2026 was the most successful season in Brewers history, culminating in the franchise’s first World Series championship. Still, even the best teams have off days.
Just like last year, I’ll be ranking the five best and five worst Brewers games of the season, and since there was a lot more good than bad in 2026, I’m starting with the worst and saving the best for last.
#5: April 23, 2026 — Tigers 5, Brewers 4
The Brewers fell behind early in this one, but took the lead in the seventh on a two-run double
by Blake Perkins and an RBI single from David Hamilton. However, Angel Zerpa gave up a game-tying solo homer to Jahmai Jones in the eighth. Abner Uribe came on in the ninth and struck out the first batter he faced, but then fell behind Spencer Torkelson 3-1. Torkelson sent the next pitch over the fence for a walk-off home run.
On top of the pain of a walk-off, this loss makes the list because it came in the middle of a stretch of five losses in six games. There’s plenty of time to bounce back from April losses, but it’s never great to start the season with a losing streak.
#4: June 20, 2026 — Braves 4, Brewers 3
For most of this game, it looked like the Brewers were going to escape with a win against Braves ace Chris Sale. Sale didn’t allow an earned run, but the Brewers scratched out two unearned runs against him on five hits. In the ninth, Aaron Ashby came in for what would have been his first save of the season and instead took his first loss. He got one out, then gave up a single to Matt Olson and a walk-off homer to Ozzie Albies.
This game was uniquely frustrating because Albies didn’t exactly square up Ashby. His homer traveled just 339 feet and had an expected batting average of .090, per Statcast. This was a game the Brewers should have won; instead, it became their third straight loss.
#3: October 27, 2026 (World Series Game 4) — Rays 4, Brewers 3
The two worst losses listed in last year’s article were both playoff games, which made sense given that the Brewers were swept in the NLCS. This year, their playoff run featured just two losses altogether: Game 3 against the Padres, and this one.
Milwaukee entered this game up 3-0 in the World Series with a chance to keep their foot on the gas and sweep the Rays for the first championship in franchise history. The Rays took an early lead, but the Brewers tied the game on a home run by light-hitting third baseman David Hamilton. Pat Murphy used closer Trevor Megill to get one out in the eighth, then brought in Aaron Ashby for what would be his last outing of the season, and Ashby delivered 2 1/3 scoreless innings.
Unfortunately, by the eleventh inning, the bullpen was running on fumes. Antonio Senzatela came in for Ashby after the first out of the eleventh, and while he managed to send the game to the twelfth, the only pitchers left in the bullpen were Kyle Harrison, Brandon Woodruff, and Shane Drohan. Milwaukee finally took the lead in the top of the twelfth courtesy of a homer from Cooper Pratt, but a throwing error from Joey Ortiz put Junior Caminero on first to start the bottom half. Drohan then came in and gave up four straight hits to lose the game.
It was the only World Series game the Brewers lost on their way to a five-game series win, which certainly softens the blow. Still, it makes the list because of how painful it was in the moment and how great a win would have been. If the Brewers had swept the Rays on a twelfth-inning homer from their rookie shortstop, and Drohan, who’d made just one other playoff appearance, had closed it out, it would have made for an incredible story. Instead, Milwaukee needed one more game.
#2: July 29, 2026 — Giants 16, Brewers 3
This one makes the list simply because it was, statistically, the worst loss of the season, a 13-run defeat. Starter Thomas Pannone allowed a three-run homer to Daniel Susac, but the Brewers clawed back to make it 3-2 heading into the sixth. Then things went off the rails. Chad Patrick and Ashby combined to give up seven runs in the sixth, and by the eighth, infielder Andrew Vaughn was on the mound. Just one of those days.
#1: April 10, 2026 — Nationals 7, Brewers 3
This game takes the top spot because, even more than the others, it was a game the Brewers should have won (or at least shouldn’t have lost this badly).
Going into the top of the ninth, the score was 3-3. Brewers manager Pat Murphy brought in his closer, Trevor Megill, to send the Brewers to the bottom of the frame with a chance to win. Here’s a chronological recap of the beginning of the ninth inning:
- Megill hit leadoff man CJ Abrams.
- Joey Wiemer reached on the first bunt hit of his career, partially because Luis Rengifo was playing way too far back.
- Per Pat Murphy, “it wasn’t even a good bunt.”
- Luis García Jr. singled into center field, scoring Abrams and sending Wiemer to third.
- Jorbit Vivas laid down a safety squeeze but bunted it right back to the mound. Megill tried to get Wiemer at home but instead shoveled the ball past catcher William Contreras, and Wiemer scored on the throwing error.
- Drew Millas laid down yet another bunt, right at Megill, but Megill, perhaps still rattled from the previous play, took way too long to throw it home. Pinch-runner Nasim Nuñez scored to make it 6-3, Nationals.
- Murphy pulled Megill for Easton McGee, who gave up a 115.3-mph RBI double to James Wood.
For a team that preaches (and practices) sound fundamentals, this game was hard to watch. It was a very un-Brewers-like way to lose, which makes it, in my opinion, the worst loss of the season.
So, what do you think? Did I miss any losses that should have made the list? Let me know in the comments.
