Brewers manager Pat Murphy helped stop the Los Angeles Dodgers from three-peating, and he completed a three-peat of his own.
Murphy was named The Sporting News' National League Manager of the Year for the third straight season, becoming the first National League manager to win the award three years in a row. The Sporting News has awarded annual honors every season since 1925.
"It's a three-peat for Pat Murphy, who becomes the NL's first manager to win the Sporting News award in three consecutive seasons since Bobby Cox (2002-05) and the first manager overall since Kevin Cash (2019-21)," wrote The Sporting News. "Unlike Cox and Cash, Murphy has won in each of his first three seasons as a full-time MLB manager. While the Brewers might not have been quite as underestimated going into 2026 as they were in previous seasons, few would have expected Milwaukee to win 103 games and run away with an improved NL Central division."
Murphy's Brewers have held the best record in baseball in two consecutive seasons, and this year they are in the World Series. Since Murphy took over, the Brewers are 293-193 in the regular season, which is the best mark in all of baseball. Yes, even better than the Los Angeles Dodgers.
What makes Murphy's run the most impressive is the fact that he is doing it in Milwaukee. For years under Craig Counsell, the payroll was used as an excuse for why the Brewers could not get over the hump. However, Murphy has embraced the difficulties of managing in a small market and turned the Brewers into a force.
This version of the Brewers is a nightmare on the basepaths, puts a ton of pressure on opposing pitchers, bunts and does all of the small things well. Now, they have to win four more times to ensure their manager gets a ring.
Murphy is also the favorite to win the Baseball Writers’ Association of America Manager of the Year Award. He would be the first manager to ever three-peat if he wins that.