The Milwaukee Brewers have made the playoffs 10 times in their 55 year history.
1981
Lost ALDS vs. New York Yankees, 3–2
In 1981, due to a two-month players’ strike, the season was divided into two halves, leading to a unique postseason format where the winners of each half in each division met in a temporary best-of-five Division Series. The Milwaukee Brewers, experiencing their inaugural playoff run, faced off against the storied New York Yankees, who had a rich postseason pedigree. Initially, it appeared the Brewers might be swiftly dispatched as the Yankees won the first two games in Milwaukee.
However, the series took a dramatic turn in New York. In Game 3, with the Yankees just three innings from sweeping, Ted Simmons sparked a comeback with a two-run homer in the seventh and an RBI double in the eighth, steering the Brewers to a 5-3 win. This momentum continued into Game 4, where Pete Vuckovich’s solid start and Rollie Fingers’ closing efforts resulted in a 2-1 Brewers victory, evening the series.
The decisive Game 5 saw the Brewers jump to an early 2-0 lead, but the Yankees, true to their form, fought back with consecutive home runs from Reggie Jackson and Oscar Gamble in the fourth, eventually advancing to the ALCS.”
1982
Won ALCS vs. California Angels, 3–2
Dubbed “Harvey’s Wallbangers” after their manager Harvey Kuenn, the Milwaukee Brewers boasted a lineup with a collective slugging percentage nearing .500. This team, by series’ end, had outshone even the likes of Reggie Jackson and Rod Carew. After losing the initial two games away, the Brewers returned home to County Stadium—where they were formidable all season—and mounted a fierce comeback, winning the next three games.
The turning point came in Game 5 when Cecil Cooper, who had struggled earlier with a 2-for-19 record in the series, delivered the decisive blow with a two-run single to left field in the seventh inning. This hit not only erased a 3-2 deficit but also secured Milwaukee’s first-ever pennant. Incredibly, the Angels Fred Lynn was awarded the ALCS MVP for his impressive 11-for-18 performance during the series, even though the Angels fell to the small-market Brewers.
Lost World Series vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 4–3
At spacious Busch Stadium, the St. Louis Cardinals relied on speed and hit sparingly for power, contrasting sharply with the Milwaukee Brewers, known as “Harvey’s Wallbangers” under the guidance of manager Harvey Kuenn. Regrettably for Milwaukee, they headed into the World Series without their bullpen maestro, Rollie Fingers, who had injured his arm muscle in September.
In Game 1, the Brewers lived up to their nickname, hammering Cardinal pitchers for 17 hits and amassing 10 runs. Mike Caldwell was stellar on the mound, throwing a three-hit shutout. However, St. Louis bounced back in Game 2, securing a 5-4 win in a close contest, where the winning run came courtesy of Steve Braun’s pinch-hit walk with the bases loaded in the eighth.riving in runs. The Brewers tried to mount a comeback in the 9th inning, but it was too little too late. Joaquin Andujar got the win, throwing 7 solid innings, while Bruce Sutter closed out the series for the Cardinals.
Cardinals’ center fielder Willie McGee, who hit just four home runs during the regular season, made a significant impact in Game 3. His three-run homer in the fifth and a solo shot in the seventh powered St. Louis to a 6-2 victory. The Cardinals also held a commanding lead in Game 4 until the Brewers erupted for six runs in the seventh, overturning a 5-1 deficit to win 7-5, evening the Series at 2-2. Although Game 5 is often seen as crucial, it didn’t decide the outcome here; still, it was a close game with Milwaukee prevailing 6-4 due to late scoring.
Returning to St. Louis for Game 6, the Brewers’ offense was stymied by John Stuper, who pitched a complete game, giving up only four hits and one run. Conversely, the Cardinals’ batting reversed the fortunes of Game 1, amassing 12 hits and 13 runs. Keith Hernandez drove in four runs, while designated hitter Dane Iorg crossed the plate three times.
In the decisive Game 7, the Cardinals found themselves down 3-1 as they batted in the bottom of the sixth. However, a sequence of a single, a double, and then a walk set the stage for Keith Hernandez. His timely two-run single knotted the score, and George Hendrick’s subsequent single gave St. Louis the lead, 4-3. The Cardinals added two more runs in the eighth for some breathing room. Closer Bruce Sutter then took the mound, pitching two flawless innings to seal the victory, giving St. Louis their ninth World Series championship.
