The Milwaukee Brewers kicked off the 2025 Major League Baseball season with high hopes and big expectations. Fans across Wisconsin dreamed of another National League Central title after the team’s strong 93-69 finish in 2024. However, as of April 1, 2025, the Brewers sit at a disappointing 0-4 record, raising eyebrows and sparking conversations among baseball lovers everywhere. This article dives deep into the Brewers’ current standings, explores what’s gone wrong so far, highlights key players, and looks ahead to what might turn things around for this talented squad.
With the season just underway, the Brewers have plenty of time to recover, but their early struggles against tough opponents like the New York Yankees have fans on edge. Let’s break down the latest updates, analyze the team’s performance, and see where Milwaukee stands in the grand scheme of the 2025 MLB landscape.
The Brewers’ Rough Opening Week: Where They Stand Now
As of today, April 1, 2025, the Milwaukee Brewers hold a 0-4 record, placing them dead last in the National League Central. This shaky start contrasts sharply with the optimism surrounding the team before Opening Day. After finishing first in their division last year with a 93-69 record, many analysts pegged the Brewers as favorites to repeat as NL Central champs. Yet, the first few games tell a different story—one of missed opportunities, shaky pitching, and an offense struggling to find its rhythm.
The Brewers opened their season on the road against the powerhouse New York Yankees, a team fresh off a strong offseason and boasting a lineup stacked with sluggers like Aaron Judge. Milwaukee dropped all three games in that series, including a jaw-dropping 20-9 loss on March 30 that saw the Yankees smash a franchise-record nine home runs. Then, back home at American Family Field, the Brewers fell 6-2 to the Kansas City Royals in their home opener on March 31. This 0-4 start marks the worst opening stretch for Milwaukee since 2015, when they stumbled out of the gate with a 2-10 record.
Despite the losses, the standings remain fluid this early in the season. The NL Central shows the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals tied at 2-2, while the Cincinnati Reds sit at 1-3 and the Pittsburgh Pirates linger at 0-4 alongside Milwaukee. With 158 games left, the Brewers have ample time to climb back into contention, but the early hole demands attention.
What’s Behind the Brewers’ Slow Start?
So, what’s gone wrong for Milwaukee in these opening days of 2025? Several factors contribute to their current woes, and they range from pitching meltdowns to offensive inconsistency. Let’s unpack these issues one by one to understand the bigger picture.
Pitching Problems Take Center Stage
The Brewers’ pitching staff, typically a strength, faltered badly in the opening series against the Yankees. Newcomer Nestor Cortes, acquired in a trade from New York over the offseason, endured a nightmare return to Yankee Stadium on March 29. He surrendered five home runs in just two innings, including three on his first three pitches of the game. Paul Goldschmidt, Cody Bellinger, and Aaron Judge teed off in rapid succession, setting the tone for a 20-9 rout that left Brewers fans stunned.
Freddy Peralta, the team’s ace, offered a glimmer of hope in the opener on March 28. He struck out eight over five innings, allowing only two runs, but the bullpen couldn’t hold the line, and Milwaukee fell 4-2. Meanwhile, injuries plague the rotation, with Brandon Woodruff, Tobias Myers, and others starting the season on the injured list. Manager Pat Murphy admitted, “We’re going into New York undermanned on the mound,” and that lack of depth showed.
The numbers paint a grim picture: Milwaukee’s team ERA sits at a league-worst 12.27 through four games. Opponents feast on Brewers pitchers, racking up a .309 batting average against them. For a team built on pitching and defense, this early collapse raises red flags.
Offense Struggles to Keep Pace
While the pitching grabs headlines for all the wrong reasons, the Brewers’ offense sputters too. The team averages just 3.75 runs per game, ranking 22nd in MLB, and their .225 batting average lands them 18th overall. Losing shortstop Willy Adames to free agency after his 32-homer 2024 season leaves a gaping hole in the lineup. Young star Jackson Chourio, expected to step up after a 20-20 rookie year, manages only a .200 average so far with one home run.
Sal Frelick shines as a bright spot, going 5-for-11 with a walk in the opening series, but the rest of the lineup fails to click. William Contreras, the team’s MVP candidate, hits just .250 with no extra-base hits yet. Christian Yelich, coming off back surgery, looks rusty, batting .182 with a handful of strikeouts. Without Adames’ power, Milwaukee searches for new sources of thump, and so far, they come up short.
