Brewers 2026 Season Thread
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maybe it will come down to which guy pitched to more batters?
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Philly pitcher had 2/3 of a inning more.
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from today's edition of the athletic (the brewers have a combined record of 6-3 vs three of the other top five teams. they have not played the braves yet):
June 2, 2026 2:30 am PDT
Every week, we ask a selected group of our baseball writers — local and national — to rank the teams from first to worst. Here are the collective results.
Two months into a major-league season, the picture starts to clarify. We’ve got a feel for the really good teams and the really bad ones, too. We’ve got our eyes on the teams we can’t quite believe are where they are this deep into the season. And we’re setting the landscape for the individual award races that we’ll talk about the rest of the way.
This week, we’re looking at the top award candidates for each team. While the MVP races might feel the slightest bit stale, the Cy Young race in the National League might be an all-timer. The Rookie of the Year races in both leagues are unusually strong. And all those surprising teams mean the Manager of the Year races are crowded with contenders, proving our preseason predictions wrong.
All stats are through Monday morning unless stated.
Last Power Ranking: 1
Top awards candidate: Shohei Ohtani, NL MVP
Oddly enough, Ohtani probably has a better shot at MVP than Cy Young, thanks to a loaded cast of thriving NL pitchers. Cristopher Sánchez, Jacob Misiorowski, Chase Burns and Chris Sale have all been sensational, but none of them also boasts a .400 on-base percentage. So, ho hum.
Ohtani remains the favorite to win his fifth MVP award, and his fourth in a row, which would tie Barry Bonds’ record (2001-04). During that stretch, Bonds’ record-setting home run binges and unparalleled walk rates and OPS marks twisted our brains into a pretzel shape. Ohtani has done similar things in recent years, as we ponder how such a prolific hitter could also thrive on the mound. Well, here he goes again, this time showcasing the arm — he has a 0.82 ERA and hitters have a .447 OPS against him — more than the bat. — Zack Meisel
Last Power Ranking: 2
Top awards candidate: Chris Sale, NL Cy Young Award
Oh boy, the National League Cy Young Award race already looks incredible — to the point that Sale’s 8-3 record and 2.01 ERA look only pedestrian. After all, the left-hander allowed eight whole runs in May — which is seven more than Cristopher Sánchez and Jacob Misiorowski combined to yield. But there are still four months to go, and it’s hard to count out Sale over the long run, as long as he stays healthy, of course. The 2024 winner has revitalized his career with Atlanta and has served as a leader for a surprisingly dominant pitching staff. — Tim Britton
Last Power Ranking: T-3
Top awards candidate: Cam Schlittler, AL Cy Young Award
The competition for the American League Cy Young Award isn’t quite as captivating as it is in the senior circuit, thanks to injuries to last year’s top three finishers. Schlittler has surged to the forefront of a race with a lot of new faces, including Chicago’s Davis Martin and Cleveland’s Parker Messick. Throwing 90 percent fastballs, the 25-year-old Schlittler has allowed six earned runs over his last eight starts, covering more than 50 innings. His ERA and FIP are both below 2.00, and only Dylan Cease is striking out hitters at a higher rate in the AL. — Britton
Last Power Ranking: 5
Top awards candidate: Jacob Misiorowski, NL Cy Young Award
No qualified starting pitcher in the American or National League has more strikeouts, a lower WHIP or a lower opponents’ batting average than The Miz. Among qualified NL starters, he’s second in ERA to Cristopher Sánchez. The control issues that bit him in the second half of last season have seemingly gone away, and those who are fortunate enough to make contact aren’t barreling the ball.
Here’s the kicker: He’s doing it all while throwing 100 mph or faster, consistently.
He opened his start on Sunday against the Astros by firing 14 straight pitches at 100 mph or higher.
Yeah, that’s scary. — Johnny Flores Jr.
Last Power Ranking: T-3
Top awards candidate: Kevin Cash, AL Manager of the Year
The majors’ longest-tenured manager is at it again, leading the Rays to the American League’s best record through two months. As usual for Tampa Bay, an excellent pitching staff has been supplemented by a bunch of different contributors on the offensive end. You’ve got to give Cash credit — heh heh — for getting the most out of that lineup. Nothing about the personnel suggests it should be second in the AL in runs per game. Heck, nothing about every other stat the Rays’ offense is compiling suggests it should be second in the AL in runs per game. Yet, here they are. — Britton
MLB Power Rankings: MVP? Cy Young? Let’s look at early awards contenders from each team
By Tim Britton, Johnny Flores Jr. and Zack MeiselJune 2, 2026 2:30 am PDT
Every week, we ask a selected group of our baseball writers — local and national — to rank the teams from first to worst. Here are the collective results.
