Imagine the thrill of a baseball team shattering a decades-long championship drought right before your eyes—it's the stuff of dreams for fans everywhere, but for the Milwaukee Brewers, it's becoming reality after a nail-biting victory. But here's where it gets controversial: Is power-hitting really the key to playoff success, or does it just overshadow smart strategy? Join us as we dive into the Brewers' hard-fought triumph over the Cubs and their looming showdown with the Dodgers.
Live Updates and Insights: Brewers Secure NLCS Berth with 3-1 Win Over Cubs
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Milwaukee's Brewers clinched their spot in the National League Championship Series by defeating the Chicago Cubs 3-1 in Game 5 of the NLDS, setting the stage for an epic clash.
By The Athletic Live Team and Contributors
October 12, 2025, 12:10 AM EDT
A Tribute to Bob Uecker: The Voice Behind the Brewers' Legacy
If you're not familiar with Bob Uecker, who was mentioned during Pat Murphy's postgame chat tonight, let me fill you in. Andrew Baggarly shares a deep dive into this iconic Brewers broadcaster, who passed away in January. Uecker was more than just a commentator—he was the heart and soul of the team, leaving behind a legacy of wit, passion, and unwavering support for a squad that's now chasing the World Series title he sadly never saw in person. It's a poignant reminder of how figures like him shape a team's spirit, even from the broadcast booth.
Echoes of the 2018 NLCS: Familiar Faces Return
Three Dodgers players from the 2018 National League Championship Series, where LA edged out Milwaukee in a grueling seven-game battle, are still on the roster: Max Muncy, Kiké Hernández, and Clayton Kershaw. Hernández took a detour with the Boston Red Sox for 2.5 years before rejoining the Dodgers in 2023, and Kershaw is set to retire at the end of this season. On the Brewers' side, three key players from that year remain: MVP winner Christian Yelich, and pitchers Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta. And if that weren't enough continuity, Dave Roberts remains the Dodgers' manager, just as he guided them to consecutive pennants back then. Meanwhile, Brewers skipper Pat Murphy served as bench coach under Craig Counsell during that era. For beginners in baseball, this shows how team rosters evolve slowly, with veterans providing stability and experience in high-stakes playoffs.
Ending Long-Standing Droughts: A Historic Opportunity
Among the five MLB teams that have never hoisted the World Series trophy, two—the Milwaukee Brewers and Seattle Mariners—are set to compete for a pennant next week. The Mariners hold the unique distinction of never reaching the Fall Classic at all, while the Brewers made it once in 1982, back when they were part of the American League. The Toronto Blue Jays, on the other hand, haven't returned to the World Series since their 1993 victory—a 32-year wait that's no small feat. The Dodgers broke their own 32-year drought by winning in 2020 and added another title last year, proving that persistence can pay off. And this is the part most people miss: These droughts aren't just stats; they represent decades of heartache for fans, making this NLCS a potential turning point for baseball history.
NLCS Game 1 Starters: Who Takes the Mound?
The Brewers might opt for a 'bullpen by committee' strategy as the best-of-seven NLCS intensifies, but they're likely to send either Quinn Priester or Jose Quintana to open Game 1, with star Freddy Peralta slated for Game 2. The Dodgers have a trio of high-priced aces to choose from—Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, or Blake Snell—for the first outing. Ohtani kicked off the NLDS in Game 1, but expect Blake Snell to get the call here, with Ohtani probably starting Game 2. This preference for five days' rest between starts for Ohtani and Yamamoto is a smart way to manage top pitchers' workloads, ensuring they're at peak performance—a lesson in strategic planning that even casual fans can appreciate.
