Brewers Defeat Rays in Season Opener

Milwaukee manager praises team's performance in 14-2 win over Chicago White Sox

Mar. 31, 2026 at 9:14pm

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An abstract, energetic painting in neon colors depicting the dynamic action of a baseball game, with players and equipment blending into expressive brushstrokes.The Brewers' bats came alive in their season opener, powering the team to a decisive victory over the Rays.Chicago Today

The Milwaukee Brewers opened their 2026 season with a decisive 14-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays. Brewers manager Pat Murphy was pleased with his team's performance, highlighting the strong outing from starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff in his season debut.

Why it matters

The Brewers are looking to build on a successful 2025 campaign and make a deep playoff run this year. Their opening day win over the Rays, one of the American League's top teams, is an encouraging start to the new season.

The details

Woodruff pitched 6 strong innings, allowing just 2 runs on 5 hits while striking out 8 Rays batters. The Brewers' offense exploded for 14 runs, including 4 home runs, to overwhelm the Rays' pitching staff.

  • The game was played on March 31, 2026, Opening Day of the 2026 MLB season.

The players

Pat Murphy

The manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Brandon Woodruff

The starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, making his season debut.

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What they’re saying

“We came out strong and played a complete game. Brandon set the tone on the mound, and the offense did their part to give us a big win on Opening Day.”

— Pat Murphy, Brewers Manager

What’s next

The Brewers and Rays will continue their 3-game series on April 1 and April 2.

The takeaway

The Brewers' dominant performance on Opening Day suggests they have the talent and momentum to challenge for the playoffs in 2026 and build on their success from last season.