Rays vs. Brewers Prediction: Picks and Props for World Series Game 1 (Friday, Oct. 23)

World Series Game 1 Picks in Summary

• Yandy Díaz 2+ Hits/Runs/RBI (+100)
• Rays Moneyline (+134)

The 2026 World Series gets underway Friday night as the Tampa Bay Rays visit the Milwaukee Brewers for Game 1 at American Family Field.

Milwaukee owns home-field advantage after finishing the regular season 103-59 while Tampa Bay went 98-64 and advanced through the American League bracket behind strong pitching and a deep lineup.

With Drew Rasmussen expected to oppose Jacob Misiorowski, Game 1 sets up as a fascinating matchup between two teams looking for the first World Series championship in franchise history.

Let's break down two Rays vs. Brewers best bets for World Series Game 1 at FanDuel Sportsbook.

All MLB odds come from FanDuel Sportsbook and may change after this article is published. Bets in this article may be pulled from our other MLB content for today.

Brewers vs Rays World Series Game 1 Best Bets and Picks

Yandy Díaz 2+ Hits/Runs/RBI (+100)

Yandy Díaz has been one of Tampa Bay Rays’ most reliable hitters all season, making his 2+ hits, runs, or RBIs prop appealing at even money.

Díaz hit .293 with a .359 on-base percentage during the regular season, and his contact profile makes him particularly valuable against high-velocity pitching. He also hit .305 against right-handed pitchers in 2026 while striking out only 18 times across 162 plate appearances in that split.

Diaz comes into the World Series in great form, posting a .388 wOBA in these playoffs while racking up six hits and two tanks over his last four games.

That skill set matters against Jacob Misiorowski. The Milwaukee Brewers‘ right-hander was dominant during the regular season with a 1.80 ERA, but postseason opponents have at least made him work. Misiorowski has failed to complete five innings in either of his playoff starts, allowing nine hits and four walks over 8 1/3 innings. That could lead to a couple plate appearances versus the Brewers’ bullpen.

Díaz is also projected to hit atop the Rays’ lineup, maximizing his plate-appearance upside. He has recorded a hit in all but one of Tampa Bay's nine postseason games, giving him multiple paths to reach this combo mark through hits, runs, or RBIs.

Rays Moneyline (+134)

The Brewers deserve to be favored at home, particularly with their ace on the bump, but Tampa Bay offers enough upside to make the Rays a live ‘dog.

The biggest reason is Drew Rasmussen. The right-hander finished the regular season 16-5 with a 2.67 ERA, and he has been outstanding down the stretch. Since the All-Star break, Rasmussen went 11-0 with a 1.73 ERA across 15 starts.

That form has carried into October. Rasmussen has allowed just three earned runs over 21 postseason innings while striking out 23 hitters and issuing only three walks. He also faced Milwaukee earlier this season and held the Brewers to two runs, only one of which was earned, across five innings.

Tampa Bay has consistently won games he’s started, winning 14 of Rasmussen's past 15 starts entering the World Series. With the Rays' bullpen capable of shortening the game after Rasmussen departs and Misiorowski coming off two postseason starts in which he was forced from the game before finishing the fifth, Tampa Bay has a realistic path to stealing Game 1 on the road.

Check out FanDuel’s World Series odds markets prior to Game 1.

MLB Betting Frequently Asked Questions

What are MLB player prop bets?

MLB player prop bets are wagers on specific statistical outcomes tied to individual players during a game — not on which team wins or loses. You might bet on how many strikeouts a starting pitcher records, whether a shortstop gets a hit, or how many total bases an outfielder accumulates.

Because they are isolated to a single player's performance, props let you apply focused knowledge about matchups, recent form, and ballpark conditions rather than predicting the full game result.

What types of MLB player props are available?

FanDuel offers a wide menu of MLB props. The most common categories include:

• Pitcher strikeouts
• Batter hits
• Home runs
• Total bases
• RBIs
• Stolen bases
• Pitcher outs recorded

How do MLB player prop bet odds work?

MLB prop odds use the standard American (moneyline) format. A negative number shows how much you must wager to profit $100. A positive number shows how much a $100 bet returns in profit.

• -110 odds — bet $110 to win $100
• +130 odds — bet $100 to win $130
• -200 odds — bet $200 to win $100

What does "total bases" mean as a prop bet?

The total bases prop counts the bases a batter earns from hits in a single game:

• Single = 1 base
• Double = 2 bases
• Triple = 3 bases
• Home run = 4 bases

Walks, hit-by-pitches, and stolen bases do not count. A typical total bases line is set at 1.5 or 2.5. Betting over 1.5 means you need at least a double, or two singles.

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Which bets stand out to you today? Check out FanDuel Sportsbook's MLB odds to see the full menu of options.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.