MLB

Tampa Bay Times reporter Marc Topkin has covered the team from the fledgling Devil Rays to the heights they're now experiencing. He tells "Florida Matters Live & Local" what the team has done to get there.

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch said the city has "a lot of experience with large events" and will be able to handle the throng of fans during the World Series.

Few predicted this pairing of small-market pennant winners in March. But here are Milwaukee and Tampa Bay, both seeking their first World Series title with supurb pitching and a throwback style of play.

Games 1 and 2 will be shown on the videoboard while guests watch from the stands or field. Upgrades include a buffet at the Hall of Fame Bar & Grill or seating in 162 Landing with food and drink included.

Fans still looking for seats to Games 3 and 4 at Tropicana Field will need to look to secondary ticket sellers and expect to shell several hundred to a few thousand dollars per ticket.

It's "Sun vs. Suds" beginning Friday night with Game 1 in Milwaukee. The Brewers and Rays become the first teams in the bottom half of MLB payrolls to meet in the championship since 1991. And there will be no rainouts: Both teams play in stadiums with roofs.

Tampa Bay opens play in the Fall Classic at Milwaukee on Friday defeating Cleveland in Game 6 of the ALCS. Junior Caminero and Yandy Diaz hit two-run homers to help close out the Guardians.

Drew Rasmussen allowed one run over seven innings and Tampa Bay’s offense kept on constant pressure on Cleveland to win Game 5. The series comes back to Tropicana Field for Game 6 on Monday night.

Yandy Díaz, Jonathan Aranda, Chandler Simpson and Junior Caminero had six hits and six RBIs after going 7-for-41 with three RBIs the first three games. The win means there will be a Game 6 on Monday at the Trop.

MLB was hoping there would be a three-hour window of dry weather in Cleveland to get the game in, but the showers never let up. Game 4 is now on Saturday at 8 p.m. at Progressive Field.

It was initially a tie vote on the city council. It took getting one council member out of his sickbed to get it passed.

Cleveland went in front on Petey Halprin's two-run home run in the fifth while Tampa Bay managed struck out 13 times. Game 4 is set for Friday, but the weather may come into play again.