Brewers Reach 70 Wins as Chourio, Henderson Dismantle Pirates

The Milwaukee Brewers are a legitimate force in 2026, and Tuesday’s 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field was yet another reminder of their growing muscle. The Brewers became the first team in baseball to reach 70 wins, and they did it in style, with starter Logan Henderson delivering a masterclass and Jackson Chourio once again proving why he’s one of the most electric young talents in the National League.

Henderson Dominates, Pirates Can’t Keep Pace

Henderson was simply outstanding, scattering four hits across six innings while striking out eight and allowing just two earned runs. That’s the kind of performance that wins ballgames in August, and it’s precisely what the Brewers got when they needed it most. The Pirates’ Jared Jones, meanwhile, couldn’t get out of the fourth inning, surrendering eight hits in just four innings of work. When your ace can’t locate and your opponent’s starter is painting corners, you’re looking at a losing formula every time.

The Brewers struck first at home in the third inning when Jackson Chourio launched a solo shot to right-center, immediately establishing the tone of the evening. That blast would prove prophetic, as Chourio went on to collect three hits and drive in two runs, showcasing the kind of consistent excellence that contenders need down the stretch. Chourio isn’t just a prospect anymore, folks. He’s a legitimate factor.

Milwaukee piled on in the fourth with back-to-back homers, as Andrew Vaughn crushed one to center before Chourio added an RBI single to score Cooper Pratt. That quick succession of scoring put the Pirates in a hole they simply couldn’t escape. The Brewers know how to strike when the iron is hot, and they did exactly that on Tuesday.

Pirates Show Fight, But It’s Not Enough

To the Pirates’ credit, they didn’t roll over entirely. Jacob Gonzalez smacked a solo home run in the third to get Pittsburgh on the board early, and Endy Rodriguez answered back with his own solo shot in the fifth. Those are quality at-bats, the kind that keep you in games. But quantity matters too, and the Brewers simply outhit and outpitched the Pirates when it mattered most.

Here’s what irritates me about the Pirates’ performance: they had opportunities to make this a tighter ballgame, but they couldn’t capitalize. Manager Don Kelly was ejected in the fifth inning (which deserves its own investigation), but by that point the damage was already done. The Pirates are a .500 team for a reason, and Tuesday perfectly encapsulated why. Good moments sandwiched between stretches of mediocrity just doesn’t cut it.

Trevor Megill saved the day with a clean ninth, closing out a win that sends a clear message throughout the National League. The Brewers are built to win now, and they’re doing it. They reached 70 wins before any other team in baseball, and frankly, they might not be done climbing. If Logan Henderson can continue pitching like he did Tuesday and if Chourio maintains this level of production, Milwaukee could be a real problem in October.

The Pirates, meanwhile, head home licking their wounds. This is what separation looks like in the major leagues, and on Tuesday at American Family Field, the Brewers put it on full display.