The 2026 MLB playoffs have been defined by dominant pitching. Batters are hitting just .227, on pace for the lowest OPS since the 1983 postseason. Of the 30 games played, a team has scored two runs or fewer 19 times, or 31% of all team games. Lead changes have been rare, and the close, low-scoring games have made for a tense postseason, though not necessarily an exciting one.
The Milwaukee Brewers stand out, largely because of their bullpen. Through the early stages of the league championship series, the bullpen has allowed just three earned runs in 32⅔ innings, holding opponents to a .139 batting average. It outdueled San Diego's vaunted pen in the NLDS and has twice rescued starter Jacob Misiorowski, who didn't last five innings in either of his postseason starts.
Two relievers have led the way. Abner Uribe throws a 99-mph sinker and an 88-mph slider that look identical until they diverge near the plate, and he is often summoned to face the toughest part of an opponent's lineup. Aaron Ashby, a former starter who returned from shoulder surgery as a top reliever, averages 97.7 mph with his fastball and can comfortably work multiple innings, earning the save in Game 2 of the NLCS.
The Brewers' success reflects a broader trend. Relievers have averaged 98 mph with their fastballs in the postseason, and a hot bullpen has become a vital ingredient for playoff success, much like the 2022 Houston Astros, whose relievers posted a 0.83 ERA in 54⅓ innings.
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing