Ray Stuedemann

As the Milwaukee Brewers look to defend their 2026 World Series title, one of the biggest questions of the offseason will be how to address the first base position. If Jake Bauers does not return to Milwaukee, the Brewers should look outside the organization for a replacement to pair with Andrew Vaughn. One name worth considering is Nathaniel Lowe, an eight-year veteran who would be joining his seventh major-league team. With Bauers likely on the way out, Lowe could be an intriguing target for Milwaukee. Nathaniel Lowe’s Career So Far Lowe was drafted by the Rays in 2016, in the 13th round. He spent two big-league seasons with Tampa Bay before being traded to Texas, where he was worth 11.5 bWAR in four seasons with the Rangers. Lowe was then traded to the Nationals after the 2024 season, where he only spent half a season before being shipped to Boston. There, he posted the worst OPS of his career (.689), which led to the 31-year-old signing with the Reds on a cheap, one-year contract. He was also dealt at the 2026 deadline, this time being sent to Cleveland to help with their playoff push. He fared better with the Reds, slashing .266/.341/.480, good for a 126 OPS+, compared to an 83 OPS+ and a slashline of .226/.275/.376 with the Guardians. Still, it was a return to form for Lowe, who has a career OPS+ of 115, and could find a meaningful role somewhere in what is considered a weak position-player market. The Need For a First Baseman The primary first baseman from 2026, Bauers leaves a gaping hole in Milwaukee’s lineup, as their leader in OPS and home runs will probably not return to the Brewers for 2027. He was offered the qualifying offer recently, but it's likely that he'll find a healthy multi-year deal preferable to the one-year, $23.15-million guarantee he'd get by accepting. Vaughn remains under team control for another season, but he shouldn't be trusted with full-time responsibilities at first base. Despite solid numbers (.764 OPS in 198 plate appearances) against right-handed pitching in 2026, Vaughn has a career .708 OPS in those situations, which isn’t good enough for a team that needs to replace Bauers’s production. It may not even be set in stone that he'll be playing for the Brewers next season; we know how they operate with players that have one year of control remaining. Lowe's job would be to face right-handed pitching, and he does that well, possessing a .793 OPS in that category for his career. Presumably, he wouldn't require a long-term commitment. The Brewers have first base prospects coming up (primarily Andrew Fischer, who also swings from the left side), but while some fans may want to see Fischer up right away in 2027, that's neither likely nor advisable. Lowe would be a solid offensive first baseman and a good platoon partner with Vaughn. But how is his defense? Bauers and Vaughn were great contributors for a World Series-winning team because of their offense, not their defense. Both players were worth -4 OAA at first base last season, and neither of them were particularly good receivers either, with Bauers ranking in the 22nd percentile and Vaughn in the 6th percentile in first base receiving. Lowe’s glove isn't Gold Glove-caliber, but his defensive ability is slightly better than both primary first basemen the Brewers rostered last season. Lowe was worth -3 OAA last season, though he was significantly better with the Guardians (2 OAA) than he was with the Reds (-5 OAA). As a receiver, Lowe is only marginally better than the other two, but he's better, ranking in the 36th percentile. While Lowe may not be a significant upgrade defensively, his offensive production makes for an appealing fit for Milwaukee. Pairing him with Vaughn would give the Brewers a relatively reliable platoon at first base. His fit may not be perfect, but he checks a few boxes the team could be looking to fill if Bauers doesn't return. Be Patient for Fischer Like the Luis Rengifo contract given out last season, a deal given to Nathaniel Lowe would be a low-cost, low-risk move for the Brewers. If Lowe produces, great. If not, the team can cut bait and move on to other options, as they did with Rengifo. Milwaukee knew Cooper Pratt was right on the cusp of becoming a major leaguer, and if they feel the same way about Fischer (or Blake Burke, or Luke Adams), Lowe certainly fits the bill as a player who can fill the gap for a short period of time. Ultimately, Lowe represents the type of move the Brewers have made a habit of making: bringing in experienced veterans on short-term deals without sacrificing future flexibility. Milwaukee doesn't need to find its long-term answer at first this offseason, but rather, someone who can provide big-league at-bats until Fischer, Burke or Adams is ready. If Bauers signs elsewhere, Lowe would be a sensible addition to keep the position afloat without taking playing time away from the organization’s future. Image courtesy of David Richard-Imagn Images View full article

As the Brewers begin the process of defending their freshly earned title, one of the main questions facing the organization is whether Jake Bauers will return to Milwaukee for the 2027 season and beyond. The first baseman and outfielder was sensational in 2026, but with Milwaukee needing to weigh its roster needs against its limited payroll, Bauers’s future with the club is not guaranteed. Should the Brewers bring back the 2026 NLCS MVP, or would they be better off allocating their resources elsewhere? Jake Bauers’s 2026 Season At A Glance Bauers’s path to stardom was not straight, as he bounced around the majors from 2018-2023, where he made stops with the Rays, Guardians, Mariners, and Yankees, before finally being acquired by the Brewers after the 2023 season. Bauers’s first season in Milwaukee saw him post a below-average OPS+ (84), but 2025 was the first above-average offensive season in his career, as he slashed .235/.353/.399 with seven homers in only 218 plate appearances. Those numbers only partially revealed his potential, though. This season, Bauers truly made his mark in Milwaukee and in the majors. The 31-year-old had the highest OPS on the World Series-winning Brewers, putting together a .266/.389/.484 line with a career-high 26 home runs in 578 plate appearances. Bauers brought a much-needed power threat to a Brewers lineup that has craved extra-base production, ranking in the 83rd percentile in expected slugging percentage and the 91st percentile in average exit velocity while maintaining the plate discipline he has displayed since joining Milwaukee, highlighted by a chase rate in the 93rd percentile and a walk rate in the 98th percentile. Bauers was the engine for the Brewers offense, and the NLCS was the Jake The Rake Show. The playoffs weren’t especially strong for Bauers overall, as he posted a .622 OPS due to a brutal Fall Classic at the plate. First, though, the Dodgers felt his wrath: Bauers went deep on the 11th pitch of his at-bat against Blake Snell in Game 3 of the NLCS, plating the eventual winning run and cementing that battle as one of the great moments in Brewers postseason history. Bauers has put himself in a strong position to earn a hefty contract from a team this offseason, despite only having two above-average offensive seasons to his name. He's a good player, and in what is regarded as a weak free-agent class, he will get a large offer, from the Brewers or elsewhere. Why the Brewers Should Re-sign Jake Bauers Bauers is a Brewer, through and through. He embodies what the Brewers do: take chances and develop players into the best version of themselves. Bauers always had potential, but he never could quite tap into it until he got to Milwaukee. A team like the Brewers can survive losing their best offensive piece, but should they? Bauers has become an integral part of the organization, a versatile piece to play with Andrew Vaughn at first base or patrol the outfield corners. Fans love him, the organization loves him, and he loves them both back. Bringing Bauers back would allow continuity in the batting order, especially in the power department, as he had almost 17% of the clubs’ homeruns this season. If the Brewers want to continue building on this World Series title, resigning Bauers should be priority number one. Why the Brewers Should Not Re-sign Jake Bauers Bauers would not be resigned because, as good as the Brewers are at development and getting the best out of what they have, Milwaukee is as good at being self-aware. Moving on from players before the price tag becomes too large has been a key for the Brewers teams of late, with players like Freddy Peralta, Corbin Burnes, and Willy Adames being traded or let go because of increasing salaries that the Brewers can not pay. Bauers would fit into that category; he will be in demand this offseason. DiamondCentric’s own rankings list Bauers as the 16th best available player and 8th best available hitter this offseason. The 31-year-old will likely get a large contract from a team with a hole at first base, but if that isn’t the Brewers, where does that