An Updated Milwaukee Brewers Playoff Roster Projection

[Matthew Trueblood]

Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Trevor Megill had hoped to return to action this week against the Angels, but the enormous righthander felt soreness after his last bullpen session and the team pushed pack that planned reinstatement. That's fine. They have every reason to be cautious, right now, as the team still holds a comfortable lead in the race for the top seed in the postseason bracket. They did reinstate righty reliever Nick Mears Wednesday, and he immediately got an inning against the visiting Angels in a 9-2 Brewers win. 

The biggest questions facing the team, as they begin in earnest to sketch the roster they'll submit when the National League Division Series begins in just over two weeks, have to do with their injured but convalescing pitchers. Megill, Mears and Jose Quintana headline that discussion. That Megill sincerely intended to return this week suggests he should be healthy enough to pitch by the time the playoffs begin, but what if that soreness won't subside? The injury with which he's dealing, a flexor strain, usually requires considerably more time than he's planning to give it before returning to full-strength action. Quintana had hoped to avoid being placed on the injured list with the calf strain he suffered over the weekend, but he was shelved Wednesday, to make room for Mears's return.

In addition to those three, Logan Henderson and DL Hall are working their way back, with the NLDS being their target date for a return, too. It seems unlikely that the team would trust either enough to thrust them back into the mix that rapidly, with few good ways to get them live reps before the stakes go through the roof, but then again, each has looked terrific for portions of this season, and the team's depth isn't what they had hoped it would be even a month ago.

Let's do a back-of-the-envelope NLDS roster right now, to see where questions remain, and how some of the above might shake out in the broader context of constructing a winning roster for a best-of-five series with three off days built in.

Catchers
William Contreras
Danny Jansen
No controversy here. Barring injuries, both Contreras and Jansen will make the roster, and no other backstops will join them.

Infielders
Andrew Vaughn
Brice Turang
Joey Ortiz
Caleb Durbin
Andruw Monasterio
Rhys Hoskins
Jake Bauers
Here, things get more intriguing. Would the team really carry three first basemen and, in effect, only one backup at the other three infield spots? It seems like a lumpy way to build a roster, but Pat Murphy clearly wants to get Joey Ortiz out of the game in favor of a more qualified bat when Ortiz's spot comes up in a high-leverage offensive situation. Having Bauers and Hoskins available would facilitate that. Isaac Collins, meanwhile, could play some third base in a pinch, so there's more coverage than meets the eye if they go without Anthony Seigler.

Outfielders
Christian Yelich
Jackson Chourio
Sal Frelick
Blake Perkins
Isaac Collins
Brandon Lockridge
Carrying six outfielders, to go with seven infielders and two catchers, feels extravagant. It feels like something out of the 1980s. On the other hand, consider a scenario: Hoskins bats for Ortiz with the team down by two runs and with two runners on in the seventh inning. He singles, scoring one and sending the trailing runner to third. Do you want Hoskins (or even Andruw Monasterio) running the bases, or would you rather have Brandon Lockridge take over as the go-ahead run? Lockridge could also pinch-run for Contreras in certain situations, or for Vaughn.

Pitchers
Freddy Peralta
Brandon Woodruff
Quinn Priester
Jacob Misiorowski
Trevor Megill
Abner Uribe
Jared Koenig
Aaron Ashby
Nick Mears
Chad Patrick
Rob Zastryzny
Carrying 15 position players would leave just 11 slots for pitchers, which sounds like too few. In truth, though, the Brewers only need three starters in the series, so it still leaves a full eight-man bullpen. There's a day off between Games 1 and 2 of the NLDS, to get the two leagues' series out of phase with one another and ensure content every day for the league's broadcast partners. Then there's one between Games 2 and 3 for travel, and if the series goes the full length, there's another travel day between Games 4 and 5, too. 

