Logan Henderson continues to prove where he belongs in Brewers' postseason rotation

Milwaukee Brewers starting pitcher Logan Henderson was one of the biggest names surrounding the 2026 MLB trade deadline. He was reportedly a key sticking point in trade discussions between the Brewers and Detroit Tigers involving Tarik Skubal, with Milwaukee reluctant to part with Henderson and the five years of team control he still possesses.

One month later, Henderson continues to generate plenty of buzz. After publicly thanking General Manager Matt Arnold for not trading him and expressing how much he loves the Brewers, Henderson has continued to back up those words with his performance on the mound.

The 24-year-old now has 20 big-league starts to his name, including 15 this season, and owns a remarkable 2.32 ERA for his career. Even more impressive, he has yet to allow more than three earned runs in a single outing.

Since the trade deadline passed, Henderson has posted a 2.29 ERA across six starts, pitching at least six innings in each appearance. He has gone seven innings three times during that stretch, including each of his last two outings.

With how well he is throwing the ball, and teammate Kyle Harrison's inconsistencies on the mound since returning from a flexor strain, there is a real case to be made that Henderson should be the one who gets the ball in Game 2 of a postseason matchup this year.

Logan Henderson has earned the No. 2 spot in the Brewers' postseason rotation

Despite relying primarily on his fastball and changeup, with a cutter mixed in roughly 16% of the time, Henderson has found consistent success without overpowering velocity. His fastball averages around 93 mph, but his ability to locate pitches and keep hitters off balance has made him highly effective.

His changeup, in particular, has been a difference-maker, mimicking the look of his fastball before dropping sharply out of the zone. Combined with the use of a cutter, which he added this season, Henderson has developed an effective pitch mix that continues to keep hitters off balance despite how many times they have faced them.

Henderson has also shown an ability to navigate the third time through an opposing lineup. This season, he has a sample size of 50 plate appearances in facing lineups for the third time -- a situation that typically gives hitters a huge advantage. Yet Henderson has continued to thrive, allowing just five hits for a .109 batting average against and a .196 slugging percentage against.

Those numbers suggest Henderson can be trusted to work deep into games, even when facing the league’s best lineups in October. He has already shown that ability this month against the Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and San Diego Padres, with, coincidentally, Skubal opposing him on the mound during that Dodgers matchup.

Time will tell whether Henderson ultimately earns the No. 2 spot in the playoff rotation and is trusted to face opposing lineups three times in a game. For now, though, he has earned every opportunity coming his way and figures to play a crucial role in determining how far the Brewers go this postseason.

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