As everyone knows who follow the Milwaukee Brewers, the team won 97 games last season and reached the National League Championship Series.

That's when the Brewers were swept by the juggernaut of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Then, of course, the Dodgers won their second straight World Series championship in downing the Toronto Blue Jays.

Entering this season, though, are the Brewers listed as the favorites to dethrone Los Angeles in the 2026 MLB season? They're not the top team, according to MLB.com, but they are in the mix.

While listing a number of teams favored to truly challenge Los Angeles for baseball domination this season, the Brewers actually are listed four spots from No. 1. Reporter Anthony Castrovince of MLB.com put five teams ahead of Milwaukee in his latest story.

Who ranks above the Brew Crew? The New York Mets, Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Chicago Cubs. 

Castrovince took great pains at laying out some core issues surrounding what's happening with the Brewers at this time. Castrovince also offers a little prediction about what the ballclub could do to add a big-time slugger.

In his list, Castrovince had the Cubs listed at No. 4 while the Brewers were placed at No. 5. But he made it abundantly clear that he's looking at how teams could challenge the Dodgers, not divisional winners in his story.

"The Brewers’ 97-win 2025 season ended abruptly in an NL Championship Series sweep against Los Angeles," Castrovince wrote. "It was a tightly contested and well-pitched series, but the concerns about Milwaukee's lack of offensive firepower proved valid.  

"Milwaukee could and should have a top-tier pitching staff, even without (Freddy) Peralta," Castrovince continued.

"The Angel Zerpa acquisition is not to be overlooked, and it will be interesting to see what happens when the Brewers get their accomplished developmental hands on prospect Brandon Sproat, who came over from the Mets."

Castrovince then goes on to point out that Milwaukee, despite making an addition or two, has not really addressed the issue around having a power bat to rely upon in the season.

"Unfortunately, though, the Brewers haven’t done anything this offseason to lead you to believe they’ll have more power," Castrovince wrote. "Though the continued development of Jackson Chourio and others could lead to that, bringing in a proven bat (Eugenio Suárez, for instance) might boost them on this list."

Now, it's getting time for the Brewers to put up or shut up about challenging the Dodgers. Spring training is just around the corner in the Cactus League, too.

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