The Milwaukee Brewers are gearing up for the National League Division Series, and their opponent will be either the Chicago Cubs or the San Diego Padres. It feels a bit like déja vu, because last season the Brewers faced one of these two teams too, eventually taking down the Cubs in five games. This year, if you bleed blue and yellow in Milwaukee, you should be absolutely hoping for a similar outcome in the Wild Card Series. Get ready to root for a rival, folks.
Forget Who You Hate: The Numbers Don’t Lie
Look, the Brewers are going into this NLDS with their pitching staff perfectly lined up and that bullpen as fresh as it gets, which is a massive advantage no matter who they play. But the Cubs, on paper, just make more sense as an opponent. During the regular season, the Brewers owned the Cubs, going 9-4 against them. Against the Padres? Not so much, clocking in at 2-4. Milwaukee knows the Cubs way better, and let’s be real, the Cubs aren’t exactly scorching hot right now. The Padres? They had to *claw* their way into a postseason spot, finishing as the No. 4 seed. These guys went a ridiculous 18-6 in September and even ripped off a 13-of-14 game winning streak. Sometimes in October, it’s all about momentum, and you’d be hard-pressed to find a team hotter than San Diego right now. That’s a scary thought for any opponent.
Pitching Prowess vs. Offensive Firepower
Sure, the Cubs would present their own challenges, but their pitching staff, especially the bullpen, isn’t exactly lights out. You gotta believe the Brewers would rather see that than face a Padres rotation boasting Michael King, Nick Pivetta, and Robbie Ray, with a bullpen rocking Adrián Morejón and Mason Miller. That’s a serious group right there. The Cubs do have Pete Crow-Armstrong, who’s likely the NL MVP, an elite offense, and one of the best defensive units we’ve ever seen. But here’s the kicker: the Brewers have held Crow-Armstrong to just eight hits in 57 plate appearances this season, and one of those came off a position player! Alex Bregman is a problem for the Brewers when they face the Cubs, no doubt. But the Padres have their own monstrous threats.
Think about it: Manny Machado is practically public enemy No. 1 in Milwaukee, going back to those intense 2018 postseason plays. And he *always* plays well against the Brewers. The last thing any fan wants is for his bat to catch fire again. Then you’ve got Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ty France, among others, who seem to pose a much bigger threat than Crow-Armstrong, Bregman, and the rest of the Cubs lineup. Bottom line: the Brewers are probably praying for familiar faces they’ve already had success against.
So, who are we rooting for in the Wild Card Series? The enemy of our enemy, right? Get ready to hold your breath and hope the Cubs make it through because that NLDS matchup could be the difference-maker.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply