William Contreras is giving the Milwaukee Brewers a World Series MVP argument that extends beyond the batter’s box.

Through three games against the Tampa Bay Rays, the catcher has combined consistent offense with defensive plays that have directly removed scoring opportunities. With the Brewers leading the series 3-0, he deserves the edge in a compelling award race.

Jackson Chourio has an excellent case, particularly after his four-hit performance in Game 3. Contreras’ advantage is the range of ways he has helped the Brewers win.

Start with the hitting. Contreras is 7-for-13 with three RBI, collecting multiple hits in every game. He went 2-for-3 in the opener, followed with a 2-for-5 performance in Game 2 and added three hits in Monday’s 10-1 victory.

That is a .538 average across the series. More importantly, his production has appeared in every victory, including the two games decided by one run.

William Contreras’ defense strengthens Brewers’ World Series MVP case

His defense makes that offensive consistency even more valuable.

In the 3-2 Game 1 win, Contreras threw out Victor Mesa Jr. at third and Jonathan Aranda at second to end consecutive innings. Those were immediate, measurable contributions to protecting a narrow lead.

The Rays arrived with a running game capable of manufacturing offense. Contreras denied them opportunities to turn baserunners into runs, forcing their lineup to create another chance instead.

A caught stealing does more than change field position. It erases a runner while consuming another of the offense’s remaining outs. In a one-run game, that combination can carry enormous weight.

Contreras also contributes through his use of the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system. Successful challenges can change counts and secure strikeouts, giving his work behind the plate another avenue to influence an inning.

The pitching staff deserves credit for executing. Contreras’ offensive production and defensive involvement nevertheless give him an unusually broad role in the Brewers’ success.

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None of this makes the award settled. Chourio can strengthen his candidacy, and another decisive performance could reshape the discussion before the series ends.

But the strongest current argument should account for more than the most memorable offensive highlight.

Contreras has supplied hits throughout the series while helping erase the Rays’ chances to answer. His contributions have mattered when the margin was thin and continued when the Brewers pulled away.

If the Brewers finish the job, his combination of production and prevention deserves recognition. Through three games, Contreras would get my vote for World Series MVP.