The Milwaukee Brewers finally got the championship they’ve chased for years, rolling past the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 on Wednesday night at Tropicana Field to win the first World Series title in franchise history. And even with the trophy in hand, the first thing on their minds was still the Chicago Cubs.
Trevor Megill made that pretty clear when Ben Verlander asked him what he wanted to say to the fans packed on top of the dugout.
Ben Verlander: What do you have to say to these fans that are literally on top of the dugout right now?
Trevor Megill: Have fun talking shit to Chicago next year. We have a ring.
That edge has been part of the Brewers’ identity for a while now. In 2025, after eliminating the Cubs in the NLDS, Milwaukee seemed just as interested in rubbing it in to its division rival as it was in celebrating the win itself.
But the trash talk has a lot more weight now. The Brewers have owned the NL Central for much of the last decade, taking four straight division titles, five of the last six, and seven total since 2018. Before this year, the one line Cubs fans could lean on was the big one: Milwaukee had done everything except win the whole thing.
That argument is gone. The Brewers didn’t just survive October; they tore through it, finishing 11-2 in the postseason.
Their pitching staff led the way with a 1.98 ERA across 13 playoff games, and the World Series was never really in doubt. Milwaukee beat Tampa Bay in five games and held the Rays to just 12 runs while limiting them to a .182/.224/.242 slash line.
The offense did its part, too. The Brewers were the only team in the playoffs to finish with a wRC+ above 100, putting up a 107 mark along with a .262/.346/.396 line. They also led the postseason in home runs and stolen bases.
So yes, the Brewers have earned the right to enjoy this one - and to keep the Cubs in the conversation while they do it.
In Other News...
Cubs 2027 Outlook Suddenly Hinges On Three Defining 2026 Performances
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The bigger question now is how much of that momentum carries into 2027, especially with Ben Brown and Cade Horton both carrying injury concerns that cloud their futures. The Cubs have seen enough from their top offensive pieces to dream a little bigger, but the rotation picture still leaves some uncertainty hanging over the roster. If those arms can get healthy and hold up, the clubs long-term ceiling looks different in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Face A Catcher Decision That Could Hurt More Than Expected
The upcoming catcher market already looks like one of the more complicated parts of the Cubs offseason, and Carson Kelly sits right in the middle of it. The class includes more familiar names such as Tyler Stephenson and Ryan Jeffers, but the way teams value catchers often lags behind what they actually do behind the plate, which is why this conversation could matter more in Chicago than it might elsewhere.
From the Cubs standpoint, the question is not just who is available, but who fits best if they decide to reset the position again. Kellys profile makes the whole discussion a little trickier than it first appears, and with the market taking shape around age, recent production and contract expectations, the Cubs may end up facing a decision that is harder to navigate than the rankings suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Face A Massive Pitching Question Heading Into The Offseason
The Cubs are heading into the offseason with a pitching staff that could look very different by the time spring training opens. Clay Holmes and Matthew Boyd have both declined their player options for the 2027 season, and each will test free agency, while Shota Imanaga, Kevin Gausman and David Peterson have also elected free agency. For a team that is expected to make significant changes on the mound, it is a reminder that much of the rotation picture remains unsettled well before the winter market fully takes shape.
What makes the situation even more pressing is how many different moving parts are now in play at once. Chicago has already seen established arms choose flexibility for themselves, and the front office is left to sort through what comes back, what walks, and how aggressively it wants to reshape the group. The next few months should tell a lot about how bold the Cubs plan to be in rebuilding the pitching staff, but the clearest answer on who will actually return is still waiting to be written. [Read more 🡒]