The Milwaukee Brewers have won the NL Central four times in the past seven seasons. During that span, Milwaukee has made the postseason nearly every year, but one housed an MVP and Cy Young Award winner and eclipsed 90 wins four times. Only the powerhouse Atlanta Braves and money-dependent Los Angeles Dodgers have won more games in the National League across the past five years. However, the top network for nationally televised games seems unaware of their success.
On Wednesday, ESPN released their early season Sunday Night Baseball schedule, with 13 of the 14 games settled. Among the matchups are the Dodgers, the Braves, the St. Louis Cardinals, and the Chicago Cubs, but not the Milwaukee Brewers, angering many fans of the NL Central club.
Milwaukee Brewers Fans Irate With SNB Schedule
According to ESPN PR:
ESPN unveils the 2025 #SundayNightBaseball early-season game schedule.
SNB begins March 30 with #BravesCountry vs #Padres.
Notably absent from the 13 released primetime standalone games is the Milwaukee Brewers, the back-to-back NL Central champions. Every other divisional champion from the past season has at least one game, including the Los Angeles Dodgers earning four Sunday Night Baseball appearances. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs, who finished below the Brewers in last season’s division standings, will each make a Sunday Night Baseball appearance.
The lack of respect ESPN shows for the Milwaukee Brewers has angered fans, including those unloyal to the Pat Murphy-led squad. A bevy of MLB fans came to the defense of the Brewers, putting ESPN on blast for their “brand” loyalty. More notably, Milwaukee fans also clowned the media power for excluding a 90-win team in 2024.
Can we get an explanation why a team that won back to back division titles didn’t get one game?
— John “BrewersRaptor” Egan (@BrewersRaptor) January 15, 2025
14 games, 13 different teams. Embarrassing but not surprising one bit. #MLB https://t.co/mpP9g1oCbU
— Matthew (@RealMBB) January 15, 2025
Division winner for consecutive seasons and you can't sniff one Sunday Night Baseball game? https://t.co/yiJ5fkHb7s
— Bill Schmid (@BillSchmidRadio) January 15, 2025
There’s 2 NL Central teams on this schedule and neither of them are the back-to-back division champs 😂 https://t.co/nMsv4PXvfR
— tweater (@JTweaterman) January 15, 2025
Brewers are NL Central Champions 3 times in the last 5 years yet they’ve only played one Sunday Night Baseball game in that span 💀 make it make sense??? https://t.co/OjShWT43To
— Jerry (@Mckinneyforsix) January 15, 2025
The MLB wants smaller markets to thrive and have national exposure but they don't give them that opportunity when it comes to primetime scheduling https://t.co/7X1ayz6e0L
— Gabe (@gcruz154) January 15, 2025
No Brewers? https://t.co/wkWIgNKpmB pic.twitter.com/Hq3AQ30MkC
— Spenser Williams (@SpenserWilliams) January 15, 2025
The NFL had 14 different teams on Sunday Night Football thru Week 8, only 2 repeats.
MLB only has 13 different teams on Sunday Night Baseball thru mid-August.
And they wonder why the game isn’t growing 😂 https://t.co/WJpYmJ99Iv
— Tim (@ItsReallyTimmyB) January 15, 2025
Hey fans of the reigning NL Central Division Winning @Brewers … notice anything missing?
Mets 4x…LA Dodgers 4x…Phillies 3x…Padres 3x…Braves 2x … Cubs 2x … NYY 2x … 6-other teams 1x each. https://t.co/uf7oTB2G53— Mike Heller (@HellerSports) January 15, 2025
There are 12 teams on this schedule.
There are 30 teams in MLB.
Players not featured:
Paul Skenes
Elly de la Cruz
Gunnar Henderson
Jackson Chourio
Corbin CarrollJust to name a few
And baseball wonders why it has a viewership problem and declining audience. https://t.co/vaWqnJz1aD
— Ethan Smith🏴☠️🐶🔸🚢🐧 (@mvp_EtHaN) January 15, 2025
I’m not seeing the Brewers on here? MLB not promoting a playoff team that won their division the year prior 🤔 #poverty #ThisIsMyCrew Let’s hope for the TBD slot 😂 https://t.co/NxSIX9vNMo pic.twitter.com/4fX8qsuZB8
— ThickChedr (@ThickChedr) January 15, 2025
Milwaukee Brewers Set For Big 2025
Last year, with the departure of superstar pitcher Corbin Burnes, many pundits and fans alike pegged the Milwaukee Brewers as a team to take a step back in 2024. Instead, Milwaukee won 90 games for a second consecutive year behind monster offensive seasons from shortstop Willy Adames and catcher William Contreras. Rookie outfielder Jackson Chourio also posted a stellar year, which likely would have led to an NL Rookie of the Year win if not for the dominance of Pittsburgh Pirates righty Paul Skenes.
Despite the loss of Adames to the San Francisco Giants and superstar closer Devin Williams to the New York Yankees via trade, the expectations remain high for the Brewers in 2025. Milwaukee will return ace pitcher Brandon Woodruff from injury, while fellow starter Nestor Cortes came over in the Williams deal.
Milwaukee Brewers:
- Milwaukee Brewers add 31 year old catcher in latest move (report)
- Milwaukee Brewers: 2020 2nd Round Pick Named to Nicaragua World Baseball Classic Qualifiers Roster
- Milwaukee Brewers: Baseball Prospectus Names Four Brew Crew Minor Leaguers to Top 101 List
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