Three Lessons the Astros Can't Ignore After the World Series

The Brewers finished the regular season with 103 wins and went 11–2 in the postseason. The Houston Astros, on the other hand, barely made it into October after finishing with an 81–81 record. The Astros were then swept by the Chicago White Sox in the best-of-three Wild Card Series.

Just based on those numbers alone, the Brewers and the Astros had very different 2026 seasons. The Brewers put together an impressive season, and the Astros managed to become the first team in MLB history to reach the postseason with a .500 or worse record during a full 162-game season.

There is a lot to take away from the Brewers' best season in their organization's history. But based on the Astros' weak spots, here are the top three lessons Houston should take from Milwaukee's championship run in preparation for the 2027 season.

Milwaukee ranked second in MLB in team ERA, and its pitching staff continued to perform throughout the postseason. Jacob Misiorowski threw 5⅔ scoreless innings in World Series Game 5, but he wasn't the only pitcher who came through for the Brewers. Milwaukee had dependable arms in both its rotation and bullpen, and that made a huge difference.

Houston's pitching staff, on the other hand, had a very different season.

First and foremost, the consistency was not there for Houston. The Astros used a club-record 19 starting pitchers in 2026. Injuries repeatedly disrupted the rotation. Houston has talented pitchers, but it needs more dependable depth. Clearly, having a plethora of arms doesn't matter when only a handful are dependable. The bullpen is no different. Houston has the arms, but not enough reliability. The wear and tear this rotation endured is not sustainable.

Milwaukee is a perfect example of why the Astros' pitching staff needs to be a top priority this offseason.

Taking a look at Milwaukee's numbers, there is proof that it's not all about home runs. The Brewers ranked 28th in home runs, but first in batting average and on-base percentage. They also ranked fifth in stolen bases, per ESPN. Their contact hitting and ability to get on base really set them apart. On top of that, Milwaukee used its speed and aggressive baserunning to create scoring opportunities.

In World Series Game 5, Milwaukee scored through singles, a double, and a sacrifice fly.

Houston, on the other hand, relied heavily on home runs. Many of the big wins were home run fests. The Astros have plenty of power, particularly with Yordan Alvarez. But when their sluggers went through cold streaks, the offense needed other ways to produce runs. Having the ability to stay competitive even when a guy like Alvarez is struggling at the plate is the difference between a good team and a great one.

Milwaukee has made the postseason eight times in nine seasons, and it won six division titles during that stretch. They are another example of how having the highest payroll is not the key to winning. They managed to capture their first World Series title with the 19th-highest payroll. A big part of that success came from developing young players like Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, Cooper Pratt, and Misiorowski. They were building for future success, not just taking things one season at a time.

The Astros are entering an important offseason with a new GM to hire. Houston has established veterans, but it also needs to start thinking about what comes next. Developing younger talent could reduce the need for expensive outside additions and help the Astros build a team that can compete season after season, not just in 2027. Not to mention, Houston already has young players worth investing in. The next GM has a lot to figure out, but building for the future needs to be part of the plan.

The moral of the story is that Milwaukee's championship wasn't built in one offseason. Houston needs a plan that extends beyond 2027.