The real problem for Tampa Bay is the offense. The Rays put 4 on Logan Henderson in the 1st inning of Game 2, capped by a 411-foot Liam Hicks homer, and then got nothing over the last 8 innings. Milwaukee's bullpen covered 6 scoreless innings behind Henderson. Sal Frelick tied it with a 6th-inning homer off Cam Booser, and Cooper Pratt's 7th-inning single scored Brice Turang to win it. Add the 3-2 Game 1 and that's 6 Tampa Bay runs in 18 innings.
Milwaukee has won 5 straight, 3 against the Dodgers and these 2 against the Rays, and none of them looked easy. That's the 103-win version of this team: lots of close games and a bullpen that keeps getting the ball late with a lead. Tampa Bay won 98 games and closed out Cleveland with 3 straight wins before the trip to Milwaukee. The Rays haven't played badly in this series. They've just come up 1 hit short twice.
Pitching depth is the other story. The Rays lost Shane McClanahan for the rest of the postseason with a forearm injury, and Ryan Pepiot has been out since his hip surgery in May. That's why Peralta, a midseason pickup, is starting a World Series game at the Trop. Milwaukee isn't at full strength either, with Quinn Priester, Brian Fitzpatrick and Angel Zerpa all on the 60-day IL. Its bullpen has covered for it all month anyway.
Sunday's off day means both bullpens should be rested for Monday. Neither starter went past 5.1 innings last time out, so expect the relievers to decide this one again. First pitch is 8:00 PM ET. Both franchises are still looking for their first title. Milwaukee's only other World Series trip was 1982, and Tampa Bay lost its 2 to the Phillies in 2008 and the Dodgers in 2020.