Through their first two series in 2026, the Milwaukee Brewers‘ pitching staff, especially the relievers, has proven that last year’s success was no fluke.
The Brew Crew has won five of its first six games, which included a sweep of the Chicago White Sox and taking two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays. The pleasant start is thanks in large part to the work of the bullpen. Eight hurlers have logged innings thus far, and aside from one blown save in its only loss, a 3-2 decision to the Rays, Milwaukee’s support staff has been on point.
Here is a breakdown of the numbers put up by the Brewers’ relief pitchers during their opening homestand, allowing them to take early control of the NL Central.
Not to be upstaged, Milwaukee’s starting rotation has not been shabby, either. Aside from newcomer Bradon Sproat’s ineffective outing, in which he gave up seven earned runs in three innings on Sunday against the White Sox, the starters have kept the Brewers in games. In their five other starts, Milwaukee pitchers have only given up seven earned runs in 25.1 innings.
WHIP: 0.94
ERA: 1.05
Innings: 25.2
Strikeouts: 37
Manager Pat Murphy has summoned Aaron Ashby the most through the first six games. Ashby, who has appeared in four games, mostly in high-leverage situations in the middle innings, has delivered. The lefty has thrown 5.2 innings and given up only one earned run, which gives him a 2.45 ERA. His nine strikeouts give him almost two per inning, and his WHIP is a miniscule 0.89.
On Saturday’s 6-1 over Chicago, the bullpen posted a typically solid outing. Starter Chad Patrick lasted just 4.1 innings, and Ashby was called upon to get the Brewers into the latter stages of the game. Ashby recorded four outs, all strikeouts, then Angel Zerpa and Abner Uribe held the White Sox off the scoreboard in the seventh and eighth.
No starter has yet to venture past the sixth inning this season. With the crew waiting in the bullpen wings pitching the way they are, those in the rotation do not need to overly stress their arms in April.
Any baseball mind will say that a solid and dependable defense is a pitcher’s best friend. In 2026, Milwaukee’s pitchers are claiming more BFFs than ever.
Through six games, the Brewers are one of just three teams which have not committed an error. The Cincinnati Reds and the Houston Astros are the other squads that have flawless defenses.
Milwaukee is led up the middle by 2024 Platinum Glove Award-winner Brice Turang at second base and Joey Ortiz at shortstop. With that tandem, the Brewers own one of the most formidable double-play combinations in all of the MLB.
While Turang has received more accolades, Murphy knows that Ortiz’s time in the spotlight is coming.
“I don’t remember a dude that played shortstop for us like that, that played so consistently. And his key is the way he can redirect the baseball,” he said. “It’s uncanny. He did it a bunch last year. He did it tonight. It just sticks out. Watch that play on film. Not too many shortstops make that play, and that’s what separates him, I think.”
Between Turang and Ortiz, they have handled 30 total chances without a mishap, which has, in part, allowed the pitching staff to enjoy their early-season success.
Despite winning the previous three NL Central crowns, most prognosticators across the MLB landscape picked Milwaukee to finish out of this year’s running. What those so-called experts failed to realize is just how resilient the Brewers’ roster is year after year.
General Manager Matt Arnold handpicked this year’s roster, and it did not come easily. The Brewers traded away ace Freddy Peralta, but they secured two-thirds of their Opening Day rotation, Sproat and Kyle Harrison, via off-season trades. Milwaukee needed another left-handed presence in the bullpen, and Arnold pulled the trigger on the Zerpa trade.
The Brewers’ front office has consistently built a bullpen capable of competing at a high level year after year. If these trends continue, the Brewers’ bullpen could finish the 2026 season among MLB’s elite in ERA, WHIP, and strikeout rate. Through six games, the early returns suggest Milwaukee once again has a championship-caliber pitching staff.
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