MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 02: Jackson Chourio #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers points at the … [+] dugout after hitting a grand slam in the sixth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on September 02, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
With a record of 93-69, The Milwaukee Brewers easily won the National League Central Division.
Exciting Jackson Chourio is now the focal point of the Brewers dynamic club.
The Brewers will begin postseason play Tuesday against the New York Mets, who split a doubleheader with the Braves Monday, sending them to Milwaukee as the No. 6 seed in the National League.
The Central Division can be challenging.
Usually, the St, Louis Cardinals hover in contention to win the division. They collapsed.
The Cubs are usually formidable, and hang around long enough to be a threat for the postseason. They finished second in the division, 10 games behind the Brewers.
The Cincinnati Reds were projected to be a better club than their results indicate.
And finally, the Pittsburgh Pirates, behind the talented pitching of Paul Skenes, are improving.
ESPN.com indicates the Brewers averaged 31,323 spectators per game this year.
Without question, the Brewers were the best team in the division.
They won without the services of Christian Yelich, their trusted, veteran outfielder who has undergone season-ending back surgery.
The Brewers play sound, solid fundamental baseball.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 02: Willy Adames #27 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts before … [+] crossing home plate after hitting a three run homer in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on September 02, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
What’s Next For The Brew Crew:
Records at Baseball-reference.com date to the days when the Brewers were still the Seattle Pilots, in 1969.
Those records indicate the following for Brewers postseason play:
1981- Brewers lost to the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, 3-2
1982- Brewers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the World Series, 4-3
2008- Brewers lost to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Division Series, 3-1
2011- Brewers lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Championship Series, 4-2
2018- Brewers lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series, 4-3
2019- Brewers lost to the Washington Nationals in the NL Wild Card Game
2020- Brewers lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2020 Wild Card Series, 2-0
2021- Brewers lost to the Atlanta Braves in the NL Division Series, 3-1
2023- Brewers lost to Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL Wild Card Series, 2-0
It must be remembered that the Brewers did play in the American League until 1998.
While there have been some extended playoff appearances, like being in the World Series in 1982, and in the National League Championship Series in 2011, and 2018, the Brewers have made early exits in their postseason history.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – SEPTEMBER 22: Devin Williams #38 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts to the third … [+] out of the ninth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at American Family Field on September 22, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Will This Postseason Be Different?
The Los Angeles Dodgers, and Philadelphia Phillies both earned first-round playoff byes due to their better National League records than the Brewers.
The Dodgers won the West. The Phillies won the East.
To this old scout, the Brewers are a team comprised of good, solid baseball players. Without Yelich, they still managed to make every out count. They play hard. They pick each other up. They are the sum of their parts, without a real “superstar.” At least not yet.
Left fielder Chourio, 20, has done a remarkable job using all of his many talents, growing as a consequential, impactful catalyst.
Second baseman Brice Turang has shown the type of skill scouts saw when Turang was a 1st round draft pick in 2021. He stole a whopping 50 bases.
Shortstop Willy Adames, who can be a free agent following the World Series, has proven to be a team-leader on both offense and defense. Adames led the team with 32 homers and 112 RBIs.
Catcher William Contreras is the team leader in hits and doubles. He also had 23 home runs.
On the mound, right-handers Freddy Peralta, and Colin Rea kept there team in games, and each had double-digit wins.
Tobias Myers, Aaron Civale, Frankie Montas, also had the bulk of the remaining recent starts.
Relievers Devin Williams, and Trevor Megill have been very valuable in high-leverage end of game innings.
The Brewers have the luxury of having four lefties in their pen, including Jared Koenig, Aaron Ashby, Hoby Milner, and DL Hall.
Manager Pat Murphy may win the National League Manager of the Year Award.
In short, the Brewers have a very well-balanced club, with the capabilities of scoring runs, and preventing runs with good pitching and good defense.
Manager Murphy has his club playing very sound fundamental baseball, as they take advantage of the mistakes of the opposition, and maximize their own opportunities.
This may be the year the Brewers advance deeply into the playoffs.