Pat Murphy's Heartfelt Words: A Coach's Perspective
Pat Murphy, the dedicated baseball veteran and former coach at Notre Dame and Arizona State (affectionately nicknamed 'Murph'), stepped into the Brewers' managerial role in late 2023 after mentoring Craig Counsell. Now, in his second year leading an MLB team, he's guided them back to the NLCS. Here's what he shared with TBS, capturing the team's grit:
💬 "I'm really just happy for the guys. They're just a great group. A lot of people didn’t believe in them early on, and they just continued to stay relentless. I’m very, very lucky to be around these people. They stayed with it. They’re a bunch of guys that never quit. You can call them the ‘Average Joes,’ but I say they’re the ‘Above-Average Joes.’"
Jacob Misiorowski's Standout Relief: A Rookie Shines
By Andy McCullough, Patrick Mooney, and Sahadev Sharma
While not the original starter for Milwaukee on Saturday, Jacob Misiorowski stepped up as a key reliever, delivering four solid innings that allowed just one run. His outing wasn't perfect—Seiya Suzuki crushed a 101.4 mph fastball for a tying solo home run on his second pitch—but Misiorowski otherwise handled Chicago's lineup with impressive poise. This was a fantastic rebound for the rookie, who struggled in the second half of the season. After looking destined for the postseason rotation at the All-Star break, he moved to relief following an 6.06 ERA in his last eight starts. His performance in this series was even more remarkable as a result, showing how adaptability can turn challenges into triumphs.
Chicago's Offense Stumbles: Unable to Capitalize
By Andy McCullough, Patrick Mooney, and Sahadev Sharma
The Cubs' bats were mostly quiet throughout the game, failing to pressure Milwaukee's pitchers effectively. But in the sixth inning, it looked like they might turn things around when Aaron Ashby allowed Michael Busch and Nico Hoerner to reach base, bringing up the core of their order. Ashby struck out Michael Tucker, prompting Brewers manager Pat Murphy to bring in reliever Chad Patrick. Patrick surrendered a hard-hit liner to Seiya Suzuki, yet Jackson Chourio made a smooth catch in left-center. Ian Happ, who had dazzled in Game 4, couldn't repeat the magic and struck out on a cutter at the edge. The threat was neutralized, and with it, the Cubs' season came to a close. For those new to the game, this highlights how a single strong defensive play can shift the momentum in baseball's high-pressure moments.
The Andrew Vaughn Trade: A Game-Changer for Milwaukee
By Andy McCullough, Patrick Mooney, and Sahadev Sharma
Back in June, the Brewers moved pitcher Aaron Civale from the starting rotation to the bullpen, and Civale expressed interest in playing elsewhere. Milwaukee quickly found a trade partner in the Chicago White Sox, who had demoted top draft pick Andrew Vaughn to the minors in late May. The deal finalized on June 13. It turned out to be a brilliant move for general manager Matt Arnold. Vaughn injected serious power into the Brewers' lineup since joining in July, including the go-ahead homer off former Brewer Colin Rea in Saturday's fourth inning. This is a classic example of how smart trades can revitalize a team, and it's sparked debates: Was Vaughn underrated by the White Sox, or did the Brewers just get lucky?
Key Takeaways from Cubs-Brewers Game 5: Milwaukee's Power Surge Seals the Deal
By Andy McCullough, Patrick Mooney, and Sahadev Sharma
For the first time since 2018, the Milwaukee Brewers have clinched a postseason series, punching their ticket to the National League Championship Series by defeating the Chicago Cubs 3-1 in Game 5. Both teams relied heavily on their bullpens, but it was the Brewers—often criticized for lacking home-run punch this season—who delivered three solo homers to electrify the American Family Field crowd and eliminate the Cubs. William Contreras, Andrew Vaughn, and Brice Turang each went deep. Rookie Jacob Misiorowski contributed four innings of one-run relief, and fellow newcomer Chad Patrick bailed out the team in a big sixth-inning jam to maintain the lead.
Andrew Vaughn's Postgame Glow: Celebrating the Win
Andrew Vaughn was visibly thrilled by the roaring crowd at American Family Field during his TBS interview following a game where his home run flipped the script.
