So who wins the NL Central in 2026 ?

[ramfandan]

With the crushing defeat in the NLCS will the media predict the Brewers to fall back in the pack ? Will they go with the Cubs ? WIll they pick the Reds to win the title ?
Who will take the crown in 2026? A few years ago when the Brewers traded Josh Hader , the Brewers were predicted to silde backwards .. then again the year they lost ace Corbin Burns , the Brew Crew kept playing well. Then they traded NL top closer Devin WIlliams away and lost SS Willy Adames .. once again somehow they still seem to overcome that too.
Will those Brewers find some way to win again in 2026 OR will someone beat them out next year ? The Brewers have become the sore spot in the NL Central . Frustrate a lot of NL Central fans how they stay at the top of the Central so consistently .

[icon]

With the crushing defeat in the NLCS will the media predict the Brewers to fall back in the pack ? Will they go with the Cubs ? WIll they pick the Reds to win the title ?
Who will take the crown in 2026? A few years ago when the Brewers traded Josh Hader , the Brewers were predicted to silde backwards .. then again the year they lost ace Corbin Burns , the Brew Crew kept playing well. Then they traded NL top closer Devin WIlliams away and lost SS Willy Adames .. once again somehow they still seem to overcome that too.
Will those Brewers find some way to win again in 2026 OR will someone beat them out next year ? The Brewers have become the sore spot in the NL Central . Frustrate a lot of NL Central fans how they stay at the top of the Central so consistently .

The Brewers are regular season heroes and postseason zeroes -- again. They went 6-0 against the Dodgers during the season and 0-4 in the NLCS. They should save themselves the embarrassment next year and tank.

[Ozziesfan41]

With the crushing defeat in the NLCS will the media predict the Brewers to fall back in the pack ? Will they go with the Cubs ? WIll they pick the Reds to win the title ?
Who will take the crown in 2026? A few years ago when the Brewers traded Josh Hader , the Brewers were predicted to silde backwards .. then again the year they lost ace Corbin Burns , the Brew Crew kept playing well. Then they traded NL top closer Devin WIlliams away and lost SS Willy Adames .. once again somehow they still seem to overcome that too.
Will those Brewers find some way to win again in 2026 OR will someone beat them out next year ? The Brewers have become the sore spot in the NL Central . Frustrate a lot of NL Central fans how they stay at the top of the Central so consistently .

The Brewers are regular season heroes and postseason zeroes -- again. They went 6-0 against the Dodgers during the season and 0-4 in the NLCS. They should save themselves the embarrassment next year and tank.

No team was beating the dodgers. Like I said before the post season began the other teams are just playing each other to see who the dodgers beat on their way to the World Series

[ramfandan]

With the crushing defeat in the NLCS will the media predict the Brewers to fall back in the pack ? Will they go with the Cubs ? WIll they pick the Reds to win the title ?
Who will take the crown in 2026? A few years ago when the Brewers traded Josh Hader , the Brewers were predicted to silde backwards .. then again the year they lost ace Corbin Burns , the Brew Crew kept playing well. Then they traded NL top closer Devin WIlliams away and lost SS Willy Adames .. once again somehow they still seem to overcome that too.
Will those Brewers find some way to win again in 2026 OR will someone beat them out next year ? The Brewers have become the sore spot in the NL Central . Frustrate a lot of NL Central fans how they stay at the top of the Central so consistently .

The Brewers are regular season heroes and postseason zeroes -- again. They went 6-0 against the Dodgers during the season and 0-4 in the NLCS. They should save themselves the embarrassment next year and tank.

The Brewers did win the divisional series . .. so not postseason zeroes . Skipped over that one.

What I am asking though is who will win the NL Central in 2026 ? Are the Brewers still the team to beat in NL Central or will someone beat them out in 2026 ?

[Ozziesfan41]

With the crushing defeat in the NLCS will the media predict the Brewers to fall back in the pack ? Will they go with the Cubs ? WIll they pick the Reds to win the title ?
Who will take the crown in 2026? A few years ago when the Brewers traded Josh Hader , the Brewers were predicted to silde backwards .. then again the year they lost ace Corbin Burns , the Brew Crew kept playing well. Then they traded NL top closer Devin WIlliams away and lost SS Willy Adames .. once again somehow they still seem to overcome that too.
Will those Brewers find some way to win again in 2026 OR will someone beat them out next year ? The Brewers have become the sore spot in the NL Central . Frustrate a lot of NL Central fans how they stay at the top of the Central so consistently .

The Brewers are regular season heroes and postseason zeroes -- again. They went 6-0 against the Dodgers during the season and 0-4 in the NLCS. They should save themselves the embarrassment next year and tank.

The Brewers did win the divisional series . .. so not postseason zeroes . Skipped over that one.

What I am asking though is who will win the NL Central in 2026 ? Are the Brewers still the team to beat in NL Central or will someone beat them out in 2026 ?

Brewers win it easily again. Cubs will lose Tucker and won’t be as good the reds may even pass them up for second next season

[ramfandan]

With the crushing defeat in the NLCS will the media predict the Brewers to fall back in the pack ? Will they go with the Cubs ? WIll they pick the Reds to win the title ?
Who will take the crown in 2026? A few years ago when the Brewers traded Josh Hader , the Brewers were predicted to silde backwards .. then again the year they lost ace Corbin Burns , the Brew Crew kept playing well. Then they traded NL top closer Devin WIlliams away and lost SS Willy Adames .. once again somehow they still seem to overcome that too.
Will those Brewers find some way to win again in 2026 OR will someone beat them out next year ? The Brewers have become the sore spot in the NL Central . Frustrate a lot of NL Central fans how they stay at the top of the Central so consistently .

The Brewers are regular season heroes and postseason zeroes -- again. They went 6-0 against the Dodgers during the season and 0-4 in the NLCS. They should save themselves the embarrassment next year and tank.

The Brewers did win the divisional series . .. so not postseason zeroes . Skipped over that one.

What I am asking though is who will win the NL Central in 2026 ? Are the Brewers still the team to beat in NL Central or will someone beat them out in 2026 ?

Brewers win it easily again. Cubs will lose Tucker and won’t be as good the reds may even pass them up for second next season

Good point on Tucker probably departing Chicago in the open market. I would guess most will be predicting Cardinals 4th or even 5th in the division. Probably with Bloom touting rebuild for the long term, I would think a lot of the national media publications / online will have Cardinals 5th dead last in the NL Central . Wonder if Cardinals may surprise and finish higher ?

[JuanAgosto]

Probably the Brewers. Only to get their (donkey) kicked in the playoffs.

[CCard]

With the crushing defeat in the NLCS will the media predict the Brewers to fall back in the pack ? Will they go with the Cubs ? WIll they pick the Reds to win the title ?
Who will take the crown in 2026? A few years ago when the Brewers traded Josh Hader , the Brewers were predicted to silde backwards .. then again the year they lost ace Corbin Burns , the Brew Crew kept playing well. Then they traded NL top closer Devin WIlliams away and lost SS Willy Adames .. once again somehow they still seem to overcome that too.
Will those Brewers find some way to win again in 2026 OR will someone beat them out next year ? The Brewers have become the sore spot in the NL Central . Frustrate a lot of NL Central fans how they stay at the top of the Central so consistently .

If I didn't think it was the Cards then I wouldn't watch. If they fall out of contention then I really don't care. I would say the Brewers and Chicago would probably be the two favorites. But there are a lot of deals and signings to be made yet. The Cards add a top tier pitcher or two and a decent run scorer and they could easily take it.

[kyace]

Brewers are built for the long season with their depth of decent players and good management. Postseason belongs to those teams with elite healthy players. Dodgers gather elite talent pointing toward having them ready for postseason. They have timed it perfectly so far as all their elite players are healthy.

[C-Unit]

With the crushing defeat in the NLCS will the media predict the Brewers to fall back in the pack ? Will they go with the Cubs ? WIll they pick the Reds to win the title ?
Who will take the crown in 2026? A few years ago when the Brewers traded Josh Hader , the Brewers were predicted to silde backwards .. then again the year they lost ace Corbin Burns , the Brew Crew kept playing well. Then they traded NL top closer Devin WIlliams away and lost SS Willy Adames .. once again somehow they still seem to overcome that too.
Will those Brewers find some way to win again in 2026 OR will someone beat them out next year ? The Brewers have become the sore spot in the NL Central . Frustrate a lot of NL Central fans how they stay at the top of the Central so consistently .

The Brewers are regular season heroes and postseason zeroes -- again. They went 6-0 against the Dodgers during the season and 0-4 in the NLCS. They should save themselves the embarrassment next year and tank.

The Brewers did win the divisional series . .. so not postseason zeroes . Skipped over that one.

What I am asking though is who will win the NL Central in 2026 ? Are the Brewers still the team to beat in NL Central or will someone beat them out in 2026 ?

Brewers win it easily again. Cubs will lose Tucker and won’t be as good the reds may even pass them up for second next season

Being a baseball fan I'd love to see the Reds add to their team. Why not sign Schwarber if you're the Reds and put him behind Elly De La Cruz, with all the athleticism they have in the rest of their lineup. I know I know, money. That's the problem with this game.

[Alex Reyes Cy Young]

Brewers win next year too.

[rockondlouie]

-I don't see the Brewers repeating.

B. Woodruff has a $20 million mutual option for 2026, not sure the Brewers pickup their part or if Woodruff would rather hit the market in search of a multi year deal.

They also have mutual options on:

Rhys Hoskins ($18M mutual, $4M buyout)
Danny Jansen ($12M mutual, $500,000 buyout)
Jose Quintana ($15M mutual, $2M buyout)

I'd bet they all hit the F.A. market.

Also going to hit for some big raises from:

Eligible for arbitration
Jake Bauers
Nick Mears
Trevor Megill
Garrett Mitchell^
Blake Perkins^
Brice Turang^
Andrew Vaughn

They don't have the payroll, should see a slide next season.



-Scubbies will lose K. Tucker and I read this from MLB.com:

S. Imanaga has a uniquely structured contract that allows the Cubs to exercise an option this winter that triggers a three-year, $57 million extension through 2028. If they decline, it becomes a $16 million player option for 2026, but it should be a no-brainer to bring him back at that price.

Multiple Relievers: With Brad Keller (68 games), Caleb Thielbar (67 games), Drew Pomeranz (57 games), Ryan Brasier (28 games) and Taylor Rogers (17 games) all departing in free agency,

-Not a believer in the Reds although T. Francona did a great job getting them over .500 and into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth.

Aside from the Pirates, any of the others (and yes I'm including the Cardinals) could slide in if the winner of the NLC in 2026 comes in a under 90 wins.

JMO

[11WSChamps]

The Brewers.

Doesn't really matter how many players they lose they are thr best run organization in the division by far and well managed in the dugout.

Look at that roster and tell me how they had the best record in baseball this season?

I'll believe someone is better when I see it.

The Cubs have the means to be better but somehow always fall short.

The Reds I believe will only get better and their starting pitching is pretty good.

If the Pirates could somehow find a couple of bats they could be interesting

The Cardinals..well they're going to be looking up to perhaps all these teams in the division next season unless Bloom knows something I don't.

[45s]

Milwaukee

[BrummerStealsHome]

I hate to say this, but unless some surprises crop up in the offseason, the 2026 NL Central will likely belong to the Cubs. I don't see the Brewers repeating. There's a bid moon on the rise.

[ilcubuffs]

Depends on whether ownership allows: Schlesinger/Arnold of Brewers and Hoyer/Hawkins of Dubbies to sign their players who can become FA and/or spend on players in FA market.

Unless Brewers have another Misiorwski in the wings they could not afford to lose both Quintana and Woodruff. Dubbies could attempt to sign Bellinger if Tucker leaves or Castellanos of Phillies if they decide to part ways, but doubt they have any other player ready to become a full time OF.

Have not seen any article that Pat Murphy would not returns as Brewer manager. But if he decides to 'retire" that is huge hole in the field management.

Brewers in 2026 based on current info.