Two months into a major-league season, the picture starts to clarify. We’ve got a feel for the really good teams and the really bad ones, too. We’ve got our eyes on the teams we can’t quite believe are where they are this deep into the season. And we’re setting the landscape for the individual award races that we’ll talk about the rest of the way.
This week, we’re looking at the top award candidates for each team. While the MVP races might feel the slightest bit stale, the Cy Young race in the National League might be an all-timer. The Rookie of the Year races in both leagues are unusually strong. And all those surprising teams mean the Manager of the Year races are crowded with contenders, proving our preseason predictions wrong.
All stats are through Monday morning unless stated.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
Record: 38-22Last Power Ranking: 1
Top awards candidate: Shohei Ohtani, NL MVP
Oddly enough, Ohtani probably has a better shot at MVP than Cy Young, thanks to a loaded cast of thriving NL pitchers. Cristopher Sánchez, Jacob Misiorowski, Chase Burns and Chris Sale have all been sensational, but none of them also boasts a .400 on-base percentage. So, ho hum.
Ohtani remains the favorite to win his fifth MVP award, and his fourth in a row, which would tie Barry Bonds’ record (2001-04). During that stretch, Bonds’ record-setting home run binges and unparalleled walk rates and OPS marks twisted our brains into a pretzel shape. Ohtani has done similar things in recent years, as we ponder how such a prolific hitter could also thrive on the mound. Well, here he goes again, this time showcasing the arm — he has a 0.82 ERA and hitters have a .447 OPS against him — more than the bat. — Zack Meisel
2. Atlanta Braves
Record: 40-20Last Power Ranking: 2
Top awards candidate: Chris Sale, NL Cy Young Award
Oh boy, the National League Cy Young Award race already looks incredible — to the point that Sale’s 8-3 record and 2.01 ERA look only pedestrian. After all, the left-hander allowed eight whole runs in May — which is seven more than Cristopher Sánchez and Jacob Misiorowski combined to yield. But there are still four months to go, and it’s hard to count out Sale over the long run, as long as he stays healthy, of course. The 2024 winner has revitalized his career with Atlanta and has served as a leader for a surprisingly dominant pitching staff. — Tim Britton
3. New York Yankees
Record: 36-23Last Power Ranking: T-3
Top awards candidate: Cam Schlittler, AL Cy Young Award
The competition for the American League Cy Young Award isn’t quite as captivating as it is in the senior circuit, thanks to injuries to last year’s top three finishers. Schlittler has surged to the forefront of a race with a lot of new faces, including Chicago’s Davis Martin and Cleveland’s Parker Messick. Throwing 90 percent fastballs, the 25-year-old Schlittler has allowed six earned runs over his last eight starts, covering more than 50 innings. His ERA and FIP are both below 2.00, and only Dylan Cease is striking out hitters at a higher rate in the AL. — Britton
4. Milwaukee Brewers
Record: 36-21Last Power Ranking: 5
Top awards candidate: Jacob Misiorowski, NL Cy Young Award
No qualified starting pitcher in the American or National League has more strikeouts, a lower WHIP or a lower opponents’ batting average than The Miz. Among qualified NL starters, he’s second in ERA to Cristopher Sánchez. The control issues that bit him in the second half of last season have seemingly gone away, and those who are fortunate enough to make contact aren’t barreling the ball.
Here’s the kicker: He’s doing it all while throwing 100 mph or faster, consistently.
He opened his start on Sunday against the Astros by firing 14 straight pitches at 100 mph or higher.
Yeah, that’s scary. — Johnny Flores Jr.
5. Tampa Bay Rays
Record: 36-21Last Power Ranking: T-3
Top awards candidate: Kevin Cash, AL Manager of the Year
The majors’ longest-tenured manager is at it again, leading the Rays to the American League’s best record through two months. As usual for Tampa Bay, an excellent pitching staff has been supplemented by a bunch of different contributors on the offensive end. You’ve got to give Cash credit — heh heh — for getting the most out of that lineup. Nothing about the personnel suggests it should be second in the AL in runs per game. Heck, nothing about every other stat the Rays’ offense is compiling suggests it should be second in the AL in runs per game. Yet, here they are. — Britton
