Brewers Face Rays in Game 5 as Bettors Back Misiorowski and Chourio

The Milwaukee Brewers host the Tampa Bay Rays for Game 5 of the World Series on Wednesday night, aiming to secure their first championship. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on FOX. This is the Rays' final home game before a potential off day on Thursday, after which the series would return to Milwaukee if necessary.

The stakes are high for both clubs and the league's future. Owners are expected to lock out players on Dec. 1, which could leave professional baseball without a season until 2027. The series reached Game 5 after Tampa Bay won a dramatic Game 4, becoming only the second team in history to win a World Series game on a walk-off while facing a sweep. The 1910 Cubs hold the other such record. That result extended the streak of World Series without a sweep to 14 games, the longest in Major League Baseball history.

Betting markets reflect confidence in specific players for the upcoming game. DraftKings data identifies the five most-wagered player props. The top wager is on Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski to record five or more strikeouts, priced at -273. Milwaukee used its bullpen heavily in Tuesday's game and may rely on Misiorowski for a longer start. He has struck out at least five batters in four of his last six starts since Sept. 8, although he did not reach that mark in Game 1 against Tampa Bay. The SportsLine Projection Model estimates he will pitch 5.8 innings and record 7.5 strikeouts.

The second most popular prop is Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio to collect at least one hit, at -295. Chourio is the -110 favorite for the World Series MVP award. He is batting .500 with 10 hits in four games, a total that ties the World Series record set by Babe Ruth in 1928. His statistics also include two doubles, two runs batted in, four runs scored, and three stolen bases. He has recorded at least two hits in every game of the series.

Two Rays hitters also drew heavy betting interest on their ability to reach base. Yandy Diaz is the -265 favorite for a hit. He has the shortest odds for the Rays' MVP award at +4000. Diaz is hitting .176 with a double and a run batted in through the series. His performance has improved since the games moved to Tropicana Field. Chandler Simpson is the -190 favorite for a hit. He is batting .375 with a double, two runs batted in, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. He played a key role in the Game 4 rally with a single in the 12th inning.

The final top prop is Rays shortstop Taylor Walls to finish with under 0.5 hits, priced at -132. Walls is known for his defensive skills rather than his batting, and he is 0-for-9 in the series with six strikeouts. He has not hit against Misiorowski in his regular-season career, going 0-for-2. If Tampa Bay trails in the game, Walls could be replaced by a pinch-hitter, a factor that likely contributes to the betting interest in his low hit total.