Your long, cold winter without regular-season baseball is just about over.
The Milwaukee Brewers, fresh off a trip to the National League Championship Series in 2025, are back to open the 2026 schedule with a revamped pitching staff, a new third baseman, several familiar names and the two-time National League Manager of the Year. And his pocket pancakes.
The Brewers open the season against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday, March 26 at American Family Field.
Here’s what to know about the Brewers’ Opening Day game:
What time is the Brewers’ Opening Day game?
The Brewers face the White Sox at 1:10 p.m. CT in Milwaukee on Thursday, March 26. The series continues March 28-29.
Why do the Brewers have an off-day on Friday, March 27?
This is typical practice for Major League Baseball, building in a off day during the first series of the year. That way, any Opening Day ceremonies postponed by rain can just take place the next day.
Why would weather affect them? Don’t the Brewers have a roof?
They do. We didn’t make the schedule.
Well, what’s the weather going to be like Opening Day anyway, in case I want to tailgate?
The National Weather Service said, as of Monday, March 23, that we can expect a 30% chance of rain after 1 p.m. and otherwise mostly-cloudy skies with a high of 62 degrees, with a light breeze.
(Cracks open a beverage)
It’s a high of 39 on Friday, March 27, so enjoy it while it lasts.
Who’s pitching on Opening Day?
The Brewers will send Jacob Misiorowski to the mound, one year after he took Milwaukee by storm with an electric debut season, one that landed him in the All-Star Game after just five starts. The White Sox’s starting pitcher is another all-star in Shane Smith, a former Brewers prospect who was plucked by Chicago out of the organization in the late 2024 Rule 5 draft and instantly became the team’s top pitcher.
So, the Brewers kind of made a mistake to let the White Sox steal Shane Smith, right?
Sure, but relax, the Brewers still have the best farm system in baseball.
I’m more interested in the current team. Who’s on the Brewers’ Opening-Day roster in 2026?
Bear in mind, all of this is subject to change over the next few days. But here’s what it looks like:
How has the Brewers’ depth chart changed for the 2026 season?
Many of the names will be familiar from years past. Milwaukee does have a different rotation, though, featuring left-hander Harrison (acquired from the Boston Red Sox in the Caleb Durbin trade) and right-hander Sproat (acquired from the New York Mets in the Freddy Peralta/Tobias Myers trade). They’ll join Misiorowski, Woodruff and Patrick in the rotation.
Relief pitcher Zerpa (acquired from the Kansas City Royals in the Nick Mears/Isaac Collins trade) will have a big role in the bullpen.
Third base will be managed, for now, by Rengifo (a former Angels infielder signed as a free agent) and Hamilton (acquired in the same Red Sox deal that brought in Harrison), with Hamilton serving more of a utility role. Jett Williams, a top prospect acquired from the Mets in the Sproat/Peralta deal, will be among the first position players called on if needed; he’s capable of playing multiple spots on the infield.
Sánchez, who was a Brewer in 2024 and with Baltimore last year, is also back and playing behind starting catcher Contreras.
What does the early part of the Brewers’ 2026 schedule look like?
The Brewers stay at home early next week, facing Tampa Bay on March 30, 31 and April 1. They visit Kansas City on April 3-5 and Boston April 6-8 before returning home to face Washington (April 10-12) and defending American League champion Toronto (April 14-16).
Oddly enough, the Brewers won’t serve as the opponent in any other home openers this year.
Where can I get Brewers tickets?
Same place as always, on the Brewers website or through the Brewers ticket office.
What’s new this year at Miller Park?
It’s called American Family Field.
Yeah, well, I still call it Mil –
It’s been five years now.
Fine.
The Brewers have revamped their popular playground in the right-field corner, and they’ve begun preparations to construct an outdoor plaza to spruce up spaces around the stadium’s perimeter – including mini-golf! There are also plenty of new food options.
Oh, and this is the debut of the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system, so teams will get a couple of chances per game to challenge ball-strike calls. It makes for a surprisingly fun moment for fans when the pitch is quickly shown again on the scoreboard.
Who will I boo now if even the home-plate umpire can get overruled by replay?
We know you’ll think of something. The construction cones around the stadium?
I’ve heard Milwaukee interstates are under construction for the next century. Is it going to be harder to get to the stadium now?
Indeed, Interstate 94 near the stadium is part of a long-term construction project, one that’s going to have phases lasting for the next decade. It will be a little stickier than usual, particularly after day games emptying into rush-hour traffic, but the Brewers have tips to help fans navigate the congestion.
Brewers fans on Opening Day may want to stay a little later after the game anyway to catch a sneak peek at an upcoming Bob Uecker documentary.
What if I just avoid the traffic and stay at home? Where can I watch the Brewers on TV this year?
Well, some of that is still up in the air. The Brewers have changed their broadcast production and distribution this year, and some final details are still getting ironed out. We just may not know the exact channel on cable and satellite systems in some places until Opening Day.
Safe to say, you should be able to still get the Brewers in the same services as last year if you watched on cable and satellite, or you can check out Brewers.TV for streaming.
The Brewers’ opener will also be broadcast on over-the-air TV channels in Wisconsin.
Who’s throwing out the ceremonial first pitches on Opening Day?
We’ve got a couple of Jordans — Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love and two-time Olympic gold medal speedskater Jordan Stolz of Kewaskum.
Who’s getting made into a Brewers bobblehead this year?
Misiorowski, Contreras and Woodruff are all on the promotional schedule this year.
The Brewers are going to win the NL Central again for the fourth straight year, aren’t they?
They did win 97 games last year to set a franchise record, but the Chicago Cubs added big pieces in third baseman Alex Bregman and pitcher Edward Cabrera, and Chicago was already pretty close to Milwaukee’s level. And both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds made some offseason additions this year, so you can’t count them out, either.
I’m going to count out the Reds and Pirates, though
Fine, at your own peril. Have fun at Opening Day.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know about Brewers’ Opening Day 2026; time, TV, schedule
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