leave them? Milwaukee still has Andrew Vaughn under contract for 2027, while prospects Andrew Fischer, Blake Burke, and Luke Adams could all see time at first base in the near future as well if Bauers isn’t resigned. Ultimately, letting Bauers walk would be difficult, but one that still aligns with the Brewers’ philosophy of being competitive without overcommitting financially. Milwaukee may be better off allowing another team to pay for Bauers’ breakout season while investing into the next wave of talent coming through the farm system. The Bottom Line While Bauers was one of the most valuable pieces of the World Series winning Milwaukee Brewers, the reality is the club may be better off letting him walk this offseason. A video between Pat Murphy and Bauers went viral during the team’s celebration in Tampa following Game 5, in which Murphy told Bauers to remember how the Brewers played when he gets his big payday this offseason. The direct quote uses a little more profanity (and takes a shot at the Yankees, which I am all for), but the point is that it appears the organization has likely accepted that Bauers is already gone. While that hurts, Bauers will be cemented in Brewers’ history as a key piece of the 2026 World Series champions and as one of the great developmental stories for Pat Murphy and his staff. Prediction: Bauers signs a two- or three-year deal with the New York Mets Image courtesy of USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect View full article

The Milwaukee Brewers turned to 32 different pitchers during the 2026 season, with arms coming and going throughout the year. While some of the names were mainstays on the pitching staff, others were called upon for only a handful of appearances as the Brewers searched for ways to cover innings and keep their staff intact. Injuries, roster moves, and the demands of a 162-game schedule all contributed to the Brewers’ extensive use of their pitching depth. By the time you reach the bottom of this list, a few names are likely to have faded from memory. With the season now in the books, it’s time to look back at every pitcher who took the mound for Milwaukee. Here are my grades for all 32 Brewers pitchers, ranked by innings pitched. Jacob Misiorowski (174.2 IP): A+ 1.80 ERA, 2.17 FIP, 252 strikeouts, 44 walks, 0.802 WHIP. If those stats aren’t enough to tell the story, add this to the picture: his .157 average against is the lowest by any qualified starting pitcher in MLB history, he threw 1,115 pitches over 100+ mph this year, and the Miz is the first pitcher in franchise history to lead the league in both ERA and strikeouts. All in all, Misiorowski had high expectations coming into the season and cruised past them, becoming the clear Cy Young favorite and one of the most dominant arms in major league history. Shane Drohan (124.2 IP): B Had an evolving role in his rookie season, switching between starting and relieving a few times in 2026. Drohan was solid, putting together a 4.19 ERA (3.73 FIP) after coming over from the Red Sox in the Caleb Durbin trade. A new, more consistent sinker should be a weapon in the playoffs and in the future. Kyle Harrison (115.2 IP): C+ Drastically different halves were the story of Harrison’s season, with a 1.83 ERA in the first half and a 6.67 ERA in the second half. Injury issues with his throwing arm and elbow led to these struggles and ultimately pushed Harrison out of the rotation down the stretch. Still, before he went on the injured list, he was dominant, so he at least gets a C+, but his second half leaves a ton of questions to be answered. Robert Gasser (109.1 IP): B+ Did not open the season with the Brewers but was crucial down the stretch for a rotation that dealt with injuries and inconsistency throughout the season. Gasser only had seven major league appearances coming into the season and added 21 more this year, pitching to a 3.87 ERA (4.24 FIP). His second half is what bumped his grade up significantly as his ERA improved from 5.24 in the first half to 2.86 in the second half. Chad Patrick (106.0 IP): B Moved from a starter into a relief role this year and was good, producing a 3.40 ERA (4.17 FIP). His numbers as a reliever improved slightly as well, as his OPS allowed dropped from .702 as a starter to .667 once he shifted to the bullpen. Logan Henderson (98.1 IP): A Missed time with a back strain and a minor elbow issue in Spring Training, but besides that, Henderson was elite, posting a 2.47 ERA (3.32 FIP) with 110 strikeouts compared to only 19 walks. He should be an excellent number two arm behind Misiorowski for a long time. Brandon Sproat (97.0 IP): F Disastrous season for an arm that was supposed to contribute meaningfully after coming over in the Freddy Peralta trade. Walk rate was at the 9th percentile, with Chase percentage at the 4th percentile. He wasn’t getting hitters to expand the zone, which cost him his rotation spot and the coaching staff's trust moving forward. Aaron Ashby (89.1 IP): A- Appeared in the most games for the pitching staff this year as Pat Murphy’s go-to guy. Ashby won 12 games in the first half of the season alone and finished with 13 overall, along with a 3.12 ERA (3.11 FIP) and an improved strikeout rate. Trevor Megill (61.2 IP): A Struggled early in the season but bounced back, posting a career-low FIP (1.85) and striking out 69. Megill only allowed one home run all year, which was to Pete Crow-Armstrong, so we won’t hold that against him. DL Hall (61.1 IP): B+ May have overperformed slightly, with his 1.91 ERA being well below his 3.88 FIP. Still, a great year for the Corbin Burnes return as a whole and for Hall, a strong year that puts him in a good spot for the bullpen hierarchy next year, despite a walk rate in the 2nd percentile (14.5 %). Abner Uribe (59.1 IP): A Lowered his walk rate a percentage while posting a career-low FIP (2.68) while only missing time with a right forearm flexor strain in August and his viral one-game suspension in June. Uribe is still a great arm and a more than suitable set-up arm for the Brewers moving forward. Grant Anderson (59.0 IP): B Pitched well before hitting the injured list in early September, ending with a 3.36 ERA (4.32 FIP) primarily due to his sweeper and sinker, each possessing a run value of 3 and 4, respectively. Brandon Woodruff (45.1 IP): B+ Made only 9 starts this season because of a right shoulder injury. Surgery was initially expected, though it was later revealed that surgery wasn’t necessary, and he made an appearance in the World Series. Woodruff began throwing again and is still trying to push to get back in 2026. Despite the limited number of starts, Woodruff was good, finishing with a 2.98 ERA (3.19 FIP) with a 47/10 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Dustin May (36.2 IP): C- Acquired by the Cardinals at the deadline and hasn’t performed up to the Brewers' expectations so far, compiling a 5.65 ERA (5.06 FIP) and giving up as many home runs as he did with St. Louis in 11 fewer starts. Still, May has a chance to be a worthwhile addition if he performs in the postseason. Bryse Wilson (25.2 IP): B- Registered a 3.51 ERA (2.95 FIP) after rejoining Milwaukee for his second stint with the club. Spent time with the Phillies and Cubs this year as well. Jake Woodford (23.1 IP): D- Bounced around in 2026, pitching for the Brewers, Cubs, and Rays. He wasn’t great for Milwaukee, earning a 6.94 ERA (3.96 FIP) with 34 hits allowed, and that was most of the innings he pitched all year. Antonio Senzatela (21.0 IP): C- Former Rockie who was better this year for Colorado, recording a 3.61 ERA (3.37 FIP) compared to a 5.14 ERA (4.43 FIP) with the Brewers. For how good he was with the Rockies, Senzatela has been slightly disappointing in his tenure in Milwaukee. He is a free agent in 2027. Craig Yoho (20.0 IP): B Looked good at the big-league level, registering a 3.15 ERA (4.75 FIP). Yoho never quite fit into the Brewers bullpen plan, so he subsequently was traded to the Guardians at the deadline in the Bo Naylor trade. Coleman Crow (18.2 IP): C- Made four starts and one relief appearance in his rookie season, compiling a 5.30 ERA (4.55 FIP) with a 10/6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Crow was BrewerFanatic’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year, so hopefully more of his great play in Nashville transfers over to the major leagues next season. Garrett Stallings (14.0 IP): B Debuted this season after being acquired from the Orioles in late May. He didn’t give up a run, striking out 17 batters while only allowing four hits. A good debut season for an older rookie bulk arm out of the bullpen. JoJo Romero (13.1 IP): B- A trade deadline acquisition that was solid in his short time in Milwaukee due to missed time because of an emergency appendectomy. Romero posted a 3.38 ERA (3.85 FIP) with 11 strikeouts. He should be a prominent piece of the bullpen in the playoffs and is a free agent at season's end. Angel Zerpa (12.2 IP): D- Acquired from the Royals in the offseason in the Isaac Collins trade, Zerpa was