Rays Beat Guardians to Reach World Series! What's Next for Cleveland?

The 2026 World Series is SET! The Tampa Bay Rays are headed to Milwaukee to face the Brewers in a matchup between two of baseball's most innovative organizations. After defeating the Cleveland Guardians in six games, Tampa Bay is back in the Fall Classic for the first time since 2020. But can the Rays finish the job against the team with MLB's best regular-season record? Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris and Britt Ghiroli break down the Rays' ALCS-clinching victory, Freddy Peralta's MVP performance, and the adjustments Tampa Bay made to help turn his season around. The crew also examines Kevin Cash's bullpen decisions, Junior Caminero's unforgettable home run and celebration, and the roster-building philosophies that helped both small-market teams reach the World Series. Britt explains why the Rays and Brewers aren't simply feel-good underdogs — they're two of the best-run teams in baseball. And why can't organizations like the Yankees and Dodgers simply copy their formula? Then it's time to look ahead for the Cleveland Guardians. Despite winning the AL Central and reaching the ALCS, Cleveland entered the season with a payroll below $72 million. Where did the money go, and how might the team's changing television revenue affect its future? The guys also debate Tanner Bibee's surprising absence from the ALCS, potential extensions, Steven Kwan's future and the heavy workload placed on Cade Smith. Finally, we're Closing the Tab on the 2026 San Diego Padres! Could San Diego make a massive offseason splash by pursuing Tarik Skubal? The crew explores a hypothetical path to adding an ace and discusses how much Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill can contribute to the Padres' next championship push. LIKE, SUBSCRIBE AND DROP US A COMMENT!** Who wins the World Series: Rays or Brewers? And should the Padres make an all-in move for an ace this offseason? Follow Rates & Barrels on Instagram: @rates_barrels First Pitch Arizona — Join us for baseball and community Follow Derek VanRiper and Eno Sarris on Bluesky Email: ratesandbarrels@gmail.com Join the Rates & Barrels Discord Subscribe to The Athletic Shop Rates & Barrels merchandise Hosts: Derek VanRiper, Eno Sarris & Britt Ghiroli Executive Producer & Editor: McEnroe Francis Rates & Barrels | The Athletic 00:00 Intro 00:36 Tampa Bay Wins the AL Pennant 01:25 Britt: These Are the Best Teams in Baseball 02:28 How the Rays and Brewers Built Their Success 04:23 Freddy Peralta Wins ALCS MVP 05:22 How Tampa Bay Changed Freddy Peralta 10:40 Kevin Cash's Bullpen Decisions 16:06 The Biggest Moments of Game 6 21:52 Why Other Teams Can't Copy the Rays and Brewers 29:18 What's Next for the Cleveland Guardians? 30:00 Cleveland's Surprisingly Low Payroll 36:36 Potential Extensions and Roster Decisions 40:37 Cleveland's Free Agents and Offseason Decisions 42:46 Could Steven Kwan Be Traded? 44:04 Cade Smith's Workload and Bullpen Fatigue 46:39 Closing the Tab: 2026 San Diego Padres 47:10 Will New Ownership Keep Spending? 50:02 San Diego's Starting Rotation Questions 51:22 Could the Padres Make a Blockbuster Move? 53:53 Finding Affordable Pitching Depth 56:17 Tarik Skubal to the Padres? 59:23 Manny Machado's Changing Role 1:00:22 Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill's Upside 1:03:09 Final Thoughts and What's Next