William Contreras’ mastery of MLB’s Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System fuels Brewers’ push in the World Series

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Milwaukee’s World Series advance has been powered not only by pitching and clutch play, but also by how catcher William Contreras handles MLB’s Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge (ABS) system. MLB reports that the Brewers sit one win away from the franchise’s first World Series title, entering the series with Tampa Bay holding a decisive 3-games-to-none lead over the Rays.

The centerpiece in MLB’s breakdown is Contreras’ October production and his uninterrupted defensive presence behind the plate. MLB states that Contreras has elevated his regular-season performance to a postseason level, carrying a 1.141 OPS with three home runs and eight RBIs. On the defensive side, MLB adds that Contreras has caught all 11 postseason games for Milwaukee while managing a pitching staff that has limited opponents with a 2.02 ERA.

Milwaukee’s catcher has also been a focal point for run-prevention, particularly in the World Series where MLB reports Contreras has been especially effective controlling the running game. According to the league, Contreras has caught Tampa Bay stealing three times in seven attempts, including two cutdowns in Game 1 that contributed to the Brewers’ early momentum in the Fall Classic.

Beyond traditional hitting and catching, MLB highlights that Contreras has been especially strong in the ABS challenge system, described as the debut season for the “Automatic Ball-Strike Challenge System.” MLB reports Contreras appeared as the most frequent challenger during the regular season, tapping his head 185 times, which was 49 more than second-place Tyler Stephenson. Even with the high volume of challenges, MLB says Contreras remained effective, ranking seventh in Runs Above Average (1.9) with a 57% overturn rate.

That profile, MLB says, has carried into the postseason with an even more aggressive challenge approach. In the regular season, MLB reports Contreras challenged 38% of incorrectly called pitches when he still had a challenge available. In the postseason, that rate increased to 63%, reflecting a higher willingness to challenge calls as the stakes rise late in October.

MLB further quantifies the postseason volume of Contreras’ ABS work by listing his 29 total ABS challenges as a catcher, stating that number is more than any other two postseason backstops combined. The league contrasts Contreras’ total with Patrick Bailey of the Cleveland Guardians (15 challenges through Game 3 of the World Series) and Liam Hicks of the Tampa Bay Rays (13 challenges through Game 3).

Along with increased frequency, MLB also reports that Contreras’ success rate on challenges has improved in the postseason. The league says his ABS success rate rose to 66%, and it attributes the impact to 0.8 Runs Above Average during Milwaukee’s run.

Contreras described his mindset around challenging directly in a quote MLB attributes to him on MLB Network ahead of Game 3. MLB reports Contreras said, “Whenever I want to challenge, I call it. I’m not afraid to lose my challenge,” and added, “I trust my pitcher.”

MLB also includes a separate set of comments from Contreras about his approach earlier in the year, noting that he sometimes challenges near the top of the strike zone “just to get an idea of the zone.” In the same segment, MLB reports Contreras said, “I don’t care about the numbers after the end of the season,” and “But I like to know how the box is. It’s different with every hitter.”

The league points to the World Series as the clearest example of how Contreras’ ABS use fits into game situations. MLB reports that Game 1 showcased his impact by pairing defensive baserunning control with strike-zone challenges. According to MLB, Contreras threw out two would-be basestealers and also stole a pair of strikes via ABS, with both of those outcomes eventually turning into strikeouts.

Offensively, MLB ties Contreras’ ABS and defensive influence to his ability to contribute at the plate in the same stretch. For Game 1, MLB reports Contreras went 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, reinforcing the idea that Milwaukee’s catcher has helped the Brewers generate damage while also limiting Tampa Bay’s opportunities.

In addition to the catcher’s role, MLB attributes postseason praise for Contreras to Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy after the Brewers’ 3–2 win. MLB reports Murphy said, “Contreras was incredible,” and added, “If anybody doesn't notice the contributions of Contreras, he was the player of the game.”

Milwaukee’s current postseason series situation remains clear in MLB’s account: the Brewers can close out the championship by winning one more game against the Rays after taking a commanding 3-games-to-none lead. MLB frames Contreras as a likely contender for postseason hardware if Milwaukee finishes the series, while noting that other players such as Jackson Chourio and Aaron Ashby could also be in the mix.

MLB concludes by emphasizing that Contreras’ impact has represented a significant shift for a player whose defensive reputation had not previously been treated as a standout. The league notes that Contreras was “not seen as a particularly good defender” when he was traded to the Brewers ahead of the 2023 season, but reports that his postseason catching performance has changed how his overall value has been judged.

Finally, MLB includes a supporting quote from Robert Gasser, who started Game 3 and, according to the league, made history with six scoreless innings. MLB reports Gasser said, “He just always has such a good feel for the game,” and added, “He's a really special catcher.”