The Milwaukee Brewers are heading to the World Series. The Cincinnati Reds are heading into another offseason filled with questions.Two organizations competing in the same division. Two very different outcomes. Be sure to subscribe to our Newsletter!
Milwaukee finished the 2026 regular season with a 103-59 record, the best in Major League Baseball. The Brewers then swept the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series to reach their first World Series since 1982.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati finished 75-87, dead last in the NL Central. A place…unfortunately…most of us Reds fans have come to understand a little too much. That’s a staggering 28-game difference between two division rivals.
And for remaining Reds fans, it raises an uncomfortable question.
What are the Brewers doing that Cincinnati simply cannot figure out? – Even the majority owner of the Cincinnati Reds is asking his Baseball Ops guys this same question.
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Milwaukee Has Built Something Cincinnati Hasn’t
The most frustrating part of Milwaukee’s success isn’t simply that the Brewers are winning. It’s that they’ve consistently found ways to compete without operating like one of baseball’s biggest spenders. Milwaukee doesn’t have the financial resources of the Dodgers, Yankees or Mets. Yet the organization has continued to develop talent, construct competitive rosters and find ways to win.
The Brewers reached the NLCS in 2025 before being eliminated by Los Angeles. One year later, they returned and swept the same opponent.
That doesn’t happen by accident.
It reflects an organization capable of maintaining a competitive foundation while continuing to improve.
Cincinnati, meanwhile, followed a postseason appearance in 2025 by falling all the way to last place in the division in 2026.
The Reds have talented players. They’ve invested years in rebuilding their farm system. They’ve brought in experienced leadership.
But they haven’t demonstrated the same ability to turn those pieces into consistent success.
And that’s the difference that matters.
The Offensive Numbers Tell an Incredible Story
Perhaps the most revealing comparison between these organizations comes from their offenses. The Brewers scored 832 runs during the 2026 regular season. The Reds scored just 666 (how fitting.) That’s a difference of 166 runs, or more than one additional run per game across an entire season. Good lawd.
But here’s where things become especially interesting. Cincinnati hit 213 home runs, ranking second in the National League. Milwaukee, on the other hand, finished near the bottom of Major League Baseball in home runs. Yet the Brewers scored 166 more runs than the Reds.
Think about that.
The Reds had considerably more homer power, but Milwaukee had the substantially more productive offense.
Why? (And yes, we know the Reds play at GABP, but still…)
Because building a successful lineup requires more than players capable of hitting the ball over the fence. It requires getting runners on base, putting the ball in play, extending innings and consistently creating scoring opportunities. Cincinnati finished the season with a .229 batting average and a .305 on-base percentage, both ranking last in Major League Baseball.
The Reds also struggled with strikeouts, and look, they weren’t young last year. That excuse is gone.
Milwaukee demonstrated that a team doesn’t need to lead baseball in home runs to produce an elite offense. It needs hitters who consistently contribute to scoring runs.
That’s a lesson Cincinnati cannot afford to ignore, yet somehow the president of baseball operations continues to make puzzling, downright astonishingly bad trades for players that were well documented as BAD.
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The Difference Goes Beyond Offense
Milwaukee also finished the regular season with a +214 run differential. Yeah, their pitching is elite.
Cincinnati finished at -160.
That’s a 374-run gap in overall run differential between the two clubs. The Brewers scored more runs than they allowed by a substantial margin. The Reds allowed far more runs than they scored. Those numbers reflect problems extending well beyond one position or one disappointing player. Cincinnati needs more consistent pitching, better offensive production and a roster capable of remaining competitive over 162 games. Milwaukee’s success demonstrates the value of building a complete team rather than relying on a handful of individual performances.
The Reds have exciting players.
But exciting players alone don’t guarantee a winning baseball team.
Player Development Has to Produce Major League Results
Cincinnati has spent years emphasizing young talent. Elly De La Cruz remains one of the organization’s most recognizable players. Sal Stewart has emerged as an important offensive piece. Chase Burns represents another significant investment in the future of the pitching staff. And the Minor League system continues to feature intriguing prospects, though slim compared to years prior.