2008
Lost NLDS vs. Philadelphia Phillies, 3–1
The Philadelphia Phillies were driven by the offensive prowess of Jimmy Rollins, who notched six hits, and the combined RBI total of nine from Shane Victorino and Pat Burrell throughout the series.
For the Milwaukee Brewers, J.J. Hardy and Ryan Braun were the offensive engines, each knocking in two runs and together accounting for 11 hits. Cole Hamels set an authoritative tone in Game 1, hurling eight innings of no-run, two-hit pitching, while striking out nine Milwaukee hitters. In game wto Brett Myers pitched seven strong innings for the Phillies, giving up just two runs on two hits while striking out four, to secure a 2-0 series lead, the first since the 1980 World Series. The Brewers had an early opportunity, loading the bases in the first, but only managed one run due to a double play. CC Sabathia, pitching on short rest, struggled, allowing five runs in the second inning, including a historic grand slam by Shane Victorino, the first in Phillies’ postseason history.
Facing elimination, the Brewers, with Dave Bush on the mound, took an early 2-0 lead in the first ever playoff game at Miller Park, thanks to Prince Fielder’s sacrifice fly and J.J. Hardy’s RBI single. Despite a shaky start, their bullpen kept the Phillies scoreless after Bush’s exit. Milwaukee added runs in the fifth and seventh, while limiting Philadelphia to one run on a Jayson Werth triple. With the game on the line, Salomón Torres escaped a bases-loaded situation in the ninth, thanks to an interference call on Shane Victorino, securing the Brewers’ first postseason victory since 1982. The next day, however,Phillies clinched their first playoff series since 1993 with a 6-2 victory, led by Jimmy Rollins’ leadoff homer and back-to-back home runs from Pat Burrell and Jayson Werth. Joe Blanton limited the Brewers to one run over six innings, with the only Brewers score coming from Prince Fielder’s homer. Burrell added another homer in the eighth. Despite a late Brewers rally, Brad Lidge secured the final out, propelling Philadelphia to the NLCS.
2011
Won NLDS vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 3–2
The Milwaukee Brewers won the first two games of the series but faced a comeback from the Arizona Diamondbacks, who evened the score with wins in Games 3 and 4, leading to a decisive Game 5 at Milwaukee. Yovani Gallardo, Milwaukee’s ace, delivered stellar performances in Games 1 and 5, posting a remarkable 1.29 ERA across 14 innings. Despite his efforts, the game went into extra innings after Willie Bloomquist’s ninth-inning RBI single off John Axford.
However, Nyjer Morgan’s clutch walk-off single in the 10th sealed the win for the Brewers. The Diamondbacks’ offense was powered by nine home runs from Chris Young, Paul Goldschmidt, Ryan Roberts, and Justin Upton, while Ryan Braun was a standout for Milwaukee, finishing with a 9-for-18 performance.
Lost NLCS vs. St. Louis Cardinals, 4–2
David Freese emerged as the local legend for the St. Louis Cardinals, helping them defeat the Milwaukee Brewers in six games. The Cardinals secured three of their wins with substantial margins. Ryan Braun, despite a strong series with an .333 average, couldn’t lift the Brewers past St. Louis. Freese, in the midst of an already impressive season, shone even brighter in the playoffs, batting .545 with home runs in the first two games and the series-clinching Game 6.
2018
Won NLDS vs. Colorado Rockies, 3–0
Christian Yelich’s second-inning homer gave the Brewers an early 2-0 lead in game one, but the contest went to extra innings after the Rockies tied the game in the ninth. Milwaukee clinched the victory in the 10th when Mike Moustakas singled, scoring Yelich. In Game 2, Jeremy Jeffress’ 6-out save caps stellar effort by the bullpen after Chacin’s five strong innings. Timely hitting plates 4 in a game two shutout. The Brewers completed a historic sweep in the NL Division Series with a 6-0 victory over the Rockies in Game 3 at Coors Field, marking the first time in franchise history they achieved back-to-back shutouts in the postseason.
Lost NLCS vs. Los Angeles Dodgers 4-3
The Milwaukee Brewers faced off against the Los Angeles Dodgers in a thrilling best-of-seven series, culminating in a victory for the Dodgers in seven.. Game 1: The Brewers took an early lead, winning 6-5 in Milwaukee. A late surge by the Dodgers wasn’t enough as Brandon Woodruff notched the win The Dodgers evened the series with a 4-3 victory in game 2.