supposed to pitch significant innings for the Brewers this season. Instead, he struggled to start the season, allowing 11 runs (9 earned) on 16 hits and 6 walks before having his season abruptly ended due to Tommy John at the end of April. Joel Kuhnel (9.2 IP): F Brutal in his short time in Milwaukee, possessing a 6.52 ERA (9.31 FIP), which was mostly due to four home runs and six walks allowed. The Giants selected him off waivers in September. Carlos Rodriguez (9.1 IP): C+ Struggled in 2024 and 2025 but was better in his third consecutive year with a limited workload in the majors, earning a 3.86 ERA (4.07 FIP) with eight strikeouts compared to four walks. He cleared waivers post-trade deadline when the Brewers’ acquisitions were added to the roster. Jared Koenig (7.0 IP): D- Injury and inconsistency led to Koenig being a shell of the productive reliever he was the two previous years with Milwaukee. BrewerFanatic’s Jack Stern wrote a great article back in July about Koenig’s issues during the season, canvassing how his arsenal may have been slightly worse overall before he got optioned to Nashville in July, and as Koenig approaches his 33rd birthday, time may be running out for him to earn back the trust of the Brewers. Brian Fitzpatrick (6.2 IP): C+ Made his debut this season at 26, possessing a 1.35 ERA (2.95 FIP) with only two runs allowed. Like Zerpa, his season ended with Tommy John surgery in July. Drew Rom (5.2 IP): C Satisfactory in his limited sample, striking out 11 while walking 4. Rom was designated for assignment in September and picked up by the Athletics a few days later. Colton Gordon (5.0 IP): C Made one appearance in late September against the Phillies, allowing three runs in five innings in a loss. Gordon could be an option for the Brewers bullpen or as a substitute for an injury in the rotation next season. Lance McCullers Jr. (4.2 IP): D Designated for assignment less than two weeks from when the Brewers acquired him from the Astros, McCullers gave up five runs (two earned) in 4.2 innings, walking five and striking out the same amount. Command was clearly an issue, and after so many injuries, he may just never be the same above-average arm that Houston had in the early parts of his career. Thomas Pannone (3.0 IP): D+ Started a 16-3 loss against the Giants in August, throwing three innings while allowing three runs, two earned, including a home run to Giants catcher Daniel Susac. Good for him to make it back to the majors to pitch his first innings since 2023. Easton McGee (2.0 IP): C Solid in two appearances, didn’t allow a run in two games against the Nationals. Had his contract purchased by the Royals mid-July. Lyon Richardson (1.2 IP): C Pitched 1.2 scoreless innings in August against the Padres, walking one batter while adding a strikeout as well. Solid, not a very large sample size though. The Brewers used 32 different pitchers in 2026, and while turnover and injuries created plenty of questions, it also gave Milwaukee a look at its pitching depth. Misiorowski emerged as the dominant rotation piece, while several younger arms such as Drohan, Harrison, and Gasser showed potential for bigger roles. There are still plenty of questions heading into 2027, but the Brewers now have a better idea of which pitchers can be part of the next version of this staff. Image courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images View full article

Image courtesy of Benny Sieu-Imagn Images The Milwaukee Brewers saw many different faces take the field throughout the 2026 season, with 24 position players recording at least one plate appearance. From young players beginning to make their mark in the majors to veterans who have been important parts of the organization, each brought something unique to the Brewers’ lineup. As the season unfolded, some players established themselves as key contributors at the top of the order, while others saw their roles change, for better or for worse. With the full season now behind us, it's a good time to look back at what each player brought to the NL Central division champs. Here's a look at all 24 Brewers position players who stepped into the batter’s box this season, with each player receiving a grade based on their 2026 performance. The players are listed here by total plate appearances. Brice Turang (680 PA): A Led Brewers position players in fWAR, RBIs, doubles, hits, and runs. He continues to be one of the best development stories for the Brewers and one heck of a defensive second baseman. Hopefully, his playoff performance backs up the show he put on in the regular season. William Contreras (640 PA): B Played well this season, slashing .270/.341/.417 with 18 home runs. The slugging percentage has fallen off since the 2024 season, and that may never come back, but that doesn’t mean he's a bad offensive player. His long-term future with the Brewers may be in question, but he's been a great player overall and had a solid season. You just wanted a little more out of the two-time Silver Slugger award winner. Jake Bauers (578 PA): A+ Had the highest OPS on the team this year. A free agent at season’s end, Bauers hit 26 homers, which led the Brewers. His on-base prowess set him apart, as well: his .389 OBP was the third highest in baseball. Bauers has performed in the playoffs before. Now, it's time for him to do it again, with the altered setup that triggered this breakout. Jackson Chourio (573 PA): A+ Missed time with injury but didn’t miss a beat. He delivered arguably the biggest swing of the year against the Cubs, hitting a game-tying dinger in the 9th inning when the Brewers were down to their last out. His OPS is the highest it's ever been (.837), even with a horrid month of July wherein he slashed .229/.283/.305. Chourio bounced back thereafter, posting an OPS over .900 in August and September, and those numbers should carry into the NLDS. Garrett Mitchell (531 PA): B+ Finally healthy and performed great, slashing .262/.354/.416 with 30 doubles and 11 bombs. Appearing in 145 games was the biggest win for Mitchell and the Brewers, and that level of health has been part of the success story for the team this year. Christian Yelich (500 PA): D Wasn’t up to the standards the Yelich we all know and love has set. He had his moments, but his OPS+ was below average for the first time in his career. The new captain of the Brewers has embodied everything Milwaukee has wanted throughout his time here, and hopefully, the playoffs erase the bad taste of the former MVP’s regular season. Joey Ortiz (415 PA): B- Outperformed expectations once he slid over to third base. Had a .207/.299/.262 line before Cooper Pratt was called up, but a .310/.348/.491 after. His defense didn’t miss a beat, and it was good to see a season that started so negatively end on a strong note for a player who had struggled offensively since the 2024 season. David Hamilton (387 PA): C- An elite baserunner with 95th-percentile sprint speed, but a below-average offensive and defensive player. Hamilton garnered a lot of hype before the season, but the reality is that he is an ok bench bat, and his speed will be useful in the postseason. Sal Frelick (384 PA): D Regressed heavily this season, posting a 70 OPS+ just a year removed from an above-average season. Suffered a right shoulder strain which revealed an underlying torn labrum, which could have led to the decline in production. Hopefully, a healthy Frelick is a positive offensive force, though his production was worse when he came back. Andrew Vaughn (331 PA): A- Did what he was supposed to do and more against lefties (.938 OPS) and was surprisingly above-average against righties, as well (.764 OPS). Could find himself in an expanded role next season, with Bauers heading for free agency. Only 6 homers from him is slightly disappointing, though the opportunities were too sporadic to judge that harshly. Gary Sánchez (275 PA): B- Was a great offseason signing to be the backup catcher. A three-true-outcome approach, Sánchez demonstrated a level of patience not seen before in his career. Though he struggled with ABS, both offensively and defensively, he was a great player for the limited role he played. Cooper Pratt (266 PA): B Had a better-than-expected offensive season. There weren’t concerns about his stellar defense, and a line of .281/.350/.368 is nothing to scoff at for a rookie. He stole 19 bases, as well, showcasing his 88th-percentile sprint speed. Luis Lara (212 PA): B- Did not show the offensive upside he demonstrated in Nashville when he was called up, but his stellar defensive plays made up for it. Lara is seemingly always crashing into the outfield wall to rob a homer. Here’s to many more of those in the future from the promising rookie. Luis Rengifo (209 PA): F Was extremely disappointing as one of the only offseason acquisitions Milwaukee made to the offense, but the team moved on at the right time. Pratt and Ortiz were significantly better than Rengifo was this season. He slashed .205/.280/.254 without a homer. Good for him for bouncing back with the Padres, though. He