Milwaukee Brewers News Roundup — September 22, 2026

The Milwaukee Brewers clinched a first-round bye after Atlanta's loss to Cincinnati, securing their spot among the National League's top two seeds with 98 wins and five games remaining in the regular season.

The Brewers' success this season stems from consistency rather than explosive winning streaks, a departure from last year's approach. With their longest streak just five games, Milwaukee has maintained steady performance throughout 2026 while benefiting from a healthier bullpen and more reliable starting rotation featuring Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson, Dustin May, and Robert Gasser. If the team reaches 100 wins, they would become the first franchise in history to do so without a six-game winning streak. Preseason projections from ESPN, Baseball Prospectus, and FanGraphs significantly underestimated the Brewers, with forecasts ranging from 81 to 83 wins and playoff odds as low as 41 percent.

The Brewers face decisions about their playoff rotation as the regular season winds down. Management is leaning toward Dustin May as the Game 3 starter over Robert Gasser, prioritizing May's nine postseason appearances from his time with the Dodgers despite Gasser's superior recent performance. Colton Gordon impressed in his Milwaukee debut against Philadelphia, allowing two runs over five innings, raising questions about whether he merits a postseason roster spot. May himself will look to strengthen his case tonight against the Phillies, as his 5.40 ERA in eight starts has created uncertainty about his October role.

The National League playoff field is nearly finalized, with the Braves clinching the NL East at 92-64 despite recent struggles. The Cubs hold the first Wild Card spot at 87-69 with the league's top-ranked offense and defense, though pitching depth concerns loom due to injuries to key starters like Cade Horton and Ben Brown.