In a series that requires just three starters and in which there can only be one back-to-back set of games, you don't need more than 11 pitchers. The relievers will get as much from the rest days as the starters will. Ashby, Misiorowski and Patrick give the team ample possible length. Zastryzny is the matchup lefty, and at the end of the game, it's a daily mélange of Mears, Uribe, Koenig and Megill—assuming, of course, that some combination of the team's three stout starters and the multi-inning weapons of Misiorowski and Ashby don't get them all the way to the ninth.

You can make cases to include Tobias Myers, Grant Anderson and/or one of the returning long men, in place of Patrick or Zastryzny or at the expense of one of those bench pieces. At this moment, though, it looks like the Brewers can get by with 11 hurlers, and these 11 would make sense.

There's still a lot of injury disaster left to avoid. There's still a lot of calendar to chew up, while the team waits for the winner of what looks like an inevitable Padres-Cubs tilt in Chicago to start the postseason. Right now, these 26 seem well-positioned to make the NLDS roster, but a great deal can change before the time comes.

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[MaryvaleBrewer]

I don’t think Hoskins makes the playoff roster. We saw Perkins hit in two leverage AB against RHP with Hoskins available on the bench the other day. If he was in the playoff plans, I think you’d see him getting more reps right now.

[Brian]

Anthony Seigler is Joey Wiemer in disguise. Please no Seigler. 

[Sugarrayray]

I like that roster but, if it’s a situation to get a tough righty out, I like the option of having the sidewinder Anderson probably over Patrick, as much as I like him.

[jay87shot]

I think I would go Grant Anderson over Chad Patrick, the only way I would see us go to Patrick is if we are down big. I think there are scenarios where Anderson would be used in competitive games.

I would have Rhys on the roster, he would likely be the 2nd or 3rd pinch hitter just based on having playoff experience. Also the power on the bench is important, we are down like 3 or 4, I would rather have him pinch hit than Perkins. In a bases loaded, 2 outs down by 1 situation maybe that would go to Perk.

[rafa]

No mention of Robert Gasser, odd. Murphy just said last night, "I think you'll see him soon." Gasser has pitched since late July, and the Brewers Brass specifically had him working as a reliever in AAA the last month.  Now Quintana is out through the rest of the regular season. 

If Gasser pitches like he can and I think he will, Gasser has an excellent chance to be on the playoff roster.  He'd be here for the last 9 games (starting this Friday) and as a lefty, he takes over DL Hall's role as a multi inning  reliever.  Quintana's injury solidifies Gasser and he's much better than Rob Z. 

Also, absolutely no way Lockridge makes the playoff roster, bet all of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos money on that.  Sorry, not trying to be rude, I just can't fathom that.

[steelydan]

10 hours ago, MaryvaleBrewer said:

I don’t think Hoskins makes the playoff roster. We saw Perkins hit in two leverage AB against RHP with Hoskins available on the bench the other day. If he was in the playoff plans, I think you’d see him getting more reps right now.

I tend to agree.

[steelydan]

Does anyone know who has final say on the playoff roster, Murphy or Arnold?

[rafa]

Arnold absolutely makes the call for the roster and the playoffs for sure.  He might get input by Murphy, others in the Brewer Brass but it's ultimately Arnold's decision.

[Sugarrayray]

Yeah good point about Gasser. Def should be on the roster.

[Branyanisthegoat]

9 hours ago, rafa said:

Also, absolutely no way Lockridge makes the playoff roster, bet all of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos money on that.  Sorry, not trying to be rude, I just can't fathom that.

Im generally inclined to not use a PR, but plenty of teams carry a guy just for that in the playoffs. If the Brewers actually go with 11 pitchers, I could totally see Lockridge making it.

Lockridge has 99th percentile sprint speed per statcast, and I suspect a playoff PR role is a part of why they targeted him in the trade.

[Jim French Stepstool]

Definitely should go 11 pitchers-15 position players as was alluded to.