💬 "This place is awesome. The crowd has been electric. I mean, listen to this. This is unbelievable. We did it for these guys. We did it for the boys. This was special. ... We fight back. That’s our mentality. We fight back. We get punched, we’re gonna throw it right back. We got a lot to do, but let’s soak in this moment right here."
Fan Reactions: Love from the Stands
Dave N.: Congrats Brewers - I really got interested in your team during the long winning streak, then after my trip to Wisconsin in early September, I was all in for you this year. Go beat the Dodgers and beat the AL team and make up for 1982. Win it for Bob Uecker!
Daniel T.: Good job little brothers. Wish yall the best
Losha G.: Congratulations, Brewers...the best team won...go get those Dodgers! 👍
Justin B.: The question is how do the brewers convince Dave Roberts to start Kershaw in games 1+4+7? Perhaps someone can do an Inception and seed a fever dream on his flight to Milwaukee.
Aa M.: Congrats Brewers. Beat LA.
Murphy Pays Homage to Uecker: A Touching Tribute
Brewers manager Pat Murphy reflected on the late legendary broadcaster Bob Uecker:
💬 “We love it for Ueck. To win this for him is really, really special.”
Vaughn's Incredible Journey: From Triple-A to Postseason Hero
Just four months ago, Andrew Vaughn was struggling at .211 in Triple-A for a 100-loss White Sox squad. Now, he's fielding postgame questions after delivering a series-clinching home run. It's a transformation story that underscores how quickly fortunes can change in baseball, proving that with the right opportunity, players can thrive.
Brewers vs. Dodgers: A Look at Recent Matchups
As noted, the Brewers dominated the loaded Dodgers this season, going a perfect 6-0 and sweeping them in two three-game sets in July, both in Milwaukee and Los Angeles. However, the Dodgers have bested the Brewers in their last two playoff encounters. The standout was the 2018 NLCS, a dramatic seven-game affair where the Brewers boasted the NL's top regular-season record and the Dodgers were defending pennant holders—just like now. The Dodgers won on a memorable Yasiel Puig three-run homer in Game 7 in Milwaukee. They also swept the Brewers in a best-of-three series during the expanded 2020 playoffs, when Milwaukee entered with a sub-.500 record.
A Bullpen Masterpiece: Milwaukee's Game 5 Dominance
That's the way to execute a bullpen-focused game—a complete dominant showing from start to finish by Milwaukee. No late-inning heartbreak this time; they conquered their rivals, the Cubs, and reached the NLCS. It's been building for years, and it feels right that it happened with them as baseball's top overall team. Up next, they face the preseason champion, the Dodgers, against whom they went undefeated this season.
NLCS Preview: The Ultimate Showdown
The Brewers posted the league's best regular-season record in 2025. The Dodgers, on paper, are arguably the game's strongest team. They'll collide Monday night at American Family Field. It promises to be an exhilarating matchup.
The Milwaukee Brewers have secured their first playoff series victory since 2018.
Pat Murphy has now matched his predecessor Craig Counsell's playoff series wins—and he just toppled him.
Next up is a rematch with the team that ousted them in the 2018 NLCS—the Los Angeles Dodgers.
BREWERS ADVANCE TO THE NLCS
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW.
The Milwaukee Brewers, MLB's top regular-season performer, are en route to the NLCS!
The inaugural game of their series against the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers kicks off Monday at 8:08 p.m. ET.
▶️ Ian Happ flies out to right field. The Cubs have one out left. | Top 9th Brewers 3, Cubs 1
What do you think, fans? Do you believe the Brewers can finally break their World Series curse against the powerhouse Dodgers, or is this just another chapter in LA's dominance? And here's a controversial twist: Some argue that relying on bullpen games like this one sidelines starting pitchers and could hurt teams in longer series—is that a valid concern, or just old-school thinking? Share your thoughts in the comments below—do you agree, disagree, or have a counterpoint? We'd love to hear!
