Milwaukee Brewers Reach NLCS After Defeating Cubs

Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Brewers advanced to the National League Championship Series (NLCS) for the first time since 2018 after defeating the Chicago Cubs 3-1 in Game 5 of the NL Division Series (NLDS) on October 11. This victory marks the Brewers’ first playoff series win since 2018.

The Brewers will face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLCS, a rematch of the 2018 NLCS. The best-of-seven series will begin with Games 1 and 2 at American Family Field on the night of October 13, with the first pitch for Game 1 set for 7:08 PM.

This will be the Brewers’ third appearance in the NLCS, having previously played in 2018 and 2011. The 2018 NLCS ended in defeat against the Dodgers, while the 2011 NLCS resulted in a loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Game 5 Highlights

In a decisive Game 5, every run was scored via solo home runs. The scoring started with William Contreras hitting a solo home run in the first inning, putting the Brewers on the board. Seiya Suzuki tied the game for the Cubs with a solo home run in the second inning. However, the Brewers regained the lead when Andrew Vaughn hit a go-ahead solo homer in the fourth inning, followed by another solo home run from Brice Turang in the seventh inning, extending their lead to 3-1.

Pitching Strategy and Performance

The Brewers employed a bullpen strategy in Game 5, using four pitchers who collectively allowed only one run. Rooke pitcher Jacob Misiorowski pitched four innings, giving up just one run on three hits while striking out three Cubs batters. The Brewers’ relief pitchers, including Aaron Ashby, Chad Patrick, and Abner Uribe, effectively held the Cubs scoreless in the final four innings of the match.

Cubs’ Struggles and Season Conclusion

The Cubs faced difficulties during the game, going 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position. This defeat concludes their 2023 season, leaving them to reassess their strategy for the coming year. Notably, in the series, the home team won all five games played.

Upcoming NLCS Matchup

The Brewers enter the NLCS with a strong record against the Dodgers from the regular season, finishing with a 6-0 record, outscoring them 31-16. However, the Dodgers boast the highest payroll in Major League Baseball, exceeding $200 million more than the Brewers. Milwaukee’s owner has expressed confidence in the team’s readiness to compete against other larger-market teams.

The upcoming NLCS between the Brewers and Dodgers promises to be a competitive series, reigniting the rivalry from their last postseason encounter in 2018.