I’ve chosen a few different formats for this series now that the Cubs play all 29 other teams every year. Sorry, I’m not writing 29 of these.
This year, I’ll focus an article on each of the Cubs’ NL Central rivals, since the Cubs play them more than any other teams. That’ll make four articles. The rest of the series will cover the other 29 teams by division.
Let’s start with the Cubs’ postseason rivals from last year, the Brewers, who beat out the Cubs by five games for the NL Central title and then defeated them in a Division Series.
Before we begin, a note: This series is intended to give broad overviews of each team and start some discussion, not as a real detailed look.
Key departures: Freddy Peralta, Caleb Durbin, Erick Fedde, Rhys Hoskins, Isaac Collins, Tobias Myers, Andruw Monasterio, José Quintana
Key arrivals: Kyle Harrison, Brandon Sproat, Jett Williams, Angel Zerpa, Gary Sánchez, Reese McGuire
The Brewers were certainly busy this offseason, trading one of their top starters along with two young players (Durbin and Collins) who were key players in their 29-4 run mid-season.
They are, apparently, hoping that the two prospects (Sproat and Williams) that they got from the Mets in the Peralta deal will be useful replacements for the guys they traded. The starting rotation will be helped by Brandon Woodruff’s expected return for Opening Day. But Woodruff is now 33 and has missed much time over the last three seasons, making only 23 total starts from 2023-25.
William Contreras will now be their top offensive player, and Christian Yelich, who didn’t have a good 2025, is a year older. They are hoping for big things from Jackson Chourio, who doesn’t turn 22 until next month.
Former Cub Reese McGuire has a chance to make Milwaukee’s Opening Day roster, but they just signed Gary Sánchez to back up Contreras, so McGuire might wind up as he was with the Cubs, a “break glass in case of emergency” guy.
The Brewers always seem to find a way. They are well managed by Craig Counsell’s former bench coach, Pat Murphy. I don’t think they are a 97-win team anymore, but they have surprised people in the past.
Unlike last year, these teams will have meaningful games against each other in September.
At Wrigley Field: May 18-19-20 and Aug. 31-Sept. 1-2-3
At Milwaukee: June 26-27-28 and Sept. 7-8-9
SB Nation team site:Brew Crew Ball