In the most Milwaukee Brewers way possible, they have won the NL Central division title, even after 4-1 loss against the St. Louis Cardinals. Thanks to the Atlanta Braves beating the Chicago Cubs 7-6, the Brewers once again are NL Central champions.
Milwaukee Brewers’ NL Central Titles
2011:
The first time the Brewers claimed the NL Central title was in 2011, ironically over the Miami Marlins in a 4-1 victory. John Axford closed out the game for the crew with a strikeout, and all the players stuck around on the field to watch the Cubs and Cardinals game, looking on as the Cardinals lost to the Cubs and crowned the Brewers 2011 National League Central champions.
The Brewers would defeat the Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2 in the National League Division Series (NLDS), but would lose the National League Championship Series (NLCS) to the eventual World Series champion, St. Louis Cardinals.
2018:
Nothing was more bittersweet than winning the NL Central title in Game 163, when the Brewers played the Chicago Cubs in a one-game tiebreaker at Wrigley Field. Lorenzo Cain hit an RBI single in the top of the eighth inning to bring Milwaukee’s lead to 2-1, Ryan Braun followed with another RBI single to score Domingo Santana and make the lead 3-1. Josh Hader closed out the game, pitching to Anthony Rizzo who hit a fly ball to right, but Keon Broxton was able to get up under it and record the out and bring the NL Central title back home to Milwaukee.
This 2018 team was truly something to watch. The crew swept the Colorado Rockies 3-0 in the NLDS, but eventually lost the NLCS to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4-3. The 2018 NLDS was one to remember as they made it one game shy of the World Series, and it also brought us the Brandon Woodruff home run off of Clayton Kershaw.
2021:
This was the first time in over three years that the Brewers had won the NL Central title. They had punched their ticket into the postseason, but weren’t able to grab hold of that division title at the same time. With two outs in the ninth, Josh Hader was on the mound for Milwaukee when Brandon Nimmo hit a shot out to left field where Christian Yelich was easily able to get under it and call ballgame.
While the Brewers were able to clinch the NL Central title, they would unfortunately lose to the eventual World Series Champions Atlanta Braves in four games in the NLDS.
2023:
Though the crew lost Tuesday’s contest to the St. Louis Cardinals, thanks to an error by Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki, the Atlanta Braves took charge and took the lead and basically gifted the NL Central title to the Brewers. Although the Brewers probably would’ve liked the win, they still get to rain in the champagne showers and take back the NL Central for the fourth time in franchise history.
THE NATIONAL LEAGUE CENTRAL BELONGS TO YOUR MILWAUKEE BREWERS ‼️#BrewedForBattle | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/2TeF4q2SRW
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 27, 2023
With the division title, the Brewers are able to lock in the no. 3 seed in the playoffs and host the first round of the playoffs series, which would begin on Tuesday, Oct. 3. The Brewers would host all three of the wild-card round and need to win two out of three where they would then advance to the NLDS, where they’ll probably face off with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Brewers Playoffs Schedule
As previously stated, Milwaukee will host the first three games of the playoffs at home starting next week.
- Tuesday, Oct. 3 in Milwaukee
- Wednesday, Oct. 4 in Milwaukee (WC G2)
- IF NECESSARY: Thursday, Oct. 5
With a Wild Card series win, the Brewers would advance to the NLDS where they would play best-of-five.
- Saturday, Oct. 7 on the road (Likely in Los Angeles)
- Monday, Oct. 9 on the road (Again, likely in Los Angeles. The time for this game will probably conflict with the Green Bay Packers playing the Las Vegas Raiders, so choose your pick wisely as to who you’re going to watch.)
- Wednesday, Oct. 11 in Milwaukee
- IF NECESSARY: Thursday, Oct. 12 and Saturday, Oct. 14.
Game one of the NLCS would begin on Monday, Oct. 16. If the Braves lose their NLDS, game 1 will be in Milwaukee, otherwise it’ll be in Atlanta.
Pop some bottles, the Milwaukee Brewers are your 2023 National League Central Champions.
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