suffered a late-August knee injury that ensured no one emerges from the season feeling good. Brandon Lockridge (113 PA): C- Was hyped up before the season as a breakout candidate and performed decently in the time he did spend with the Brewers, slashing .277/.348/.327. A severe right knee injury in May knocked him out until August. Lockridge wasn’t in Milwaukee long before being optioned to Nashville. His speed is his defining trait and could be useful for the Brewers in the future, even though it wasn’t for much of the 2026 season. Blake Perkins (101 PA): D- Posted career-worst numbers for the Brewers and was eventually traded to the Guardians at the deadline. His .701 OPS against lefties was still alright, but the team was running out of room in the outfield. Tyler Black (28 PA): C+ Had a great stint for Milwaukee, slashing .333/.357/.481 with 4 doubles, but there's a reason why that stint didn't last long. He still needs to find a defensive position, and time may be running out on him to contribute to the Brewers on a regular basis. Greg Jones (24 PA): F -0.5 fWAR and a .174 OPS in this small of a sample is not very good. He also signed with the rival Cubs after he was granted free agency—maybe as a double-agent. Luis Matos (21 PA): D- Was not a big contributor this season; just a warm body for the outfield early in the campaign. Still in the organization, though, and is only 24, though it is unlikely that he ever contributes meaningfully for the Brewers given his career major-league line of .230/.279/.363. Maybe the Brewers work some of their magic. Jonathan Ornelas (9 PA): C- Another small sample for a fill-in player, a .444 OPS isn’t good, and that's on par with his career OPS of .483—although that's in only 80 career plate appearances. Bo Naylor (9 PA): C Could be a part of the future for the Brewers. He was acquired from the Guardians at the deadline, tore it up at Nashville to the tune of a .283/.353/.550 line (albeit in a small sample of 68 plate appearances), and eventually was called up in September. Naylor didn’t play much as the Brewers chased home-field advantage, but he has the potential to be the biggest riser from this list come next season. Braden Shewmake (8 PA): C An add off waivers by the Brewers in July, Shewmake didn’t have a lot of time to establish himself, but did slash .286/.250/.429 in this small sample. Jihwan Bae (4 PA): C Made a little bit of an impact by getting a hit, stealing a base, and scoring a run in this small sample. It isn’t enough to give him a higher grade, though. Jeferson Quero (2 PA): C Did not have enough plate appearances to give a higher grade. Hopefully, he forces the issue to earn more playing time at the big-league level next season. There's plenty to be excited about heading into October. Turang, Bauers, and Chourio are leading the way, with players like Mitchell, Contreras, and Yelich (who could take over games over the course of multiple at-bats) in support. The hard part starts now. The journey to the World Series isn’t easy, and the Brewers will need every guy on this list (who will be on the playoff roster) to contribute the best they can in the role they're entrusted with by Pat Murphy. If Milwaukee does that, they should have nothing to worry about with this group and an elite pitching staff to go along with it. View full article

Image courtesy of USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect The Milwaukee Brewers' farm system continued to produce plenty of intriguing offensive talent throughout the 2026 season. Several young hitters took significant steps forward and established themselves as pieces of the organization's future. There were breakout performances throughout the system, anywhere from Triple-A Nashville to Single-A Wilson, and now that the minor-league seasons have wrapped up, it's time to see who had the best season among the Brewers’ future stars. So, which hitters stood out the most in 2026? Here are the top five candidates for the Milwaukee Brewers Minor League Hitter of the Year, along with some honorable mentions. HONORABLE MENTIONS Jesus Made – 122 G, .271./.344/.430 (.774), 24 2B, 6 3B, 14 HR, 103 wRC+, 10.2 BB%, 14.3 K%, 37 SB Brady Ebel – 115 G, .252/.413/.406 (.819), 26 2B, 4 3B, 10 HR, 124 wRC+, 19.5 BB%, 21.1 K%, 40 SB Daniel Dickinson – 120 G, .283/.428/.438 (.866), 26 2B, 2 3B, 11 HR, 131 wRC+, 17.4 BB%, 20.1 K%, 61 SB Eric Bitonti – 117 G, .262/.378/.507 (.885), 27 2B, 1 3B, 25 HR, 122 wRC+, 15.9 BB%, 33.3 K%, 24 SB Pay special attention to Made's line. He had a terrific season, for a teenager taking on Double-A. He's the No. 1 prospect in baseball. It's extremely telling that, in this organization, that doesn't even get you automatic admittance to the top five. 5. OF Luis Lara – Nashville Sounds, Milwaukee Brewers 78 G, .321/.432/.470 (.902), 10 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 144 wRC+, 15.6 BB%, 13.9 K%, 24 SB Made was considered for this spot, but Luis Lara deserved to get his flowers. Lara’s unexpected power surge was one of the big stories of the early season, and it eventually led to a long-term extension with the club. The 21-year-old may not have showcased that kind of power at the big-league level so far, but his speed, on-base skills, and defense have been valuable for the Brewers ever since he was called up. Had he played more in the minors this season, he’d be higher on the list, but Lara is one of the primary success stories for the Brewers' farm system this year and a key part of the future of the outfield. 4. 1B Blake Burke – Biloxi Shuckers, Nashville Sounds 127 G, .263/.350/.538 (.889), 28 2B, 3 3B, 34 HR, 127 wRC+, 10.2 BB%, 25.7 K%, 29 SB Burke, a first-round pick by the Brewers in 2024, reached Biloxi in his first full minor-league season in 2025 and built on that success this year, slugging over .600 at Double-A before earning a promotion to Nashville for the end of the season. While Burke struggled to a slash line of .193/.299/.336 in 137 plate appearances with the Sounds, the 23-year-old should be able to build on this season and start knocking on the big-league door in 2027. 3. CF Braylon Payne – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Biloxi Shuckers 102 G, .277/.358/.552 (.910), 21 2B, 4 3B, 28 HR, 127 wRC+, 10.5 BB%, 29.1 K%, 25 SB Payne is currently the Brewers’ 6th-ranked prospect according to MLB.com, and he's 4th according to Brewer Fanatic’s rankings. Another first-round pick from 2024, the 20-year-old showcased a great power-speed combination for the Timber Rattlers, hitting 23 homers and stealing 22 bases before earning a promotion to Biloxi. Payne more then held his own as a very young player at Double-A, slashing .277/.321/.525 in 110 plate appearances with the Shuckers. Payne unlocked something this season, upgrading from his 2025 OPS of .736 and his wRC+ of 114, and he’ll look to continue climbing the system in 2027,—probably starting back in Biloxi with the Shuckers. 2. LF Josh Adamczewski – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Biloxi Shuckers 116 G, .300/.417/.509 (.926), 27 2B, 2 3B, 18 HR, 142 wRC+, 15.8 BB%, 19.2 K%, 18 SB A 15th-round pick in 2023, Adamczewski has rocketed up to become the 3rd-ranked prospect in the Brewers system. Adamczewski showcased a strong, balanced offensive profile in 2025, finishing with a .320/.420/.490 line while splitting time between rookie ball, Single-A, and High-A. The 21-year-old built on that success in 2026, posting a 1.037 OPS through 211 plate appearances before earning the call-up to Biloxi. His numbers weren’t as amazing there, but they were still very good, slashing .278/.382/.465 in 283 plate appearances with the Shuckers. Adamczewski would’ve been the clear choice for the No. 1 spot on this list in a regular year, but make no mistake: he's an offensive threat moving forward, and hopefully a more permanent defensive home can be found for him in 2027. Brewers Minor League Hitter of the Year: 3B/1B Andrew Fischer – Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, Biloxi Shuckers 126 G, .273/.413/.654 (1.066), 17 2B, 3 3B, 48 HR, 162 wRC+,18.2 BB%, 33.0 K%, 9 SB There truly was no other choice but Fischer. The 22-year-old showcased his elite power throughout the season, starting with a strong performance in the World Baseball Classic with Team Italy, helping them reach the semifinals of the tournament before losing to the eventual champions, Team Venezuela. Since then, Fischer hit 50 total home runs: 48 in the regular season and 2 more in the playoffs with the Shuckers. He now has the most dingers in a single minor-league season this century, surpassing Ryan Howard’s season in 2004. The high strikeout and whiff rates will always be issues, but if he hits this many bombs, it certainly makes up for that. This is a type of player the Brewers usually aren’t accustomed to with their style of play, and if Fischer continues this production to the big-league level, he could be one of the best power bats in the league—and a jolt of electricity for an already high-voltage lineup. View full article

