Rays fall in Game 5, becoming third club to lose first three World Series

The Tampa Bay Rays finished with 98 wins, yet they left the World Series with zero championships. The team lost 4-1 to the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night in Game 5, ending their season in St. Petersburg. This result makes the Rays the third franchise in modern history to lose their first three World Series appearances. Only the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Detroit Tigers share that record, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The franchise began play in 1998 as an expansion club. They lost their first two title bids, falling to Philadelphia in 2008 and the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2020. Wednesday's defeat placed Tampa Bay in a group of four teams that have reached the World Series but never won a title, alongside Colorado, San Diego, and Seattle.

Manager Kevin Cash described the roster as "banged up and hurting right now." The team had been predicted to finish near the bottom of the AL East at the start of the year. Instead, they led the division from mid-May and posted the American League's best record. Yandy Díaz, who has played for the club since 2019, said through a translator that the team had the chance to tear up early projections and did so.

Drew Rasmussen, a 31-year-old right-hander who has undergone three major elbow operations, started on short rest. He allowed one run and two hits over four innings. He exited the game with a 1-0 deficit. Closer Bryan Baker noted that the closeness of the loss makes the pain harder to bear. He stated, "Failure sucks. And to be this close, it's really, really hard." Baker added that the team must use the motivation to keep working.

Rays players remained in their dugout to watch the Brewers celebrate after the final out. The organization now faces personnel decisions as the offseason begins. Tampa Bay holds a $20 million option on Rasmussen. Right-handers Freddy Peralta and Nick Martinez are eligible to become free agents. Baker said the group fought "tooth and nail" to reach the postseason.

The season's end marks a statistical milestone for the franchise. The Rays join a small list of teams that have repeatedly failed to close out the championship race in their initial attempts. The club's 2026 run ended with a specific loss, cementing their place in the Elias Sports Bureau records as the third team to lose its first three Series.