The Milwaukee Brewers have kicked off the 2026 MLB season with a bang, flipping the script from last year’s shaky start. After opening 2025 with an 0-4 record and a historically poor run differential, they’ve come out swinging this year, boasting a 5-1 record and a league-leading +28 run differential. The closest competitor sits at +18, underscoring the Brewers' early dominance.
Their latest triumph came on a Wednesday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite an early hiccup where Jacob Misiorowski gave up a two-run homer in the third inning, the Brewers rallied with eight unanswered runs to secure an 8-2 victory.
Misiorowski had to regain his focus after a bizarre incident in the second inning when a 100 mph fastball hit home plate umpire CB Bucknor’s mask, causing a game delay. Shaken but undeterred, Misiorowski regrouped after the Rays took the lead, ultimately delivering six strong innings and tallying seven strikeouts.
The Brewers' offense came alive in the bottom of the third with Brice Turang’s two-run homer, his first of the season, tying the game. The eighth inning saw Milwaukee explode with six runs. Christian Yelich and Garrett Mitchell each contributed two RBIs, while Blake Perkins and David Hamilton added to the tally with an RBI groundout and single, respectively.
After the game, Misiorowski reflected on his performance. When asked about regaining his composure, he candidly admitted, “It’s definitely mental, more of a lock back in and figure it out.” He noted that it took him about an inning post-homer to settle back into his groove.
Misiorowski’s resilience was evident as he powered through 94 pitches, delivering the Brewers' first quality start of the season. The bullpen kept the momentum going with Grant Anderson pitching a scoreless seventh, Aaron Ashby securing his second win with a scoreless eighth, and DL closing it out in the ninth.
This impressive start has the Brewers looking like a formidable force, showing the league that they’re not just here to play-they’re here to win.