Image courtesy of James A. Pittman-Imagn Images Since his arrival, William Contreras has been a staple in Milwaukee’s lineup, making the possibility of his departure a significant potential problem. The organization has shown a pattern of trading away star players when they reach their final year of team control, particularly when the front office determines that moving a player can provide greater long-term value than keeping him. With Contreras approaching that point in his Brewers tenure, his future in Milwaukee will be one of the organization’s biggest offseason decisions. First, to be clear: the Brewers still have control of the situation. Contreras signed a one-year, $9.4-million deal with the Brewers this past offseason with a club option worth $15.5 million for 2027. However, declining that option would not make Contreras a free agent. Instead, he would remain under team control and go through the arbitration process for the 2027 season. Milwaukee has used this type of contract structure before, including with Contreras last offseason and Devin Williams. Rather than go to arbitration with a player with whom they could not settle immediately, the Brewers can agree to a deal that is worth a little more than they would like to pay in the short term, while securing a team option for the following year. This gives the organization additional flexibility in the next arbitration cycle and puts a ceiling on what the player can earn through arbitration in that follow-on campaign. If Contreras were having an MVP-caliber season right now, the Brewers would likely pick up the $15.5-million option. Since his performance has been up-and-down this season, however, it's an interesting question whether Milwaukee believes he is worth that amount, or whether the team could get him for less by sending him back to arbitration via declining the option. After his 18th home run of the season Sunday night in Baltimore, Contreras enters the final week of the regular season batting .271/.342/.423. He’s pulling the ball in the air more, up to 16.2% of the time in 2026 (11.1% in 2025), and is striking out considerably less than his career average (14.5% this year, 20.3% overall). He’s been a consistent bat (and player, overall) for the Brewers throughout his tenure, worth at least 3.0 fWAR and with a wRC+ of at least 110 in each of his four seasons with the team. The 28-year-old is a three-time All-Star (two with Milwaukee) and has won two Silver Slugger Awards at catcher. It would be hard to move on from Contreras, but fans said the same thing in the past, including with Freddy Peralta and Corbin Burnes. The team has a history of doing this kind of transaction, and if they do it again, they do have some internal options to take the place of Contreras. The current backup catcher, Gary Sánchez, signed a one-year contract late last offseason with a mutual option for 2027. That option is unlikely to be picked up; it's just a way to roll a small part of his salary into next season via a buyout. Still, a reunion is hardly out of the question, given that this is already Sánchez's second stint with the team. He's slashed .209/.352/.419 in 264 plate appearances this year. Moving forward with him as the starter isn’t a viable option, but he’d be welcomed back as a backup catcher and occasional designated hitter. Bo Naylor is the other option currently on the major-league roster. Naylor was acquired from the Guardians on August 1 and called up to be a third catcher when the rosters expanded at the start of September. He hasn’t played much since then, amassing two hits in only eight plate appearances so far. He’s struggled offensively throughout his career, slashing .200/.280/.374 in over 1,000 plate appearances, but there are reasons to hope the Brewers could turn his offensive profile into something productive. He will enter his first year of arbitration in 2027, so he'll probably be around the organization. Jeferson Quero and Marco Dinges are solid prospects in Triple-A and Double-A, respectively, but both have spent more time at designated hitter than behind the plate this year. Neither can start the 2027 season as the full-time starter in the majors. As for options outside of the organization, top free-agent catchers this winter include Ryan Jeffers, Carson Kelly and Tyler Stephenson. It would make little sense to sign any of them in the stead of Contreras, though; they'd cost almost as much and require a multi-year commitment. If the team does trade Contreras, his replacement would probably have to be found in either that deal or a separate one, such as one that sends Trevor Megill elsewhere. Ultimately, the Brewers have several options available. The decision will come down to how Milwaukee evaluates Contreras’s production, his projected arbitration salary, and his importance to the team in ways that go beyond the numbers—as a leader, as a handler of the pitching staff, and as an exemplar of the toughness, work ethic and high standards of the club. This feels more like a Willy Adames situation than a Peralta, Burnes, or Williams case—but if the right offer presents itself, that could change. What are your thoughts? Will William Contreras be on the Brewers roster in 2027? If not, who will take his place as the primary catcher? View full article

Image courtesy of Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Jake Bauers has spent much of his career searching for a consistent home and for consistency at the plate. In 2026, he appears to have finally found it. The Milwaukee Brewers first baseman has emerged as the team’s most dangerous power bat, putting together a career-best season that makes him an important piece—if not the most important piece—of Milwaukee’s postseason hopes. His production is particularly valuable for a Brewers lineup looking for another reliable source of offense. With the postseason approaching, Bauers may be the key to the Brewers finally getting over the hump to reach the World Series and ultimately win it. After a strong finish to 2025, Bauers has statistically been one of the best hitters in baseball this season. The 30-year-old is currently 7th in MLB in OPS and 6th in wRC+, putting him among the league’s most productive offensive players. He's easily the best hitter on the Brewers, ranking first in OPS, wRC+, wOBA and isolated power while ranking second in walk rate. His underlying metrics back up this breakout: he ranks in the 93rd percentile or higher in bat speed, hard-hit percentage, and xwOBA. These numbers suggest that Bauers’s success is not simply the result of favorable outcomes or a hot streak, but rather a reflection of the quality of contact he has consistently produced—and of much-improved control of the strike zone. The question now becomes whether Bauers can carry this production into October. The regular season has given him plenty of opportunities to establish himself as a legitimate offensive threat, but the postseason presents a completely different obstacle. He has been a good playoff bat so far in his career, slashing .316/.350/.684. While that sample size is far too small to draw any definitive conclusions, it does provide an encouraging starting point. Bauers has shown that the moment isn't too big for him, which gives the Brewers reason to believe that he can handle the increased pressure of October baseball. Great bat speed also positions a player well to punish the mistakes that pitchers sometimes make under their own playoff pressure. More importantly, the version of Bauers we have seen this season is a much different hitter than the player who made those previous playoff appearances. He’s smarter, chasing less while punishing pitchers by pulling the ball in the air more frequently than he did last season, increasing his pull-air rate from 16.0% in 2025 to 19.2% in 2026. That change has unlocked more of Bauers’s natural power and allowed him to turn more of his hard contact into extra-base hits and home runs. Of course, expecting Bauers to replicate his amazing regular season in October would be unrealistic. Even the best hitters in baseball can struggle against postseason pitching, and opposing teams will crack down on his output by studying Bauers’s weaknesses and forcing the worst possible matchups. He's never before been the guy teams design pitching plans around; that's about to change. Still, Bauers could take over the game with one swing or over the course of multiple plate appearances, and he doesn’t need to match his regular season numbers to make an impact. His combination of patience and power is extremely strong, which will make the free agent-to-be an intriguing option during the upcoming offseason. Between now and then, though, he and the Brewers could change one another's lives forever, with a deep run in the playoffs powered by the most unlikely superstar slugger in the game. What are your thoughts on Bauers’s season so far? Will he be the Brewers’ best bat in October? View full article

