Pat Murphy is staring at a piece of baseball history, and the Brewers keep giving him the kind of season that makes it feel within reach.
Milwaukee’s grip on the NL Central has been firm, with a solid lead over the Chicago Cubs and the kind of consistency that has become routine under Murphy. In his third season as the Brewers’ manager, he has guided a club that was already strong before he arrived and somehow pushed it to another level.
The numbers tell the story. Milwaukee has won 90 or more games in each season with Murphy in charge, and with an 81-50 record and a little more than 30 games left, that streak is on pace to continue. The Brewers also have a shot at breaking their franchise record for regular-season wins in a single season, after setting that mark last year with 97.
They’re also sitting on the best record in baseball, which is something they accomplished last season as well. Murphy has been at the center of that rise, and after back-to-back National League Manager of the Year awards, he now has a chance to do something nobody has done before: win the award three straight times.
"Could Murphy really win three in a row? EARL thinks so," ESPN's Bradford Doolittle wrote on Monday.
"Murphy is on the verge of going into the EARL manager hall of fame. He'd be the 10th manager to win the award three times, but the first to do it three seasons in a row.
"And if you're thinking that it won't happen because of simple voter fatigue, ask yourself this: Who else in the NL should get it? Well, that answer could turn out to be McCullough if the Marlins are able to make a spirited run to a spot in the NL playoff bracket. Short of that, this very well could be Murphy's award yet again."
Doolittle listed Clayton McCullough of the Miami Marlins, Terry Francona of the Cincinnati Reds, Craig Stammen of the San Diego Padres and Craig Counsell of the Cubs as the other managers in the mix. They’ve all had solid seasons, but if Milwaukee keeps standing atop the league the way it has all year, Murphy looks like the man to beat once again.
In Other News...
Mets Game Turned Into A Brewers Message To Cooper Pratt
Pat Murphy made sure the lesson came quickly for Cooper Pratt, and it came in the middle of a game against the Mets. The Brewers manager pulled the rookie shortstop after Pratt failed to hustle out of the batters box and also did not try to bunt when instructed, a reminder that in Milwaukee, effort and attention to detail are part of the job description from day one.
Pratt owned his mistakes and said he needs to improve both his effort and his ability to follow team expectations. Murphy framed the move as a teaching moment rather than a judgment on the rookies work habits, but the message was plain enough: for a young player trying to earn trust, the Brewers are watching every detail, not just the box score. [Read more 🡒]
Garrett Mitchell Gave Brewers Fans A Little League Classic Moment To Love
The Little League Classic is usually about the kids, the setting and the joy of the game, but Garrett Mitchell found a way to make it feel personal in a different way. During Milwaukees night at the event, the Brewers outfielder paused long enough to offer a heartfelt in-game tribute to ESPN announcer Karl Ravech, recognizing a broadcaster whose voice has been a fixture in baseball coverage for decades.
Ravech was working his final MLB game for ESPN after being let go in July, and Mitchell made sure the moment did not pass quietly. For Brewers fans, it was a reminder that these showcase nights can still produce something more lasting than a scoreline, with a player taking time to salute a familiar baseball presence as one era of coverage came to a close. [Read more 🡒]
Luis Matos Just Hit Another Roadblock With The Brewers
Luis Matos was already facing a tough climb in the Brewers organization, and now the path only gets steeper. The outfielder is set to undergo foot surgery, an injury that will likely keep him out for 6 to 8 weeks and could bring his 2026 season to an early close.
For a player still trying to carve out a real role, the timing could hardly be worse. Matos has appeared in only nine major league games with Milwaukee and has yet to firmly establish himself in the system, and with minor league free agency looming, this latest setback may only add to the sense that a change of scenery could be next. [Read more 🡒]