Baseball-Brewers beat Rays 4-1 for first World Series title

In the 2026 World Series, the Milwaukee Brewers clinched their first championship by defeating the Tampa Bay Rays. The award for World Series Most Valuable Player went to Brewers' catcher William Contreras. Contreras showcased his all-around skills throughout the series, hitting an impressive .381/.435/.429, driving in four crucial runs.

What set Contreras apart behind the plate was his adept use of the Automatic Ball-Strike system, challenging 12 calls and having nine overturned successfully. In the entire postseason, he hit .373 with three home runs and was successful on 21 of his 32 Automatic Ball-Strike challenges. Contreras became the 27th player in Major League history to record multiple hits in his first three World Series games, and he is the first catcher to earn the MVP honor since Salvador Perez in 2015 for the Kansas City Royals.

Several other players had strong performances during the series. Jackson Chourio, with an 11-for-24 hit rate and three stolen bases, and Cooper Pratt, who drove in seven runs, were notable contenders. Aaron Ashby, the Brewers' bullpen workhorse, made three scoreless appearances in the World Series, striking out nine in 5 2/3 innings and preventing runs in 18 postseason innings.