National League Central Preview: Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers finished 2025 with the best record in baseball, 97-65, and eventually lost to the Dodgers in the NLCS. However, Milwaukee went into the offseason and sent away some key contributors, including their Opening Day starter from 2025, who is in a contract year. However, this is how the Brewers operate, and we will see whether their roster-building approach works again in 2026.

Notable Brewers Offseason Moves 

The biggest move the Brewers made this offseason was trading Freddy Peralta, their clear number one starter, along with Tobias Myers, to the Mets for prospects Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat. Peralta led the National League in wins this past season, to go along with a 2.70 ERA and 204 strikeouts. He has started 30 games each of the past three years, and that consistent level of great pitching will benefit the Mets' rotation greatly. As for the return, Williams can play shortstop, second base, and the outfield, and is currently the no. 3 prospects in the Brewers’ system. He should see time at the big-league level this year. Sproat is currently the no. 5 prospect in the Brewers’ system and will look to build off his first four starts made with the Mets last season. With the departure of Peralta and the injury to Quinn Priester, Sproat could play a bigger role in the rotation sooner rather than later.

There were two other significant trades the Brewers made, the first of which was trading outfielder Isaac Collins and right-handed pitcher Nick Mears to the Royals for left-handed reliever Angel Zerpa. Collins finished 4th in NL Rookie of the Year voting, hitting .263/.368/.411 with 9 homeruns and 16 stolen bases. Zerpa had a 4.18 ERA with 58 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings. Trusting the Brewers to develop pitching and suitable position players is fair given their track record, and some belief in that is especially necessary before the season. The other trade the Brewers made was a rather surprising one, as they sent Caleb Durbin, Andruw Monasterio, Anthony Seigler, and Competitive Balance Round B Draft Pick for left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, infielder David Hamilton, and left-handed pitching prospect Shane Drohan. Durbin finished third in the Rookie of the Year vote last year, hitting .256/.334/.387 with 11 home runs and 18 stolen bases. Monasterio and Seigler were both depth infielders. As for Harrison, he was the former #1 prospect in the San Francisco Giants system. Like Sproat, Harrison will look to contribute to the rotation early. Hamilton projects to be the utility infielder coming off the bench, while Drohan could find a role later this year.

The Brewers ended their offseason by reuniting with catcher Gary Sanchez to be the backup and signing former Angel Luis Rengifo to be the starting third baseman. These two will both look for bounce-back seasons at the plate.

Projected Brewers Lineup (MLB.com)

1. Jackson Chourio, LF
2. Brice Turang, 2B
3. William Contreras, C
4. Christian Yelich, DH
5. Andrew Vaughn, 1B
6. Sal Frelick, RF
7. Luis Rengifo, 3B
8. Garrett Mitchell, CF
9. Joey Ortiz, SS

The infield is very similar when compared to 2025, with Rengifo as the only newcomer. Joey Ortiz will look to re-find the hitting ability he saw in 2024, and Brice Turang will continue to be one of, if not the Brewers' most valuable player at the second base spot. As for first base, it’ll likely be a split between Andrew Vaughn and Jake Bauers depending on the opposing starter, and these two should make for a decent platoon duo.

As for the outfield, the departure of Collins allows Garrett Mitchell to slide in as the starting center fielder, and Blake Perkins could see time there as well if Mitchell doesn’t stay healthy. Jackson Chourio will be the primary left fielder, while Sal Frelick will lock down right field. Former MVP Christian Yelich could see time in the outfield as well, but he will be the primary DH for the Brew Crew this year.

William Contreras will once again be the starting catcher for the Brewers this year. Contreras spent much of last season dealing with a broken middle finger on his catching hand, so he’ll look to stay healthy and produce once again for the Brewers in 2026. As for the backup role, that’ll be held by Sanchez and potentially Reese McGuire at some point if he sticks around in the minor leagues.

Projected Brewers Rotation

1. Jacob Misiorowski, RHP
2. Chad Patrick, RHP
3. Brandon Sproat, RHP
4. Kyle Harrison, LHP
5. Brandon Woodruff, RHP

The rotation looks a little shaky with the loss of Peralta. The veteran of the group, Brandon Woddruff, accepted a qualifying offer and is back in Milwaukee for 2026 after returning in 2025 from shoulder surgery back in 2023. Jacob Misiorowski was an All-Star in his 15 games last year and will look to be more consistent in 2026, while Chad Patrick is confirmed to be in the starting rotation, according to Pat Murphy. That leaves the last two spots to Sproat, Harrison, or Aaron Ashby, who is being stretched out as a starter in camp. Quinn Priester will factor into the mix at some point as well when he is healthy.

The Brewers did trade away talent this offseason, but the core pieces of their lineup are still intact. Pair that with a few young, exciting arms and a good bullpen, and it wouldn’t be a shock if the Brewers won the N.L. Central again in 2026.