First-Timer Fever: Chasing the World Series Ghost
AI-generated image · US National Wire
Three teams still in the 2026 hunt have never won it all, led by a dominant Milwaukee squad.
Nearly 40% of the teams remaining in the 2026 MLB divisional round are chasing their first-ever World Series title, as CBS Sports first reported.
Among the contenders, the Milwaukee Brewers stand out as the most formidable threat. Boasting a 103-59 record—the best in baseball—the Brewers have won the NL Central for four consecutive years. While they have reached the NLCS twice during a recent golden era, they have yet to secure a championship, including a four-game sweep loss to the Dodgers in last year's NLCS. CBS Sports notes that the Brewers could potentially join the Astros as the only teams to win pennants in both leagues, following their 1982 American League pennant.
The Tampa Bay Rays enter the fray with a 98-64 record and +800 odds to win the World Series via DraftKings. CBS Sports reports the Rays have never lost an ALCS, though they fell short in the World Series in 2008 to the Phillies and in 2020 to the Dodgers.
Rounding out the group are the San Diego Padres, who hold a 91-71 record and +1100 DraftKings odds. The Padres have won two pennants (1984 and 1998) but lost both World Series appearances, including a loss to the Tigers in 1984 and a sweep by the Yankees in 1998. While they have secured five playoff berths in seven years, their most recent deep run ended in a 2022 NLCS loss to the Phillies.