World Series Game 3: Rays host Brewers with Peralta, Gasser set to start — Milwaukee leads 2-0

The World Series shifts to Tampa Bay on Monday night with the Milwaukee Brewers holding a 2-0 lead and the Rays returning home for their first chance to change the series. Game 3 is set for 8 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida, where Tampa Bay will send right-hander Freddy Peralta to the mound against Milwaukee left-hander Robert Gasser. The game will air on FOX, FOX Deportes and FOX One, with MLB.TV available through authentication.

The setting adds weight. It will be the first World Series game at Tropicana Field since Oct. 23, 2008, and both franchises are still seeking their first title. Milwaukee won the first two games at American Family Field by one run each, 3-2 in Game 1 and 5-4 in Game 2, leaving Tampa Bay with its first real chance to reset the series on its home field. Historically, teams that take a 2-0 lead in the World Series have gone on to win 46 of 57 times, or 80.7%, a reminder of the opportunity in front of Milwaukee and the urgency facing the Rays.

Peralta gives Tampa Bay a starter in top form and one with a direct history against the club he now faces. The right-hander was the ALCS MVP, and MLB said he is 7-0 with a 0.89 ERA over his last 10 games, including nine starts, since Aug. 26. Peralta spent years with Milwaukee before being traded to the New York Mets in January 2026 and then dealt to the Rays at the deadline. Now he gets the ball in Tampa Bay’s first home World Series game in 18 years.

Gasser’s path to this start has been very different. The Brewers left-hander opened the season at Triple-A Nashville and has since pitched his way into an important October role. According to MLB’s preview, Gasser has allowed one run in nine innings across two postseason starts. For a Milwaukee team that has won two close games to open the series, another steady outing from Gasser would help keep pressure on Tampa Bay’s offense.

The bullpen matchup is another reason Milwaukee enters Game 3 in a strong position. Brewers relievers carried a 1.24 ERA through the club’s first 10 postseason games, and MLB said Milwaukee became the first team since saves became an official statistic in 1969 to record eight saves in a single postseason. Prospect Cooper Pratt summed up the group’s confidence in MLB’s preview: “As long as there’s game left, we have a chance, and I think we’ve all bought into that… Especially with this bullpen and these guys, man, it’s special.”

Tampa Bay, though, should have a rested relief group after the off day. Bryan Baker lines up as the closer, with Cam Booser as the top left-handed option and Kevin Kelly available as a right-handed matchup arm.

Official starting lineups will come later, but MLB’s projected lineups suggested the Rays could lean more right-handed against Gasser. Projected Tampa Bay regulars included Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda, Junior Caminero, Chandler Simpson, Jonny DeLuca and Taylor Walls, while Milwaukee’s projected group featured Jackson Chourio, Jake Bauers, Christian Yelich, William Contreras, Brice Turang, Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick. For the Rays, the challenge is simple after two narrow losses: protect home field and make this series a contest again.