Tough Early Schedule Adds Pressure
Let’s not overlook the competition. The Brewers face a brutal opening slate, starting with the Yankees, who many predict will contend for the World Series. Then, the Royals, fresh off a 1-2 start against Detroit, bring a scrappy lineup to Milwaukee. Playing top-tier teams out of the gate tests any squad, and the Brewers stumble against this early gauntlet. However, this tough stretch could serve as a wake-up call—or a sign of deeper troubles.
Key Players to Watch in the Brewers’ Turnaround
Despite the rocky start, the Brewers boast talent capable of reversing their fortunes. Several players hold the keys to Milwaukee’s success in 2025, and their performances will shape the standings as the season unfolds.
Freddy Peralta: The Ace Milwaukee Needs
Freddy Peralta steps up as the unquestioned leader of the pitching staff. His Opening Day outing against the Yankees—five innings, eight strikeouts, two runs—shows he can handle elite lineups. Last year, he posted a 3.68 ERA with 200 strikeouts over 173.2 innings, and the Brewers lean on him to anchor a rotation riddled with injuries. If Peralta delivers ace-level starts every five days, Milwaukee stays in games and gives the offense a chance to find its groove.
William Contreras: The Heart of the Lineup
Catcher William Contreras emerges as the team’s emotional and statistical leader. After finishing fifth in NL MVP voting in 2024 with a .281/.365/.466 slash line, 23 homers, and 92 RBIs, he carries huge expectations into 2025. His slow start (.250 average, no power) mirrors the team’s struggles, but his work ethic and leadership behind the plate remain invaluable. Contreras vows to “be one of the best in The Show,” and his bat waking up could spark the entire offense.
Jackson Chourio: The Rising Star
At just 21 years old, Jackson Chourio represents the Brewers’ future—and their present. His 20-homer, 20-steal rookie season in 2024 turned heads, and fans hope he blossoms into a 30-30 threat this year. While he manages only 3-for-15 so far in 2025, his solo homer against the Yankees hints at the power lurking in his bat. Chourio’s growth will determine whether Milwaukee fills the void left by Adames.
Bryan Hudson: The Bullpen X-Factor
Reliever Bryan Hudson could emerge as a surprise standout. After a stellar 2024 (1.73 ERA over 62.1 innings), he faltered late and spent time in Triple-A. Now, with a revamped conditioning routine, Hudson aims to reclaim his role as a high-leverage arm. If he stabilizes the bullpen, the Brewers avoid the late-game collapses that doomed them against New York.
The NL Central Landscape: How the Brewers Stack Up
The National League Central remains a wide-open race, even four games in. The Cubs and Cardinals lead the pack at 2-2, flexing early muscle with balanced lineups and solid pitching. Chicago leans on young stars like Pete Crow-Armstrong, while St. Louis banks on veterans like Paul Goldschmidt, now with the Yankees but a reminder of the division’s talent pool. The Reds, at 1-3, show flashes of brilliance with Elly De La Cruz, but their pitching lags. The Pirates, also 0-4, struggle alongside Milwaukee, suggesting the bottom of the division could stay tight.
Last year, the Brewers cruised to a 93-69 record, finishing 10 games ahead of the Cubs and Cardinals (both 83-79). Milwaukee’s formula—strong pitching, timely hitting, and speed—carried them to the top. Now, with pitching woes and a quiet offense, they trail early. However, the division’s parity means no team pulls away yet, and the Brewers’ track record suggests they can rebound.
FAQs:
Why do the Brewers struggle so much in the first week of 2025?
The Brewers face a perfect storm of challenges: a depleted pitching staff, a tough opening schedule against the Yankees and Royals, and an offense missing Willy Adames’ power. Injuries to key arms like Brandon Woodruff compound the issue, leaving the rotation thin, while hitters like Christian Yelich work to shake off rust after offseason surgery.
Can the Brewers still win the NL Central with this 0-4 start?
Janan Absolutely, they can. With 158 games left, four losses mean little in the grand scheme. The NL Central remains competitive but winnable, and Milwaukee’s 93-69 finish in 2024 proves they have the talent to lead the pack. A quick turnaround in pitching and hitting could erase this early deficit.
Who steps up as the Brewers’ leader without Willy Adames?
Millonarios William Contreras takes the reins as the team’s heart and soul. His 2024 stats—23 homers, 92 RBIs—and his fiery leadership make him the natural choice. Jackson Chourio also emerges as a young star, but Contreras’ experience gives him the edge in guiding the clubhouse.
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