Projecting Pat Murphy's 2026 Brewers Opening Day starting lineup

The Milwaukee Brewers front office finally checked off an important offseason box once coaches and players reported to Spring Training, finalizing a new contract for back-to-back NL Manager of the Year Pat Murphy. The agreement is a three-year deal with a club option for a fourth season, keeping him in the dugout through at least 2028. The extension also places Murphy among the higher-paid managers in the league.

With Murphy’s future secured and stability at the top of the organization, the focus now shifts back to the field. As Spring Training unfolds and roster battles begin to take shape, it’s time to take an early look at how the Brewers’ starting lineup could stack up on Opening Day.

Projecting Pat Murphy's 2026 Milwaukee Brewers Opening Day starting lineup

Assuming the roster remains healthy throughout camp and the World Baseball Classic, here’s a projection of how the Brewers’ Opening Day lineup could look on Thursday, March 26 against the Chicago White Sox. Interestingly, the matchup could feature a former Milwaukee farmhand named Shane Smith. He was a 2025 Rule 5 Draft pick of the White Sox, and is a favorite to make his first career Opening Day start on the mound.

Potential Brewers 2026 Opening Day Lineup

1. Jackson Chourio - LF
2. Brice Turang - 2B
3. William Contreras - C
4. Christian Yelich - DH
5. Andrew Vaughn - 1B
6. Sal Frelick - RF
7. Luis Rengifo - 3B
8. Garrett Mitchell - CF
9. Joey Ortiz - SS

The Brewers' 2026 Opening Day batting order could look quite similar to how they lined up to end the year. Changes include Luis Rengifo replacing Caleb Durbin at third base and Garrett Mitchell, now healthy, being thrown into the mix as well.

Defensively, when healthy, Mitchell has consistently been Murphy’s preferred option in center field. Unless the Brewers opt to shift him to a corner to help preserve his health, there’s little reason to think he won’t get the nod in center on Opening Day. Slotting Mitchell there would move Chourio to left field while keeping Frelick in right.

One notable omission from this projected lineup is top prospect Jett Williams. It’s tempting to pencil him in at shortstop and slot him ninth in place of Joey Ortiz, but the Brewers will likely opt to give him more time in the minors while continuing to evaluate where he best fits at the major league level.

The alternative would be to carry him on the Opening Day roster and start his service-time clock, a move that could make sense given his prospect promotion incentive eligibility. In that scenario, Williams could take over at shortstop, or potentially at third base, assuming he proves capable at the hot corner this spring.