Brewers' Christian Yelich Sends Warning Message to Rest of NL Central

Milwaukee's star outfielder dismisses low preseason projections for his team

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich brushed off low preseason projections for his team, saying the Brewers don't care what others think and will just go out and play their game. The Brewers have won three straight NL Central titles and four out of five, and Yelich knows they'll have to prove the doubters wrong once again this season.

Why it matters

The Brewers have consistently outperformed low preseason expectations in recent years, and Yelich's defiant comments suggest the team is unfazed by doubters and ready to compete for another division title despite losing some key players in the offseason.

The details

After trading away ace Freddy Peralta and starting third baseman Caleb Durbin, the Brewers are projected by Fangraphs to win just 82 games and by PECOTA to go 81-81 this season. But Yelich dismissed those projections, saying "We just don't care. It's the same story every year." He noted that the Brewers have won three straight NL Central titles and four out of five, and said the team will just "go out and play, and we'll see where we're at" when the season is over.

  • The Brewers have won three straight NL Central titles and four out of five.

The players

Christian Yelich

A star outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers who has dismissed low preseason projections for his team.

Freddy Peralta

A former ace pitcher for the Brewers who was traded away in the offseason.

Caleb Durbin

A former starting third baseman for the Brewers who was traded away in the offseason.

Jett Williams

A newcomer to the Brewers who could help bolster the team this season.

Brandon Sproat

A newcomer to the Brewers who could help bolster the team this season.

Kyle Harrison

A newcomer to the Brewers who could help bolster the team this season.

Jackson Chourio

A young Brewers outfielder who still has room to improve and develop.

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What they’re saying

“We just don't care. It's the same story every year.”

— Christian Yelich, Brewers outfielder (MLB.com)

“Just because they say you're going to be bad, or just because they say you're going to be good, you still have to play the six-month season and everything that goes with that. When all that settles, then you find out what kind of team you were.”

— Christian Yelich, Brewers outfielder (MLB.com)

What’s next

The Brewers will look to prove the doubters wrong when they open the 2026 season on March 26th.

The takeaway

Despite losing key players in the offseason, the Brewers remain confident in their ability to compete for another NL Central title, as they have consistently done in recent years by exceeding low preseason expectations.