The Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays, two of Major League Baseball’s most innovative pitching staffs over the past decade, are now set to face one another in the World Series. Both teams have heavily integrated advanced data analytics and unique pitching strategies to optimize their rosters, yet have maintained relatively traditional approaches in this postseason.

Through the playoffs, the Brewers have employed five different starting pitchers and utilized one opener, Shane Drohan, for a single start. The Rays have relied on four starters with no use of an opener so far. Both clubs have adhered to defined bullpen roles and have consistently deployed their closers in late innings.

Milwaukee’s starting rotation has produced mixed results in the postseason. Despite winning crucial games, their aggregate metrics and expected outcomes place them in the middle tier compared to other playoff staffs. Notably, their accumulated strikeouts minus walks rate ranks among the lower third of postseason starters. Jacob Misiorowski, considered a top young pitcher and a National League Cy Young candidate, holds a respectable 3.24 ERA but has shown some command concerns, issuing four walks over 8⅓ innings and struggling to pitch deep into games. These tendencies may be partly attributed to facing two elite offenses—the Padres and Dodgers. Misiorowski’s teammate Logan Henderson has a solid 3.00 ERA but experienced a sharp decline in strikeout rate, with his changeup proving less effective against higher-caliber lineups, including the Rays, who rank ninth-best against that pitch type. Defense behind Henderson has been variable, which could impact his results moving forward.

Robert Gasser, another Brewer starter, has seen his strikeout numbers dip while maintaining solid performance, aided by improved cutter command. However, his cutter has yet to generate swings and misses this postseason, contrasting with its regular-season production. Dustin May represents a potential wildcard; after transitioning to shorter outings with increased velocity, his performance has been uneven but shows signs of improvement. His latest appearance against the Dodgers, where most hits came on pitches outside the strike zone, suggests he remains capable of strong starts in limited innings.

For the Rays, Drew Rasmussen is quietly among the league’s best starters on a per-inning basis, employing three distinct fastballs with advanced movement profiles. His dominance rivals Milwaukee’s Misiorowski, and the matchup between these two young arms will be a key storyline. Freddy Peralta, Tampa Bay’s second starter by role but not by team, has enhanced his approach this season by simplifying his delivery and maximizing his changeup velocity, contributing to sustained if unspectacular strikeout rates. Nick Martinez has defied projections that wary of low strikeout pitchers, relying on an effective changeup and strong defensive support. His postseason numbers have improved alongside increased velocity and pitch movement. Griffin Jax, who transitioned to a starter in May, has boosted his strikeout rate while cutting walks and limiting home runs, strengthening the Rays rotation further.

Milwaukee’s bullpen depth stands out, with five relievers logging at least five postseason innings each, compared to one for the Rays. Closer Trevor Megill has maintained his hardest fastball velocity of the year through October and complements it with a curveball featuring exceptional velocity and movement, generating above-average swinging strikes. Aaron Ashby, another key Brewer reliever, has also preserved peak velocity despite heavy usage. Left-handed relievers JoJo Romero and DL Hall have contributed effectively, benefiting from more diverse pitch arsenals than the average relief pitcher. Romero’s changeup supplements his slider, while Hall’s experience as a starter has provided him with a broad repertoire to navigate high-leverage situations.

As these two staffs confront each other, the series will test not only their individual arms but also the innovative approaches that have defined their success over the past decade.