Main Story: Five MLB franchises have never won the World Series: the Brewers, Rays, Rockies, Padres and Mariners. That list is set to shrink, as Milwaukee and Tampa Bay are facing off in the 2026 championship, with the Brewers leading 3-1. The Rockies have reached the Fall Classic once, the Brewers and Rays twice before this year, and the Padres twice; Seattle has never made it.

By the Numbers
  • 2026 World Series: Brewers lead Rays, 3-1.
  • Brewers’ 2026 regular-season record: 103-59.
  • Rays’ 2026 regular-season record: 98-64.
  • Rockies’ 2026 record: 58-104, their fourth straight season with at least 100 losses.
  • Mariners’ 2001 record: 116 wins, tying MLB’s single-season record.
Yes, But

Reaching the World Series has not guaranteed a title: the Brewers lost in 1982, the Rays in 2008 and 2020, the Rockies in 2007, and the Padres in 1984 and 1998. The Mariners have come closest without reaching the championship, losing the 2025 ALCS in seven games.

State of Play
  • Milwaukee can claim its first championship by closing out Tampa Bay; the Rays must win three straight to take the title.
  • The Padres, Rockies and Mariners remain without a World Series championship.
Bottom Line

The Brewers-Rays matchup guarantees a first-time champion, ending one franchise’s drought while leaving four others still chasing their first World Series title.