The Brewers' late-inning bullpen change that must continue for the foreseeable future

Back-to-back series wins against the Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins put an end to the Milwaukee Brewers' early-season six-game losing skid. Though they haven't necessarily been pretty wins, as the Brew Crew continues to await the return of their trio of injured hitters -- Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio, and Andrew Vaughn -- Milwaukee has found a way to get things done, and, as a result, boasts a decent 12-9 record as they head to Detroit for a three-game series with the Tigers.

In the early goings of the 2026 season, no area of the game has been especially elite for the Brewers. The aforementioned injuries have limited their offense significantly, as the Crew has been forced to rely on less proven contributors. Meanwhile, though their starting pitching has locked in over the last week or so, the rotation was somewhat shaky during the first two weeks of the season, with a 4.80 ERA that ranked 28th in MLB to prove it. Over the last 10 days, however, Brewers starters have posted a 2.40 ERA that ranks second in all of baseball.

During the six-game skid, however, nothing was going right for the Brewers, and an inconsistent performance from a relief corps that was expected to be among the best in MLB didn't help. Three of the six consecutive losses that Milwaukee suffered can be chalked up to disappointing performances from the bullpen, and two of those came as a result of 2025 All-Star closer Trevor Megill not living up to his high standards.

Megill, who filled in for Devin Williams as the Brewers' closer during the first half of the 2024 season and reprised that role to great success during the 2025 campaign, racking up 54 saves across the two seasons, has not looked like himself this year.

Through seven innings pitched, Megill has surrendered eight earned runs, resulting in an ugly 10.29 ERA. A 1.7 mph dip in his fastball velocity, as well as his Location+ grade dropping from 103 to 94, stand out as two areas of concern going forward, especially for someone who dealt with a flexor strain late last season. Without the elite fastball velocity that he displayed last year, and an inability to properly locate his two offerings, Megill's effectiveness as a high-leverage relief arm comes into question.

Even in Megill's recent two outings, during which he hasn't surrendered an earned run, his underlying metrics remain worrisome. Thankfully, the Brewers and Pat Murphy are aware of these concerns and have begun experimenting with different ninth-inning options. Since Milwaukee's six-game losing streak, both Abner Uribe and Ángel Zerpa have earned saves, though the former has truly emerged as the team's alternative to the struggling Megill.

Abner Uribe should continue to be the Brewers' closer until proven otherwise

In 2025, Abner Uribe finally delivered the breakout season fans had been waiting for. Across 75.1 innings and 75 appearances, he posted an outstanding 1.67 ERA, recorded 37 holds, and converted seven of nine save opportunities. He also handled the ninth inning in the postseason, earning the only save the Brewers collected in the playoffs, even after Megill returned to the bullpen.

Even with the closer’s role opening up late last year due to Megill’s flexor strain, Uribe had more than earned the opportunity. Beyond the impressive numbers, he showed excellent command of both his fastball and slider, and showed impressive poise on the bump despite being just 25 years old. At the same time, he brought energy to the mound, often electrifying teammates and fans alike with his celebrations after getting the job done.

So when Uribe was handed the ball last Wednesday against Toronto and took care of business, retiring the side on just 12 pitches, including eight strikes and a strikeout, it served as a clear sign he’s ready to build on last year’s momentum in the closer role and run with it. Then, in the Miami series, it was clear Uribe has become Murphy's go-to guy. He pitched the ninth inning of a tie game on Friday night, earned the save on Saturday, and was even warming in the 'pen on Sunday afternoon in case the Brewers took the lead following their late-game rally.

Ultimately, this situation may be less about Megill losing the role and more about the Brewers riding the hot hand. Ideally, Uribe will continue to deliver in high leverage, and Megill will work his way back into form, but for the immediate future, the closer's role should belong to Uribe.

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