The turn of the calendar to September is the last such flip in the major-league regular season. September contains the last chances at pushing to the playoffs for many teams (looking at you, American League Wild Card race), but for everyone, the rosters expanding allows teams to add two new players to their roster for the stretch run. The Brewers, sitting 6.5 games ahead of the Cubs for first place in the N.L. Central, have a few options they could add to the big-league club once September hits. Here’s a quick look at a couple of them. Pitchers Coleman Crow Crow debuted with the Brewers earlier this season, appearing in 5 games to the tune of a 5.30 ERA (4.53 FIP) in 18 2/3 innings. He's appeared in 15 games for Nashville this season (starting 14 of them), earning an ERA of 3.13 with 79 strikeouts in 77 2/3 innings. Crow could provide some length for the Brewers, whether out of the bullpen or by giving the frontline starters an extra day of rest here and there. Colton Gordon Acquired in a trade with the Astros in July, Gordon has struggled in big-league action the past two seasons in Houston, pitching to a career 5.95 ERA (5.86 FIP) through 95 1/3 innings. After joining the Sounds, he's made 7 starts, pitching to a 4.82 ERA in 37 1/3 frames. Gordon is similar to Crow in what his role would be if called up, but he would give the Brewers another left-handed option, Jared Koenig Koenig is the most veteran Brewer on this list, pitching in each of the last three seasons for Milwaukee. He was very solid in 2025, earning a 2.86 ERA (3.35 FIP) in 66 innings. This season, his results have been worse due to a UCL injury in his left arm, pitching to a 9.00 ERA (6.37 FIP) in just 7 innings. While it doesn’t seem likely he would be called up, the Brewers could pick and choose their spots to utilize Koenig in September in hopes of getting him back on track. Other pitching options include Brandon Sproat, Garrett Stallings, and JoJo Romero. Acquired from the Cardinals at the deadline along with Dustin May, Romero has been sidelined since before the trade due to an emergency appendectomy. He began a rehab assignment with the Timber Rattlers on Tuesday, so a return could be imminent, especially when the rosters expand. Hitters Bo Naylor Naylor was acquired by the Brewers on August 1 from the Guardians, in a trade that sent Blake Perkins and Craig Yoho to Cleveland. Since then, Naylor has slashed .289/.365/.511 for Nashville in just 53 plate appearances. Naylor would be an interesting bench option, but realistically, he wouldn’t fit into the lineup often due to the solid play of both William Contreras and Gary Sánchez this season. Brandon Lockridge Lockridge was optioned to Nashville August 19, as the corresponding move for Cooper Pratt coming off the injured list. He’s appeared in 38 games this season, slashing .273/.345/.313 in 111 plate appearances. He wouldn’t provide a ton of power off the bench, with only 4 extra-base hits this year. However, he’s a good baserunner and a solid defender, making him a quality candidate for a bench outfield role in September. Akil Baddoo Baddoo signed a deal with the Brewers in December and has been in Nashville the whole year. He missed time earlier in the year with a left quad strain and has only appeared in 45 games, slashing .234/.337/.461 with 9 homers in 183 plate appearances. He’s another outfield option for Milwaukee, though he's probably behind Lockridge in the pecking order. Other potential options worth noting: prospects Jeferson Quero, Luke Adams and Blake Burke, though with the depth of the current Brewers lineup it would most likely be a veteran position player called up who doesn’t need every day at-bats. With September right around the corner, the Brewers have several intriguing options to add depth for the final month of the regular season. While there are arguments for each player, I’d like to see Lockridge and Romero. Lockridge is a solid contact bat with good speed and defense, while Romero could be a late-inning option in September—though he could be added to the roster before it expands. September should be a time for the Brewers to keep the roster fresh while preparing for the postseason, and all these guys could find a way to contribute to wins down the stretch. What are your thoughts? Who would you like to see when the rosters expand? Image courtesy of Jon Endow-Imagn Images View full article

Image courtesy of Benny Sieu-Imagn Images The Milwaukee Brewers have spent much of the season making it look easy, but with August nearly in the rearview mirror, the real work is about to begin. Milwaukee hasn’t punched its ticket to October just yet, but it has built enough separation to turn the final weeks of the regular season into a race for position, rather than a fight for survival. With September approaching, the Brewers are looking to make sure the road to the World Series runs through Milwaukee. Here’s a quick look at what’s left for the Brewers, schedule-wise. Remaining Brewers Schedule, at a Glance Games Remaining: 31 Home / Road: 12 / 19 Games vs .500+ Teams: 16 Remaining Strength of Schedule: 11th-hardest Key Storylines in the Final 5 Weeks Lots of NL Central Action The Brewers face all four of their divisional foes in at least one series before the end of the season. They play five straight series against NL Central teams, starting on August 31 against the Cubs and ending September 17 in Pittsburgh, against the Pirates. Chicago is the rival they face twice, with four of those games coming at Wrigley Field. Milwaukee has fared well against the division so far this year, going 22-11. Hopefully, the good times keep rolling en route to yet another NL Central title for the Brew Crew. Two Interleague Series Remaining The American League hasn’t been as great as the National League this year, and the Brewers have shown that, going 27-15 against the junior circuit so far. Two series remain: one against the Rangers in Milwaukee during the last weekend in August, and one in Baltimore. The Rangers are currently atop the AL West and are competing for a playoff spot, so that series should be competitive. As for the Orioles, they sold at the deadline but are only 2.5 games out of the last Wild Card spot. By the time that series rolls around, who knows where the O’s will be in the standings? But they still have some good bats, headlined by Pete Alonso. Those two series should give Milwaukee one last chance to test itself against the American League before the postseason arrives. If the Brewers can continue their success against AL opponents, they could head into October with plenty of confidence. A Race for the 1st Seed The Dodgers, Braves, and Rays all trail the Brewers by fewer than five games in the race for home-field advantage throughout the postseason, keeping the pressure on Milwaukee down the stretch. The Dodgers have the easiest remaining strength of schedule among the four teams, while the Rays and Braves face tougher schedules than the Brewers based on opponents’ winning percentages. That gives Milwaukee a favorable path over the final weeks, but with three teams still within striking distance, there isn’t much room for the Brewers to let up. The Brewers have put themselves in a great position heading into the final five weeks, but there’s still plenty left to play for. Between the NL Central race, a challenging group of remaining opponents, and the fight for the No. 1 seed, every game down the stretch will matter. If Milwaukee can keep doing what it has done all season, the Brewers should have a great chance to enter October as one of the favorites in the National League. What are your thoughts on the rest of the schedule? Do any games/series stick out to you? View full article

Image courtesy of Michael McLoone-Imagn Images October baseball has a way of exposing teams' weaknesses. For the Brewers, one of the biggest questions (as they steam toward the postseason) is what happens if Christian Yelich and William Contreras remain below-average hitters. Both players were expected to be major offensive contributors heading into the season, but if they can’t provide that production when the games matter most, the Brewers will have to find other ways to score enough runs to win. That puts significant pressure on the rest of the lineup to perform, especially the younger guys and the players farther down the batting order. Even in the absence of offensive production from the two highest-paid position players, the lineup looks good at the top. Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, and Jake Bauers are all having excellent seasons. Andrew Vaughn is, too, but would probably only appear high in the order against a lefty. Still, he could find crucial at-bats coming his way against right-handed pitching in October if Yelich and Contreras continue to struggle. So, the top of the order isn’t the main problem. It's the depth of the lineup that must be questioned, if the postseason started today. Rookies Luis Lara and Cooper Pratt have performed admirably to this point, each having their own highlight moments—while struggling, too, as rookies do. They shouldn’t be heavily relied on in the postseason, because this will be their first taste of the playoffs. Yelich and Contreras, by contrast, have been there before and won games. Obviously, any production from the rookies is welcome and will be needed, but that doesn’t answer the question of whether the team can win without their top bats making noise. If Yelich and Contreras remain poor at the plate, the Crew will need a step up from two hitters, in particular: Joey Ortiz and Sal Frelick. Ortiz struggled mightily last season, finishing with a slash line of .230/.276/.317. Those same struggles showed themselves again this season, as he possessed a .561 OPS through his first 170 plate appearances. June 16 is when things changed. Pratt was called up to play shortstop, and Ortiz shifted over to third base to replace Luis Rengifo, who was jettisoned. Since then, Ortiz boasts the second-highest OPS on the team, among players with at least 100 plate appearances during that stretch. It should be noted that his best stretch of play in the big leagues came in 2024, where he played third base primarily. Ortiz could be a key bat at the end of the order come October. Frelick is a little harder to feel good about, in the short term. After putting up a good 2025 season (finishing with a .756 OPS), Frelick regressed this year. He's slashing .236/.301/.330, with only 4 home runs, and has spent a long stint on the injured list with a shoulder injury. How much Frelick will play down the stretch will be intriguing, with Chourio, Lara, and Garrett Mitchell slated in the outfield most days. However, Frelick has postseason experience under his belt, and (like Ortiz) he has the potential to provide good at-bats at the bottom of the order when current players are struggling. Despite all of this, it doesn’t seem likely that the Brewers will go far in the postseason without Yelich and Contreras performing up to expectations. They’ve performed very well so far this season without those two guys contributing regularly, but the offense has stuttered for stretches this year, and that can’t happen in October. The real question is what they can do about it. Contreras will be in the lineup no matter what, as the starting catcher. He’s still a solid defender, and while Gary Sánchez has had a good year, he won’t be in the starting lineup unless a lefty is pitching for the opponent. Yelich may be a different story. Could they relegate their highest-paid player to the bench in the playoffs? It doesn’t seem like that will happen, but eventually, something has to give. Yelich is a designated hitter at this point of his career, and anyone can fill that spot. If he continues to struggle, Vaughn, Sánchez, or one of the other bench bats may find themselves in that spot come playoff time. When Yelich and Contreras produce, the Brewers are a significantly better team. Will that happen by the end of the year? Who knows? But if it doesn’t, what do you think the Brewers should do about it? View full article

Before the season began, the Brewers appeared to have an elite set of left-handed options out of the bullpen. While some of those players have performed well at times this year (such as Aaron Ashby and DL Hall), others (like Jared Koenig and Ángel Zerpa) have been unable to deliver, betrayed in one form or another by their arms. Pressed into extremely heavy duty, Ashby has started to waver, especially over the last two months. Left-handed relief help is a need as the trade deadline approaches and will be crucial for the Brewers down the stretch. Here are three options that shouldn’t cost too much, but could leave a big impact, leaning on our DiamondCentric Trade Candidates rankings. Steven Okert – Astros It’s Year Two of Okert being a dominant lefty setup man. The southpaw has become an expert at upsetting hitters’ timing, with a fastball-slider combination that makes him death on fellow lefties but also handles righties well enough to be a high-leverage arm. He’s a free agent at the end of the season. Okert has resurrected his career with the Astros after a rough 2024 in Minnesota. He’s pitched to a 2.66 ERA and 2.92 FIP in 125 innings in his two years in Houston. His slider, by far the best of his pitches, has been worth 10 runs, and opposing hitters are slugging .292 off it. Look for that slider to continue to be his most common pitch if he were to put on a Brewers uniform, but the Crew do love to help hurlers find a fastball they can lean on more. José Suarez – Athletics It's true that there are many relievers available this summer who have sexier arsenals. Suarez operates with a mix led by two fastballs that each sit in the low-to-mid-90s. He doesn’t offer a whole lot of funk in his delivery, and he’s never been considered a premium relief weapon. He’s already pitching for his third team this year. However, the A’s gave him a sweeper and told him to mothball his sinker, and the results have been dazzling. He can miss bats with his changeup to righties and with the sweeper and a tighter slider to lefties. He’s under team control for one more year after this. He might even be able to start for you next season. Suarez struggled for the Braves and Mariners earlier this season before picking it up with the Athletics, pitching to a 3.79 ERA (4.18 FIP) in 38 innings. Like Okert, Suarez’s best pitch is his slider with a run value of 3, and with another year of control, Suarez could be a middle-innings reliever the Brewers target not only for the remainder of this year, but for 2027, as well. Brent Suter – Angels Suter won’t miss bats. Yes, he must pitch in front of a good defense, and yes, you need to leave a little margin for error. As second lefties in a playoff bullpen go, though, you really can’t beat Suter. He’s so deceptive and so good at commanding his changeup-and-sinker-forward arsenal that almost no pitcher in the league limits hard contact as well. He fills up the zone; he gets ground balls; he works quickly. He’s a tremendous complementary piece in almost any relief corps, capable of coming into a dirty inning and defusing the bomb before it can go off. He just needs to pitch in medium leverage, rather than high leverage, because you never know when some mishit grounder will trickle through the infield and cause a problem. That shouldn’t be a huge problem for the Brewers, who are consistently one of the better defensive teams in the league. The former Brewer has pitched to a 4.26 ERA (3.56 FIP) in 61 1/3 innings so far for the Angels. Suter wouldn’t cost much, as he’s a rental (and 36 years old), but he could be a solid bullpen arm for the Brewers come October. These arms aren’t exactly needle-movers, but the Brewers need reliable, left-handed options in the postseason, Sure, they could make a bigger swing for a frontline starter or a higher-end reliever like Mason Miller, but arms like the ones listed above can provide immense value the rest of the year as well. Personally, Okert would be the top option out of these three, but any of the group could help. Given the Astros' newfound status as likely buyers, Suter might be the most realistic target. What are your thoughts? Should the Brewers acquire a left-handed relief arm, and if so, whom? Image courtesy of Troy Taormina-Imagn Images View full article

Image courtesy of © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images Gary Sánchez has been a welcome surprise for the Brewers this season. Coming in with a penciled-in role as the backup catcher, Sánchez was thrust into increased playing time by early injuries and has performed admirably, slashing .218/.364/.451 (good for a 122 OPS+) in 165 plate appearances. However, Sánchez has one characteristic that sticks out in a bad way: his ABS challenges. While his bat has more than justified his increased role, Sánchez's decision-making when it comes to challenging ball and strike calls has been a surprising weakness. ABS is a new, developing part of the game, and it's crucial to look at Sánchez’s rates to think about a change for the rest of the season. Behind the plate, Sánchez has challenged 33 times, good for 42nd among catchers. He’s won 19 of them, a 58% clip, gaining four strikeouts and flipping two walks in the Brewers’ favor. On the surface, these results are solid. However, his volume stands out. Sánchez owns the 7th-highest challenge rate in baseball, at 3.6%; he is one of the most aggressive catchers when it comes to initiating reviews. That may not be an issue with Sánchez; it appears to be more of a Brewers philosophy. William Contreras is ninth in MLB in challenge rate, and the Brewers as a team have challenged the most so far this year. If Sánchez's aggressiveness behind the plate appears to be a product of team philosophy, the same can't be said for his approach in the batter's box. He leads the league in lost challenges with 14 in 24 attempts. His challenge rate is 7th-highest at 17.1%, despite an expected challenge rate of 4.8%, suggesting he is challenging pitches far more often than the quality of the calls warrants. That aggressiveness has had a noticeable impact on Milwaukee's overall challenge profile. The Brewers have issued just 