So, here we are again. It’s early 2026, the snow is still thick in Wisconsin, and somehow, the national media is already trying to bury the Milwaukee Brewers. If you’ve looked at the projected milwaukee brewers baseball standings lately, you might notice something weird. Despite winning 97 games last year—which, by the way, was the best record in all of Major League Baseball—most of the "big" outlets have them pinned as the second-best team in their own division.
Basically, the Chicago Cubs sign one big free agent (looking at you, Alex Bregman) and suddenly everyone forgets that Pat Murphy basically turned a "rebuilding" roster into a juggernaut.
The Brewers finished 2025 at the absolute top of the NL Central heap. They went 97-65. They didn't just win; they dominated a division that was supposed to be a toss-up. They made it all the way to the NLCS before the Dodgers did what the Dodgers do with that massive payroll and swept them. But 97 wins? That’s not a fluke. Yet, if you look at the early 2026 power rankings, ESPN has them at 7th. Some projections even have them finishing five games behind the Cubs. It's honestly hilarious.
Where the Milwaukee Brewers baseball standings actually sit right now
Technically, the 2026 standings are all zeros. Spring Training hasn't even fully kicked off, but the momentum from that 97-win season is still very much in the clubhouse. Last year, the Brewers finished five games ahead of Chicago, 14 ahead of Cincinnati, and a massive 19 games ahead of the Cardinals.
They did this with a starting rotation that was held together by duct tape and hope for the first two months. Remember when they had to trade for Quinn Priester in May because everyone was on the IL? Priester ended up going 13-3 with a 3.55 ERA. That’s the "Brewers Lab" at work. They take guys other teams gave up on and turn them into studs.
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The 2025 final divisional snapshot
- Milwaukee Brewers: 97-65 (1st Place)
- Chicago Cubs: 92-70 (5.0 GB)
- Cincinnati Reds: 83-79 (14.0 GB)
- St. Louis Cardinals: 78-84 (19.0 GB)
- Pittsburgh Pirates: 71-91 (26.0 GB)
You’ve gotta wonder why the disrespect persists. Is it because they don't spend $300 million on shortstops? Probably. But look at the internal growth. Brice Turang turned into a superstar last year, leading the team with a 5.6 bWAR. Jackson Chourio is 21 now and already has multiple 20-20 seasons under his belt. He’s the youngest player in history to do that. If he takes another step forward, the rest of the league is in serious trouble.
The pitching puzzle for 2026
The reason people are hesitant about the milwaukee brewers baseball standings this year usually comes down to Freddy Peralta. There have been trade rumors swirling around "Peralta Day" for months. It feels a lot like the Corbin Burnes situation. If Matt Arnold decides to trade his ace, the standings could take a hit. But then again, they brought Brandon Woodruff back on a $22 million qualifying offer.
A healthy Woodruff and Peralta at the top of the rotation is scary. Plus, they’ve got Jacob Misiorowski waiting to unleash 102 mph fastballs on people.
The bullpen is a bit weird right now, though. As of mid-January, the projected roster has five lefties and only three righties. That’s a lot of southpaws. Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe are still there to slam the door, but the balance is definitely skewed. Matt Arnold has a few weeks to find another right-handed arm, but he’s already been busy. He just traded for Angel Zerpa from the Royals to add even more left-handed depth.
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Young talent and international wins
While other teams are trying to buy wins, the Brewers are just building them. They just signed three of the top 50 international prospects, including Ricky Moneys, who is basically a human highlight reel. That doesn't help the 2026 standings today, but it shows why this team never actually bottoms out.
The 2026 lineup looks solid. William Contreras is arguably the best catcher in the National League. You’ve got Sal Frelick, who hit .281 last year, and Garrett Mitchell coming back from injury. Even if they don't make another move, this is a 90-win roster.
The Cubs are the "sexy" pick because of the Bregman signing. They think a 32-year-old Dansby Swanson and Bregman will be enough to leapfrog Milwaukee. Maybe. But the Brewers have won the division in three of the last four years. They know how to win these ugly Tuesday night games in Cincinnati that the big-market teams sleepwalk through.
What to watch as spring training approaches
If you’re tracking the milwaukee brewers baseball standings, the real movement happens in late February. Watch the health of the rotation. If Woodruff looks like his old self, the Brewers should be the favorites. If they trade Peralta for a haul of prospects, expect a slight dip in the win projections, but don't count them out. This team thrives on being the underdog.
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They play the White Sox on March 26 to open the season. That’s three games they should win, which would put them at the top of the standings immediately. From there, it’s a dogfight with the Cubs all summer.
Actionable Insights for Brewers Fans:
- Monitor the Freddy Peralta trade talks: If he’s still on the roster by February 15, expect the Brewers to go "all-in" for another division title.
- Watch the 3B battle: Caleb Durbin is the projected starter, but Joey Ortiz could see time there if they need more defensive stability at shortstop.
- Track the "Lefty" Bullpen: If the Brewers don't add another right-handed reliever, they might be vulnerable to heavy right-handed lineups in the late innings.
- Keep an eye on the run differential: Last year they had a +172 differential. If they stay near that mark, the wins will follow regardless of what the "experts" say.
The reality is that Milwaukee has built a culture that doesn't care about projections. They have the best defense in the division and a pitching lab that manufactures quality arms out of thin air. The Cubs might have the headlines, but the Brewers still have the crown.