The biggest questions Milwaukee Brewers must answer during the 2025 season

This season, the Milwaukee Brewers are aiming to reach the playoffs for their seventh time in eight years while winning their third consecutive National League Central title and fourth in five years. While there were some notable departures from the roster, this still looks like a very promising roster that should make some noise in in 2025.

Despite the track record of success, seemingly every year the organization has managed to overcome significant roster turnover. This presents new challenges and problems each year and 2025 will be no different.

Here we take a look at the two biggest questions the Milwaukee Brewers must answer in 2025

Will the same offensive model work two years in a row, but without Willy Adames?

This off-season the Brewers lost their club house, home run, and RBI leader Willy Adames. They didn't replace his bat over the winter, but it's possible that some of the production lost could be made up by Jackson Chourio taking a step forward, Christian Yelich and Garrett Mitchell putting together fully healthy seasons, or Rhys Hoskins bouncing back after a down first year back following ACL surgery.

Outside of the sluggers, Milwaukee's ability to score runs will hinge on their ability to get on base and get into scoring position. Last year, they finished second in the league in stolen bases (217), fourth in on-base percentage (.348), and tied for eighth in batting average (.248).

This year, they've got the speed makeup to again be a top team in stolen bases, but they will need to continue to display a patient approach at the plate while putting the ball in play in order to utilize their speed. They will be doing so while moving Joey Ortiz to a premier position in shortstop while initially relying upon unproven MLB talent at third base in Oliver Dunn and Vinny Capra.

Will the starting pitching group hold up?

Last year the Brewers opened the year with a starting rotation consisting of Freddy Peralta, DL Hall, Colin Rea, Joe Ross, and Jakob Junis. Hall made four starts before being sidelined until August, Ross landed on the injured list in May, and Junis made one start before getting injured. From there more injuries transpired shortly afterwards to Wade Miley and Robert Gasser.

This year, Peralta is again headlining the rotation, with newcomer Nestor Cortes and returner Aaron Civale in line afterwards. Following those three, the teams depth will be tested early on as Brandon Woodruff will begin the year in Arizona building up, Jose Quintana won't be ready until April 8, and Tobias Myers, Aaron Ashby, and DL Hall will begin the year on the injured list.

Even less comforting is the fact that Cortes and Civale both have track records of health concerns. Cortes was limited to just 12 games in 2023 and was sidelined by an elbow injury late in the season last year that kept him out of the post season until the World Series. On the other hand, last year was the first time in six MLB seasons that Civale made more than 30 starts as oblique, elbow, shoulder, wrist, and finger issues slowed him down in year's past.

The 2025 Brewers success will hinge on the effectiveness of their offense to continue excelling without the home run ball as well as the depth of their pitching staff. Things won't always go according to plan, but if they can find ways to manage the adversity they will have a strong chance to once again compete in a tough National League Central.

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