⚾️ Happy Friday! The World Series kicks off today in Milwaukee. Keep reading for everything you need to know.

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 80 and a low of 62.

Sounds like: "Midnight City," M83

Today’s newsletter is 1,088 words — a 4-minute read.

The Rays are back in the World Series for the first time in six years, taking on the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 1 tonight with a chance to win the franchise's first championship.

Why it matters: The Rays came up short in both of their previous World Series appearances, losing to the Phillies in 2008 and the Dodgers in 2020.

• This year, they're looking to finish the job.

State of play: The World Series pits two smaller markets against each other, with both teams reaching baseball's biggest stage despite ranking in the bottom half of MLB payrolls.

• Milwaukee finished with the league's best record at 103-59 and swept the two-time defending champion Dodgers to reach its first World Series since 1982.
• Tampa Bay led the American League with 98 wins before beating Cleveland in six games to clinch the third pennant in franchise history.

Zoom in: The Rays will open the World Series in Milwaukee, with Games 1 and 2 scheduled for tonight and tomorrow at 8pm.

• The team will then return home for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Tuesday, as well as Game 5 on Wednesday, if needed.

Between the lines: The Rays have weathered plenty of storms, literal and figurative, to get here. Hurricane Milton tore through the region two years ago, taking with it the roof of Tropicana Field.

• Fans can ultimately blame Milton for sending the team to Tampa, first to play out its 2025 season and likely for good.
• The hurricane set off a chain of events that derailed plans for a new ballpark in St. Petersburg and resulted in the team being sold to new owners who inked a stadium deal in Tampa.

The bottom line: The Rays came back to the Trop this season with their days in St. Petersburg numbered.

• With a lockout threatening next season and the team's lease set to expire after 2028, this may be one of the Rays' last seasons in the Sunshine City, and it could end with a championship parade.

Spread the word

It's about to be one big baseball party in Tampa Bay.

The big picture: The first two games of the World Series may be in Milwaukee, but watch parties from the Trop to bars and breweries around town will have no shortage of fanfare.

🍊 At the Trop: The Rays will host watch parties at our dome sweet dome tonight and tomorrow for Games 1 and 2, the team announced. Fans can play catch on the field, take photos, shop at the team store, snack on concessions and more.

• Tickets are $10 with options for upgrades — including a $35 ticket that gets you access to all-you-can-eat dining at the Rays Hall of Fame Bar & Grill. Parking costs $5 and can be bought ahead of time online.
• Team leaders are also planning watch parties for away Games 6 and 7, but those matchups aren't guaranteed.

🍻 Around the Trop: Ferg's Sports Bar & Grill is, of course, going all out. There will be a free pregame concert by local band Crownz from 4-7:30pm, then catch the game on one of the zillion TVs around the bar.

• Green Bench Brewing Co., another fan favorite game spot, will air every game with sound. Grab a cold one and show the Brewers they're not the only ones who can whip up a good beer.

📺 At home: Watch the game on Fox (Channel 13 in Tampa Bay), or on the Fox One or Fox Sports apps.

• Streaming service Fubo is also an option, and it offers a free trial for new subscribers.

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🗳️ Election officials in Leon and Monroe counties reported sightings of federal immigration agents at or near early voting sites to the FBI this week amid concerns about voter intimidation. (Tampa Bay Times)

💃 St. Pete will host two block parties to celebrate the Rays from 4-8pm today and tomorrow on Central Avenue between 13th and 15th streets. (Press release)

• The city will also distribute commemorative World Series posters during the block parties as well as from noon-4pm at the GreenHouse.

Fans can catch a game at Tropicana Field for as little as $10 during the regular season.

Why it matters: For the World Series, not so much.

State of play: A handful of seats left in Section 300 were running for $744.10 for home games Monday (Game 3 of the series) and Tuesday (Game 4), according to the MLB ticket website as of yesterday evening.

• Standing-room only tickets priced at $881.60 were also still available for those games.
• There were a lot more tickets open for Wednesday's home game (Game 5), but they also start at a higher price: $920.10 for the very top rows.
• There's also no guarantee the best-of-7 series will go that far. Refunds will be issued to fans who buy tickets for games that don't end up happening.

Keep reading

Leaders on both sides of the bay are planning a victory parade should the Rays win the World Series, the Tampa Bay Times reported.

Why it matters: It's an on-the-nose example of a team in transition.

• On one side is the team's home city since 1998. On the other is their likely future home, where negotiations for a $2.3 billion ballpark are underway.

So, we're taking it to the people, who-has-it-better style: Which city should host the parade? Or maybe we should have two parades?

• Cast your vote here.

💭 Kathryn's thought bubble: C'mon, Tampa, read the room. The Rays are ours until they're not. St. Pete residents and businesses have invested a lot of time and money into this team. Let us revel on our own turf!

💭 Yacob's thought bubble: Calm down, St. Pete. Tampa has shown up for the Rays in good times and bad.

• We welcomed them with open arms when the Trop was out of commission last year, and are on the cusp of making a nearly billion-dollar investment to keep the team here for decades to come.

☀️ Kathryn is sooooo excited for her brother, sister-in-law, niece and nephew to visit starting this weekend!

🎧 Yacob is listening to Anderson .Paak and Cordae's new album, "Heavy Is the Crown."

Mike Szvetitz edited this newsletter.