The World Series shifts to Tropicana Field for Game 3 as the Tampa Bay Rays look to recover from a 2-0 series deficit against the Milwaukee Brewers. Former Milwaukee right-hander Freddy Peralta takes the mound for Tampa Bay, while left-hander Robert Gasser starts for the visiting Brewers.
Rays Seek Recovery After Surrendering Game 2 Lead
Tampa Bay enters Game 3 trailing in the series following a 5-4 defeat in Game 2, where they yielded an early four-run lead. The Rays committed uncharacteristic defensive and baserunning errors and have gone 3-for-20 with runners in scoring position across the first two games, contrasting with their league-leading .283 regular-season average in those situations.
“The lesson is that we’ve got to play clean vs. those guys,” said left fielder Chandler Simpson, who committed an error in Game 2. “They grind, and we’ve got to do the same.”
Milwaukee has relied on late-game surges throughout the postseason, recording seven comeback wins among its nine playoff victories. Managed by Pat Murphy, the Brewers have compiled a seven-game postseason winning streak, the longest in MLB since 2023. Milwaukee has also outscored opponents 15-2 from the seventh inning onward during the playoffs. Furthermore, relief pitchers have been credited with eight of Milwaukee’s nine playoff wins, matching a postseason record set in 2015.
Starting Pitchers Prepare for Critical Matchup
Gasser gets the start for Milwaukee in his first full major league season. The rookie left-hander posted a 5-5 record with a 3.87 ERA across 21 appearances during the regular season. In his two postseason outings, he has maintained a 1.00 ERA over nine innings while allowing six hits. CBS Sports reported that Gasser has not previously faced Tampa Bay’s lineup, though Rays catcher Liam Hicks has two career at-bats against him. During the regular season, the Rays recorded a 31-17 mark against left-handed starters.
Peralta starts for Tampa Bay against his former team. After being traded from Milwaukee to New York in January, he was subsequently acquired by the Rays prior to the trade deadline and went on to earn ALCS MVP honors. Peralta has surrendered one earned run or fewer in every appearance since late August, posting a 2-0 record and a 1.08 ERA over 16.2 postseason innings. At Tropicana Field, Peralta holds a 1.45 ERA across seven starts since joining the Rays. This contest marks the first World Series game played at Tropicana Field since Game 2 in October 2008.
