The 2026 MLB postseason has been defined by dominant pitching. Batters are hitting just .227, on pace for the lowest OPS since the 1983 postseason, and teams have scored two runs or fewer in 31% of games played. Lead changes have been rare, making nearly every one feel like a small miracle. The tense, low-scoring games have produced a nervy postseason, though not necessarily an exciting one.
The Milwaukee Brewers stand out as a team that looks nearly unbeatable, thanks largely to their bullpen. Relievers allowed just three earned runs in 32⅔ innings, holding batters to a .139 average. The pen outdueled San Diego's vaunted group in the NLDS and twice rescued starter Jacob Misiorowski, who failed to last five innings in either postseason start.
Two relievers have led the way. Abner Uribe pairs a 99-mph sinker with an 88-mph slider that look alike coming out of his hand, and he is often deployed against the toughest part of an opponent's lineup. Aaron Ashby, a former starter who returned from shoulder surgery as a top reliever, throws a fastball averaging 97.7 mph and can comfortably pitch multiple innings. Manager Pat Murphy has used seven relievers, and the Brewers' relievers have averaged 98 mph with their fastballs this postseason.
The broader trend is clear. The average postseason fastball has reached 96.1 mph, and a hot bullpen has become a vital ingredient for playoff success. The Brewers' run recalls the Houston Astros' 2022 relief dominance, when their relievers posted a 0.83 ERA, while deep rotations once drove championship teams in the late 2010s.
Source: ESPN MLB · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing