plays to win, the Rays had a number of miscues that are not typical of their play throughout the season. But it was a Brewers mistake that opened the door for the Rays to jump to an early lead. Yandy Díaz, the very first batter of the game, reached when Pratt made a poor throw to first following his grounder. Chandler Simpson hit a one-out single to plate Diaz, stole second and scored on Junior Caminero’s single to left. Liam Hicks then made the error really costly by drilling a two-run homer for a quick 4-0 lead against Brewers rookie right-hander Logan Henderson. The Brewers struck back right away. Jackson Chourio and Jake Bauers opened the bottom of the first with singles, putting runners on the corners. After Christian Yelich struck out, William Contreras singled home Chourio and Garrett Mitchell made it 4-2 one out later with his own single. The first inning of game two featured more runs (six) than were scored in all of Game 1 (five).
The Rays are on the board first in World Series Game 2!
JUNIOR CAMINERO 😤#RaysUp 2-0 early!
William Contreras brings in the Brewers' first run of the game!
Garrett Mitchell knocks in another run for the Brewers!
This would not turn into a slugfest. Just the opposite, actually. The Brewers, behind their ferocious bullpen, wouldn’t allow another run over the next eight innings, although the Rays did have their chances. That allowed the Brewers’ offense to continue to chip away. In the fourth, Pratt drew a one-out walk, went to third on Frelick’s single and scored when David Hamilton’s grounder was booted by first baseman Jonathan Aranda. It was now 4-3. Frelick, who has battled a shoulder injury this season and hampered him offensively, then led off the bottom of the sixth with a homer after hitting just four in the regular season. Tie game with American Family Field rocking. Then came Pratt’s moment of redemption. Brice Turang doubled leading off the seventh and went to third on Garrett Mitchell’s fly to the warning track in right. Kevin Kelly replaced fellow right-hander Tyler Wells to face the rookie. Kelly got up in the count 1-2 before missing with a changeup. The next pitch was a sinker that Pratt took the opposite way for a go-ahead single, the biggest moment of his brief career.
The Brewers are within one!
The Brewers’ by now not-so-secret weapon of left-hander Aaron Ashby came on after Abner Uribe retired Caminero to begin the eighth. After the Brewers had a runner cut down in the plate in the bottom of the eighth, Ashby, not right-handed closer Trevor Megill, returned for the ninth. But Jonny DeLuca had a leadoff double. After Victor Mesa Jr. struck out, pinch-hitter Ben Williamson grounded out to second, moving DeLuca to third. The bottom of the order turned the game over to the top as Diaz came to the plate. Diaz battled Ashby to a full count. Ashby unleashed a curveball that Diaz attempted to check his swing. Upon appeal, the first base umpire rang up Diaz to end the game and put the Brewers halfway toward their first World Series championship. Ashby has not allowed a run in 15⅔ innings this postseason, while striking out 17.
Yandy Díaz was not happy with his check swing being called for strike three, but the overhead view sure makes it look like he went
— Casey Drottar (@caseydrottar.bsky.social) 2026-10-25T03:52:20.273Z
By The Numbers
8 The Brewers have eight saves this postseason, the most in MLB history.
5 Brewers left-hander Aaron Ashby is the first player in MLB postseason history to get at least five outs in six consecutive appearances.
83.3 Teams that have won the first two games of a best-of-seven series have gone on to win the series 80 of 96 times (83.3%). In the 2-3-2 format, the team up 2-0 has won 47 of 58 times (81%).
20-5 Teams that score four runs in the first inning of a World Series game are now 20-5.
41-37 The Brewers are now 41-37 when the other team scores first and would be the first time since the 2009 New York Yankees to finish a postseason with a winning record in that situation.
6 The combined six runs in the first inning are tied the second-most in an opening frame in World Series history.
Best Moments From Yesterday
Reset The Counter
It was a long time since the Brewers’ last homer in the World Series.
Days since last Brewers World Series homer: 1̶6̶,̶0̶7̶5̶ 0
Return To Sender
Apparently the Rays didn’t hear that Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio finished in the top three for the NL Gold Glove. Why else would you send your catcher, Liam Hicks, on a single to shallow left?
Not So Smooth
What seemed like a fairly routine fly to shallow left turned into this misplay by Rays left fielder Chandler Simpson. Fortunately for the Rays, it didn’t cost any runs.
Even after some miscommunication, Chandler Simpson had this ball on a diving grab and it just popped right out when his glove hit the ground
— Casey Drottar (@caseydrottar.bsky.social) 2026-10-25T02:33:25.876Z
Chasing Charizard
When you are in the World Series but just want to open Pokemon packs. Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski helped a Make-A-Wish kid open his.
Jacob Misiorowski opens Pokémon cards with a young Brewers fan 🥹
Articles You Should Read
Here’s the Rays. Here’s Erik Neander. Here is the heart of the matter. — John Romano, Tampa Bay Times
Tensions between MLB, union escalate amid salary-cap debate — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times
Megill survives replay redo, Game 1 as Brewers get cooking — Tyler Kepner, The Athletic
He threw the only immaculate inning in World Series history. He found out 30 years later. — Sweeny Murti, MLB.com
At 92, Bud Selig hopes this is the moment he finally sees Brewers win title — Ronald Blum, Associated Press