You don't NEED 3 1B, but you don't really NEED a 3rd catcher, 6th OF, etc. After being used to the 4-man bench all season, you choose a player or two based on specifics. That's why I think Hoskins is on the roster, and also why they recently signed Luis Urias. He may not be added, but they wouldn't have picked him up if they didn't at least want to see how he would look at Nashville & possibly be an option.

Lockridge (and Seigler, for that matter) would have the edge over Urias as a PR option. I believe they were looking at Urias as someone who might come off the bench & get a knock ala Hoskins. He came out hot w/the Sounds but has cooled a little, while Lockridge is hitting well over .300 & had a 4-hit game Thursday. I'd guess he has the edge.

AFA the pitchers are concerned, it's so tough now with Megill & Quintana being up in the air. I'll say this: Gasser looks to be on a heater right now & I think he edges out Zastryzny. I'll also guess Anderson makes it over one of either Patrick or Myers.

[MattK]

3 hours ago, Jim French Stepstool said:

Definitely should go 11 pitchers-15 position players as was alluded to.

You don't NEED 3 1B, but you don't really NEED a 3rd catcher, 6th OF, etc. After being used to the 4-man bench all season, you choose a player or two based on specifics. That's why I think Hoskins is on the roster, and also why they recently signed Luis Urias. He may not be added, but they wouldn't have picked him up if they didn't at least want to see how he would look at Nashville & possibly be an option.

Lockridge (and Seigler, for that matter) would have the edge over Urias as a PR option. I believe they were looking at Urias as someone who might come off the bench & get a knock ala Hoskins. He came out hot w/the Sounds but has cooled a little, while Lockridge is hitting well over .300 & had a 4-hit game Thursday. I'd guess he has the edge.

AFA the pitchers are concerned, it's so tough now with Megill & Quintana being up in the air. I'll say this: Gasser looks to be on a heater right now & I think he edges out Zastryzny. I'll also guess Anderson makes it over one of either Patrick or Myers.

With the Crew's regular season style of shuffling the end of the roster and the back end of the pen, it is actually limiting to designate a group for 5 full games.  :-)

[adambr2]

It looks like I may be out here on my own on this one, but I’m against going with less than a 12 man pitching staff.

Just too many opportunities for something to go wrong. Short start by a starter, 12 inning game, etc.

[Team Canada]

Given you only need 3 starters for the NLDS I would be pretty surprised if they went with 12 pitchers. More likely it's 12 in the NLCS.

[long ball]

Ive been hemming and hawing over whether I think they’ll go with a 5 or 6 man bench. I really do want that full position player group available in the NLDS. You’ve laid out my exact thoughts on the situation. 
 

I think you can squabble over the final 2 spots in the pen between Myers, Patrick, Gasser, Zastryzny, and Anderson but I’m not sure I have strong opinions either way. 

[Doug B]

Robert Gasser

[Scooterfletcher]

On 9/18/2025 at 12:47 PM, Brian said:

Anthony Seigler is Joey Wiemer in disguise. Please no Seigler. 

Wiemer played outfield only and not well enough in center as is.   Siegler can play any infield position (SS included)  and actually catches plenty well enough to use Quero (or the backup C) as a pinch hitter.   He has draft pedigree fwiw too.  I think he’s a really good member of the 26 brewers and will post an impressive war for the opportunities he’s given next year.

[Scooterfletcher]

On 9/19/2025 at 11:59 AM, long ball said:

Ive been hemming and hawing over whether I think they’ll go with a 5 or 6 man bench. I really do want that full position player group available in the NLDS. You’ve laid out my exact thoughts on the situation. 
 

I think you can squabble over the final 2 spots in the pen between Myers, Patrick, Gasser, Zastryzny, and Anderson but I’m not sure I have strong opinions either way. 

I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to go with the younger options here.  I don’t see any reason Zastryzny or Grant Anddrson should get the nod over core future guys that are likely better anyway (and have plenty of 2025 innings in them still yet).