The 2025 Milwaukee Brewers emerged unexpectedly to lead Major League Baseball in wins, setting a team record with 97 victories and easily securing another National League Central division title, all while operating with one of the lowest payrolls in the league.
So how can a team that overperformed its $120 million payroll be even better in 2026? While there’s limited room to surpass 97 wins, here are several reasons why the Brewers could improve in 2026.
How the Brewers Can Improve in 2026
A Healthy William Contreras
The 2024 National League All-Star played the entire 2025 season with a broken middle finger on his glove hand. Despite his injury, William Contreras, a leader by example, refused to miss games. His offensive production understandably declined, but his importance to the Brewers’ young pitching staff cannot be overstated.
He can be quietly considered one of the best catchers in MLB, even if he doesn’t hit 60 home runs like Cal Raleigh. With a return to his old offensive form, Contreras will add an All-Star quality bat to a middle of the lineup that lacked punch. Furthermore, it’s worth noting that 2027 will be his first arbitration year, while he becomes a free agent in 2028.
Starting Pitching Depth
It’s important to note that the chances of longtime Brewer Freddy Peralta being the Opening Day starter are slim. The organization often faces difficult decisions like this one. What they will miss is his consistent ability to pitch every five days.
Over the last three seasons, he has thrown more than 170 innings each year and is expected to receive votes in the NL Cy Young Award balloting. His market value has never been higher.
From the Brewers’ perspective, entering his 30-year-old season, Peralta has significant mileage on his arm, which makes his past dependability a potential liability concerning future market value.
Milwaukee made a savvy move when it acquired Quinn Priester from the Boston Red Sox before the 2025 season. He posted a remarkable 15-3 record with a 3.00 ERA. Jacob Misiorowski proved in October that he can pitch effectively, not just throw hard. The 2025 All-Star is on the verge of becoming dominant.
Chad Patrick showed promise coming out of the bullpen during the postseason, also achieving a 3.53 ERA while striking out more than a batter per inning over 119 2/3 innings pitched in the regular season. Robert Gasser, ranked as the Brewers’ #8 prospect, demonstrated his potential before undergoing Tommy John surgery, which sidelined him for most of 2025.
Aaron Ashby played a significant role in almost every playoff game in 2025. Many believe his talent is best suited for the starting rotation rather than as a seventh- or eighth-inning reliever. He is a left-handed pitcher who regularly hits the upper 90s with three-plus pitches.
Tobias Myers won 13 games for the Crew in 2024, and Logan Henderson could have pitched for any other MLB team if it weren’t for the Brewers. In his five starts, he achieved three wins and a 0.987 WHIP. Lastly, there’s Brandon Woodruff. Milwaukee showed faith in Woodruff, and it paid off in 2025, at least until September. While beating the Dodgers in the NLCS may have been a tall order, the pitching staff would not have been as exhausted if Woodruff had continued making his starts.
With all these options, it’s clear that starting pitching will not be a weakness for the Brewers in 2026.
The Left Side of the Infield
Joey Ortiz is a solid defensive shortstop, but his role in 2026 should primarily be as a defensive replacement. A slash line of .230/.276/.593 is insufficient for a lineup lacking a superstar. He will need to demonstrate he can excel as a defensive shortstop, or he may need to shift to third base. That likely means Caleb Durbin moving to second and Brice Turang taking over shortstop duties.
Speaking of Durbin, his slash line of .256/.334/.387 isn’t adequate for a third baseman but more fitting for a second baseman. The Brewers may need to capitalize on a trade for Peralta or invest in a proven player. While there are some prospects developing, they might not be ready for the 2026 season. We can hope to witness the debut of 3rd base power hitter Brock Wilken at some point next year.
A Healthy Garrett Mitchell
Garrett Mitchell is a player with 20/20 potential, but his inability to stay healthy has been a significant drawback. In his last three seasons, he played only 19, 68, and 25 games, respectively. His combination of speed and power is intriguing, but a wise man once stated that you can’t count on a guy you can’t count on.
Post-Season Windfall
The Milwaukee Brewers are estimated to have made an additional $25 million from their journey to the NLCS. This windfall could fund the acquisition of a player who pushes the team over the postseason hump. It’s unlikely they will pursue a high-profile name like Alex Bregman. Still, the idea of a lineup featuring Bregman alongside Yelich, Chourio, Contreras, Turang, and others is exciting.
General Manager Matt Arnold and manager Pat Murphy have worked wonders over the past two seasons. It’s time for the Brewers to take the next step and improve on that 97-win figure in the 2026 season—while hoping to avoid the Dodgers in October!
Main Photo Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images
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