But developing talented players is only part of the equation. The ultimate goal is turning those players into a competitive Major League roster. Milwaukee has demonstrated an ability to develop contributors, integrate them into its lineup and supplement its roster with players who fit the organization’s needs. That doesn’t mean every Brewers prospect becomes a star.
It means the organization has found ways to assemble productive teams even when individual players leave or struggle. Cincinnati needs to establish that same level of consistency. The Reds cannot keep depending on every young player reaching his maximum potential just to remain competitive. They need a stronger supporting cast and a roster-building strategy that can withstand inevitable setbacks.
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Visit the Reds HUB →The Reds Cannot Blame Everything on Payroll
There’s no question that financial resources matter in Major League Baseball. Teams with larger payrolls generally have more flexibility to acquire established talent, absorb unsuccessful contracts and address weaknesses. But Milwaukee’s success makes it difficult to argue that spending alone explains Cincinnati’s struggles. The Brewers have reached the World Series without operating near the top of baseball’s payroll rankings. That doesn’t mean the Reds should avoid spending more money.
Quite the opposite.
Cincinnati should be willing to invest when opportunities arise to improve the roster. But spending must be accompanied by intelligent decision-making. A larger payroll won’t automatically solve problems with scouting, player development, roster construction or offensive philosophy. The Reds need to improve in multiple areas. And Milwaukee provides a compelling example of how organizational consistency can help a smaller-market team compete.
What Should Cincinnati Learn From Milwaukee?
The Reds don’t need to copy every decision the Brewers make. The two organizations have different players, different needs and different circumstances. But there are several lessons Cincinnati should consider.
First, prioritize offensive balance.
The Reds cannot repeat a season in which they hit 213 home runs but finish last in the National League in runs scored.
Getting on base and creating consistent scoring opportunities must become priorities.
Second, build a more complete roster.
A handful of stars cannot compensate for significant weaknesses elsewhere. The President of Operations is already talking about getting better at signing ‘mid tier’ free agents. Lord have mercy.
Cincinnati needs dependable production throughout its lineup and pitching staff.
Third, develop organizational consistency.
The Brewers have shown an ability to remain competitive across multiple seasons. The Reds need to stop treating every promising year as the beginning of another uncertain cycle.
Finally, establish higher expectations.
Making the postseason once shouldn’t be the ultimate measure of success. The goal should be building a team capable of competing for the division year after year. Milwaukee has demonstrated that such a standard is achievable. The Cincinnati Reds were once a prestigious organization. They need to act like it..
Cincinnati’s Front Office Faces an Important Offseason
President of baseball operations Nick Krall and general manager Brad Meador have significant decisions ahead.
The Reds need offensive improvements.
They need pitching depth.
And they need to determine which young players should be central to the organization’s long-term plans.
But perhaps the biggest question involves the team’s overall direction.
Cincinnati cannot afford another offseason focused solely on modest improvements and the hope that everything comes together.
The gap between the Reds and Brewers was 28 games in 2026.
That’s not a difference that can automatically be erased by one free-agent signing or one prospect promotion.
Closing that gap requires a coordinated approach to improving the entire roster.
The organization must be willing to evaluate what hasn’t worked and make meaningful changes.
Same Division. Very Different Expectations.
On Friday, Milwaukee will begin the World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays.
The Brewers will have an opportunity to win the first World Series championship in franchise history.
The Reds will be watching from home.
For Cincinnati fans, that contrast should be frustrating.
Milwaukee plays in the same division, faces many of the same small-market challenges and has managed to build a team capable of competing for a championship.
Meanwhile, the Reds are preparing for another offseason of questions.
Cincinnati doesn’t lack talent.
It lacks the consistent results necessary to turn that talent into a winning organization.
The Brewers have shown that a team in the NL Central can reach the World Series without being one of baseball’s biggest spenders.
Now the Reds have to figure out why they remain so far behind.
Because at some point, Cincinnati has to stop talking about its potential.
It’s time to start winning.
