The 2026 MLB season is not yet a month old, but that sample size has revealed a disturbing trend on the Milwaukee Brewers‘ pitching staff, specifically with starter Brandon Sproat.

While the Brewers are treading water, patiently waiting for injured contributors to return to the lineup, they are a respectable 13-11. That record, however, places them last in the competitive National League Central division.

For the most part, Milwaukee’s pitching rotation has held the team together during April. Brewers’ starters Jacob Misiorowski, Brandon Woodruff, Kyle Harrison, and Chad Patrick currently have a combined 2.97 ERA through 91 innings pitched.

After five appearances, however, the fifth member of the rotation, pitcher Sproat, is struggling mightily with a 6.45 ERA. His performance through five appearances is making Brew Crew fans count down the days until Quinn Priester returns from the injured list. At the very least, a trip to the bullpen should be considered in the short run.

Brandon Sproat Stats Compared to Brewers Rotation in 2026

Apr 11, 2026: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Sproat (23) delivers a pitch against the Washington Nationals at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-Imagn Images

Through April 23rd, here is how the five main starting pitchers for the Brewers have fared:

  • Misiorowski: 5 G, 26.2 IP, 17 H, 9 ER, 12 BB, 42 K, 1.09 WHIP, 3.04 ERA (1-2 record)
  • Patrick: 5 G, 23 IP, 21 H, 6 ER, 8 BB, 11 K, 1.26 WHIP, 2.35 ERA (1-1 record)
  • Harrison: 4 G, 17.2 IP, 16 H, 6 ER, 7 BB, 18 K, 1.30 WHIP, 3.06 ERA (1-1 record)
  • Woodruff: 4 G, 23.2 IP, 18 H, 9 ER, 4 BB, 20 K, 0.93 WHIP, 3.42 ERA (2-0 record)
  • Sproat: 5 G, 22.1 IP, 22 H, 16 ER, 13 BB, 20 K, 1.57 WHIP, 6.45 ERA (0-1 record)

For those keeping track, Sproat leads the staff in hits and earned runs allowed, walks issued, along with the highest WHIP and ERA.

On April 9, Sproat’s turn in the rotation was skipped, in part due to off-day management and the pitcher’s inconsistency. After that decision, manager Pat Murphy spoke of Sproat’s potential, but he also conceded that the rookie right-hander needs to step up.

“Guys that have never done it (getting skipped in the rotation), it might spook them,” he said on April 10. “This kid’s dialed in. He’s ready to go tonight. He knows if he’s needed, he’s ready to go. (Chad) Patrick knows; he had to learn that same way. It’s kind of good to have that flexibility and be able to do both things.

“I’m pretty confident he’s in a good spot. He’s got to get better. He knows that. He’s been out there a couple times and he knows, ‘Hey, I’ve got to trust this and trust that and I’ve got to be able to execute.’ He’s learning on the job. When you have these young pitchers, that’s what happens.”

Who Could Replace Brandon Sproat in Brewers Rotation?

Apr 17, 2026; Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Coleman Crow (57) delivers a pitch against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

It is not as if the Brewers were out of options to hold down the fifth starting job. The obvious answer to replace Sproat is Priester, who is working to return next month after dealing with thoracic outlet syndrome. In his first rehab start this week, however, Priester lasted just 29 pitches, only 12 of which were strikes.

Upon hearing the news from Nashville, Murphy sounded resigned to being without Priester for the time being.

“I think, still, it’s going to be a while,” he said Wednesday afternoon. “I don’t think we can get our hopes up too high. The type of injury he had, not being able to face live hitters in a normal progression, I think it will be a minute.”

Who would be the next man up should Sproat work himself out of the job? Waiting in the wings is Coleman Crow, who made a sparkling major-league debut on April 17. In that outing, Crow threw 5.1 innings and only allowed two runs while giving up just four hits. Based on that performance, Crow appears to be a viable answer as the #5 starter.

Logan Henderson is another young gun in the Brewers’ system, and he has major-league experience as well. While he has only appeared in one game for Milwaukee this season, Henderson boasts a 3-0 record with a 2.30 ERA in his six big-league outings.

End Of My Sproat Rant: Brewers Do Not Have To Wait To Make A Change

Apr 19, 2026; Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy watches from the dugout steps against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

As two-time defending NL Central champions, the Brewers should not be in a rebuilding mode–they should be reloading. If expectations for Milwaukee were to be a 70-75 win team this season, maybe allowing Sproat to develop while taking some lumps would be prudent in the long run.

The Brewers’ goal is not to win roughly half of their games this season; Milwaukee should aim to three-peat in the Central in 2026. The time is now for Murphy and the Brewers’ front office to decide on Sproat’s future and act before the season gets away from them.