Back in Los Angeles, the Brewers won 4-0, behind a strong start from Jhoulys Chacin, with the Brewers’ bullpen holding the Dodgers scoreless. The Dodgers bounced back, winning 2-1 in a pitchers’ duel, with Walker Buehler outdueling Wade Miley.
Game five was a nail-biter, ending in a 5-2 Brewers win, highlighted by a Christian Yelich RBI double, putting Milwaukee up 3-2 in the series. The Dodgers, in must-win territory, triumphed 7-2 in game six, with Manny Machado’s 3-run homer being the big blow.
In a heartbreaker for Milwaukee, the Dodgers won 5-1. The Brewers couldn’t overcome the Dodgers’ pitching led by Rich Hill, who started, and a bullpen effort including Kenley Jansen for the save.
2019
Lost NLWCG vs. Washington Nationals, 1–0
The one game playoff was marked by tense, high-stakes baseball. Both teams had their moments, but it was Kendrick’s home run in the 8th that proved to be the decisive blow. Despite a late push by the Brewers, they couldn’t muster enough to overcome the Nationals’ lead. This game highlighted the unpredictable nature of the one-game playoff format, with the Nationals moving on to face the Dodgers in the NLDS, while the Brewers saw their season end abruptly.
2020
Lost NLWCS to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0
The series was a showcase of the Dodgers’ pitching depth and timely hitting, especially in Game 2 where they managed to shut out the Brewers. Key performances included Clayton Kershaw, who was dominant in his start, and the relief work from Dodgers’ pitchers in both games, which was crucial in maintaining leads. For the Brewers, while their offense showed moments of life, particularly in Game 1, they were unable to consistently challenge the Dodgers’ pitchers. Christian Yelich and Orlando Arcia had notable moments, but it wasn’t enough against the Dodgers’ strong bullpen.
2021
Lost NLDS vs. Atlanta Braves, 3–1
The series win for the Braves was a statement of their playoff mettle, setting them up for a deep postseason run, eventually leading to a World Series championship.vThis was a series where pitching played a significant role, with standout performances from Max Fried and Ian Anderson for the Braves, and Josh Hader for the Brewers.vThe Braves’ offense, especially Freeman, provided key hits at crucial times, while the Brewers showed resilience but couldn’t overcome Atlanta’s pitching depth.
2023
Lost NLWCS vs. Arizona Diamondbacks, 2–0
The Diamondbacks showcased their offensive firepower and pitching depth, managing to keep the Brewers’ potent lineup in check over the two games.Key performers for Arizona included Ketel Marte, who delivered in crucial moments, and the bullpen that was nearly flawless in both games. For the Brewers, while they managed to get hits, they struggled to convert these into enough runs against a resilient Diamondbacks pitching staff.
This series win for the Diamondbacks marked a significant upset, setting them on a path to further playoff success, eventually reaching the World Series. The Brewers, despite their regular-season success, couldn’t overcome the Diamondbacks’ momentum and strategic play in this short series format.
2024
Lost NLWCS v New York Mets, 2-1
Here is a game-by-game summary for the 2024 National League Wild Card Series (NLWC) between the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Mets:
Game 1 – October 1, 2024
Location: American Family Field, Milwaukee
Result: Mets won 8-4
Details: The Mets jumped out to an early lead and never relinquished it. Mark Vientos was the standout, hitting a key two-run single in a five-run fifth inning that broke the game open. The Brewers managed to score four runs but couldn’t keep pace with the Mets’ offensive barrage.
Game 2 – October 2, 2024
Location: American Family Field, Milwaukee
Result: Brewers won 5-3
Details: The game was close until the eighth inning when Milwaukee’s offense erupted. Rookie Jackson Chourio hit a game-tying home run (He also led off the bottom half of the first with an HR), followed by Garrett Mitchell’s go-ahead two-run homer. The Brewers’ bullpen, particularly Trevor MeGill and Devin Williams, closed out the game, forcing a decisive Game 3.
Game 4 – October 3, 2024
Location: American Family Field, Milwaukee
Result: Mets won 4-2
Tonight’s Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series (NLWCS) between the Milwaukee Brewers and the New York Mets was a heartbreaker for Brewers fans as it ended with the Mets winning 4-2. This victory for the Mets meant they advanced to face the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS, while concluding the Brewers’ season. The Brewers had taken a lead in the seventh inning with back-to-back home runs from Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick. Then, in the bottom of the ninth Pete Alonso hits a dramatic three-run home run off Devin Williams.
