Brewers clinch fourth straight NL Central title, September 16

The Milwaukee Brewers clinched their fourth consecutive National League Central division title on September 16, 2026, when the Chicago Cubs lost to the Atlanta Braves 6-3 at Wrigley Field. The Brewers themselves defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-1 at PNC Park the same evening, with pitcher Jacob Misiorowski delivering five scoreless innings in the victory.

Misiorowski struck out the first four batters he faced and five of the first six on the way to his five-inning stint, allowing five hits, one walk and seven strikeouts total, per MLB.com. The 24-year-old, 6-foot-7 pitcher lowered his MLB-leading ERA to 1.89 and raised his MLB-leading strikeout total to 243, surpassing Teddy Higuera's 1987 franchise record of 240 for the third-most strikeouts on the Brewers' single-season leaderboard. Misiorowski's 166 1/3 innings pitched this season marked a career high, according to MLB.com.

Luis Lara and Joey Ortiz each drove in two runs from the bottom third of the batting order. Ortiz, a rookie who did not arrive until July and was moved from shortstop, surged in the second half, per MLB.com's reporting.

The Brewers stand at 94-57 with 11 games remaining in the regular season. According to MLB.com, the franchise is attempting to hold off the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Rays, Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees for the best record in the sport and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The Brewers' franchise record for wins is 97, set in 2025. An NL Central club has not reached 100 wins since the Chicago Cubs won 103 games in 2016, per MLB.com.

The Brewers have now won the NL Central five of the last six years and six of the last nine years, according to MLB.com. This fourth consecutive division title marks the first time any team has won the NL Central in four straight seasons since the division's formation in 1994.

Manager Pat Murphy said, according to MLB.com, that the 2026 Brewers club has not had "a spot where you say, Wow, we're really special," but it's starting to grow on him. Brandon Woodruff, the staff veteran, told MLB.com of Misiorowski: "We've never seen anybody like him" and "He's going to lead the way for us" in October. Misiorowski himself said of the team: "I couldn't tell you. I've been trying to figure it out all year. We're just a scrappy bunch that puts the ball in play and hopes for the best." When asked if he likes that the Brewers are underestimated, Misiorowski replied: "I wouldn't say they underestimate us anymore."

President of baseball operations Matt Arnold said: "These things never get old, and doing it four years in a row with these guys means the world to me and everyone here. I appreciate them, and I appreciate everyone in Wisconsin being there for us, forever."

The Brewers have not reached the World Series since 1982. They are one of five current Major League Baseball franchises still seeking a championship, alongside the Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, Tampa Bay Rays and Colorado Rockies, according to MLB.com.