60 hitter challenges all season, the fewest in baseball, and Sánchez alone accounts for 24 of them, 40% of the team's total. For a player who isn't in the lineup every day, that's a remarkable share of the club's challenges. Of course, the stakes of a missed challenge aren't enormous. Unlike an error or a strikeout, an unsuccessful review doesn't directly cost a run. But because each team has a limited number of challenges, using one on a pitch with little chance of being overturned can prevent a teammate from overturning a truly egregious missed call later in the game. That's where challenge discipline becomes just as important as challenge accuracy. The moral of the story isn't that Sánchez should stop challenging altogether. In fact, his work behind the plate shows he has a decent feel for challenging pitches as a catcher. Instead, the issue lies in the batter's box, where he's been far too willing to gamble on close calls. If Sánchez can become more selective at the plate, the Brewers can preserve more challenges for situations where they're likely to make a meaningful difference. Given their elite discipline as a team, available challenges late in ball games can be crucial to overturn bad calls that damage Milwaukee in clutch situations. It would be an adjustment for Sánchez, but one that could remove one of the few blemishes from an excellent season for Milwaukee’s veteran backup catcher. View full article

Image courtesy of © Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images For most pitchers, reaching 10 wins is a milestone that reflects months of taking the ball every fifth day. Aaron Ashby has taken a far different path. The Brewers’ versatile left-hander became the first pitcher in Major League Baseball to reach double-digit victories in 2026, despite working out of the bullpen, turning timely appearances and shutdown innings into one of the season’s most unlikely storylines. While wins are hardly the definitive measure of pitching success, Ashby’s perfect 10-0 record has become a fascinating subplot in Milwaukee’s season and provides the perfect excuse to revisit 10 memorable moments, fun facts, and questions from the Brewers' campaign so far. No. 1 – Opening Day Excellence The Brewers pitching staff started off the season with a bang. Jacob Misorowski, Ashby, Grant Anderson, DL Hall, and Jake Woodford combined for 20 strikeouts, tied for the major-league record in a standard nine inning game, while the offense amassed 14 runs on 12 hits. It was a tone-setter for the year and a sign of great things to come for Milwaukee. No. 2 – Brewers Reach 40 Wins in Only 63 Games The Brewers have set a lot of records so far this year, but the most impressive may be that no other Brewers team has ever reached 40 wins in their first 63 games. It is a testament to all the players and coaches that have contributed to this season so far, and if this keeps going, they'll top the franchise high for regular-season wins set by the team last year, at 97. Time will tell if this squad can keep it up, but all signs point to that with an offense third in runs scored, a young rotation with the lowest FIP in the league, and a great manager at the helm in Pat Murphy. No. 3 – Starting Rotation First in FIP, Less Career Starts Than MLB Notables Milwaukee’s young rotation has been dominant throughout the first part of the season, with Misiorowski and Kyle Harrison leading the charge. Just how young is this rotation, though? Well, combining the 5 current starters (Misiorowski, Harrison, Robert Gasser, Brandon Sproat, and Shane Drohan) gives you 110 career starts. Add in the veteran of the staff, Brandon Woodruff, who should be back with the big-league club soon, and you get 243 career MLB starts. That's still far fewer than these high-profile arms all by themselves: Justin Verlander (556), Max Scherzer (480), former Brewer Jose Quintana (366) and Gerrit Cole (322). This hopefully shows just how good a position the Brewers’ rotation is in, now and for the future. No. 4 - Miz’s Maddux Misiorowski struck out 15 in a 95-pitch complete-game shutout against the Phillies last Friday. It was the most strikeouts in a Maddux ever, topping Tarik Skubal and Clayton Kershaw, who had 13 each. He threw the fastest pitch ever recorded by a starting pitcher (104.5 MPH) to Kyle Schwarber in the first inning, and in the end, he only surrendered only one hit to Schwarber in the top of the fourth. It was one of the greatest pitching performances in baseball history. Games like this are proof that the Miz is one of the best pitchers in baseball, if not the best. No. 5 – First Base Platoon Is Working The Brewers are currently 8th in the league in fWAR at first base. Much of this is due to Jake Bauers, who carried the load while Andrew Vaughn was out with an injury. Both are playing at very high levels, with Bauers slashing .270/.372/.507 in 250 plate appearances and Vaughn hitting .354/.429/.535 in 112 plate appearances. Both guys have been great so far and will be needed as middle-of-the-order bats down the stretch for the Brewers. No. 6 – 182 That’s the number of pitches it takes an individual to scroll on the pitch velocity by a starter leaderboard until you find a player (Jared Jones of the Pittsburgh Pirates) who isn’t Misiorowski. His five hardest-thrown balls came in his last start against the Phillies. He may have been a little fired up due to their comments about his All-Star appearance last season. Overall, this is just another example of how elite Misiorowski is; expect this number to grow further as the season goes along. Get your Blink-182 jokes in this morning. No. 7 – Youth Impact Here and Growing? Cooper Pratt recorded his first MLB hit, run scored, RBI, and stolen base Wednesday night against the Guardians. Called up as the corresponding move for the DFA’d Luis Rengifo, Pratt may signal a movement of calling up young prospects to replace struggling veterans. Players such as Jett Williams or the recently extended Luis Lara could contribute down the stretch for the Brewers if struggling veterans like Sal Frelick keep their performance up from this year. Even without having yet leaned into that possibility, though, Milwaukee is the fifth-youngest team in baseball, proving that their ability now may not be the ceiling for this team. No. 8 – Turang’s Continued Development A two-homer day on April 12 against the Nationals signified a new, more powerful version of Brice Turang. He’s slashing .266/.381/.472 with 11 home runs and has been worth 2.8 fWAR, most in baseball for a second baseman. He is firmly in contention to start the All-Star game for the National League at second base, despite struggling in May (.231/.355/.363). He deserves it for providing a steadying presence while the Brewers dealt with injuries to Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, and Vaughn. Turang has turned himself into one of the more exciting players in baseball to watch, while still being a consistent offensive presence for a team that desperately needed it to start the year. No. 9 – Milwaukee Struck Gold Again The trade of Caleb Durbin to the Red Sox before the season was surprising to many, but it has continued to pay dividends for the Brewers this year. Kyle Harrison was the main piece of the package for Durbin, and he has been electric, pitching to a 2.47 ERA (3.05 FIP) in 65 2/3 innings. Harrison surpassed CC Sabathia (1.59) for the lowest ERA through 10 starts with the Brewers, before having his numbers rudely inflated by a visit to Las Vegas. Shane Drohan, the other pitcher acquired from Boston, has been solid as well, pitching in 14 games (4 starts) with a 3.59 ERA (2.72 FIP) in 42 2/3 innings. The lone position player acquired, David Hamilton, hasn’t been great at the plate this year (76 OPS+), but he does currently lead the team in stolen bases with 15. No. 10 – Can Ashby Catch Roy Face? Who is Roy Face, you ask? Well, he holds the record for most wins in a single season by a reliever, with 18 back in 1959 for the Pirates. Can Ashby top that? The conservative, realistic answer is no, but hey, wouldn’t that just fit who the Brewers are as a team? Ashby has the most appearances so far this season, so why not him? Who knows if it’ll happen, but it would be cool. He's on pace to sail past Face, so for a while, at least, we're all allowed to keep dreaming on this. Whether Ashby finishes with 10 wins or somehow chases down Face’s seemingly untouchable record, his season has already become one of the most unique stories in baseball. More importantly, it reflects what has made the 2026 Brewers so much fun to watch: unexpected contributors, a fearless young pitching staff, savvy roster moves, and stars emerging everywhere. From Misiorowski’s historic dominance to Jake Bauer’s breakout and Kyle Harrison’s immediate impact, this team has produced a ton of memorable moments. Ashby’s perfect record may have inspired this list, but it’s the collective effort of a talented and exciting roster that has Milwaukee positioned for what could be a truly special season. View full article