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Brewers reach first World Series in 44 years — NL Central roundup
No NL Central teams played yesterday, but the Brewers are World Series-bound and the Pirates are in the spotlight with Paul Skenes and a key depth move.
By the PickALeague Newsroom · Published · Source: PickALeagueSummary written with AI assistance — how we workLire en français →
There were no NL Central games on the schedule yesterday, but the division still made noise, led by the Brewers’ long-awaited return to the Fall Classic.
Brewers: World Series berth and an elite prospect
As CBS Sports notes, the Milwaukee Brewers are back in the World Series for the first time in 44 years, fresh off a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The organization’s future looks bright as well: Jesús Made, described as baseball’s No. 1 prospect, homered in his first winter league plate appearance on Friday, the day after that series-clinching sweep, according to CBS Sports.
Catching workloads are also part of the Brewers’ orbit. Per MLB Trade Rumors, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto leads the majors with 613 games started behind the plate since 2022, including 122 starts this season. Brewers backstop William Contreras is just one start behind him, underscoring how central he has been to a Milwaukee club that is now four wins from a championship.
Pirates: Skenes scrutinized, depth move for Fedko
In Pittsburgh, Paul Skenes’ follow-up to his Cy Young season is under the microscope. MLB Trade Rumors points out that after holding opponents to a 1.97 ERA last year, his mark climbed to 3.82 in 2026. Even so, Skenes remains better than league average in both strikeout and walk rates, and the site frames the debate largely around whether refining his changeup is the key to unlocking another leap.
The Pirates also made a move to preserve organizational depth. According to MLB Trade Rumors, they have re-signed outfielder Kyler Fedko to a two-year minor league contract. The 27-year-old underwent knee surgery in August to repair torn ACL, MCL and LCL ligaments and is expected to spend a significant portion of 2027 rehabbing.
MLB Trade Rumors additionally highlights October 17 as a landmark date in franchise history: the Pirates captured World Series titles on that day in both 1971 and 1979, each time winning Game 7 against the Baltimore Orioles. The 1971 championship was sealed with a 2-1 victory behind a complete-game gem from Steve Blass.
Quiet day elsewhere in the Central
The Chicago Cubs (89-73), Cincinnati Reds (75-87) and St. Louis Cardinals (77-85) were out of the news cycle on this off day, while the Pirates (82-80) and powerhouse Brewers (103-59) remain the focal points in the NL Central as October winds down.