MLB Playoff Picture 2024: Brewers Clinch Postseason Berth; Updated Bracket, Standings

Adam WellsSeptember 18, 2024

Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images

The Milwaukee Brewers are playoff bound for the sixth time in the past seven seasons after clinching the NL Central with the Chicago Cubs’ loss to the Oakland Athletics.

MLB @MLBWith today’s Cubs loss, the @Brewers have #CLINCHED the NL Central crown 👑 pic.twitter.com/T4XbtPqYoE

While the Brewers are celebrating another run in October, they still have a lot to play for over the final two weeks of the regular season. They are within four games of the Philadelphia Phillies for the best record in the NL and home-field advantage in the playoffs.

Here are the updated matchups and standings in both leagues based on the current standings.

Projected National League Playoff Matchups

First-round bye: No. 1 Philadelphia Phillies, No. 2 Los Angeles DodgersWild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 New York Mets, No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 Arizona Diamondbacks
Projected American League Playoff Matchups

First-round bye: No. 1 New York Yankees, No. 2 Cleveland GuardiansWild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Minnesota Twins, No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Kansas City Royals
Current Standings

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies (91-60)New York Mets (83-68, 8 GB)Atlanta Braves (81-70, 10 GB)Washington Nationals (68-83, 23 GB)Miami Marlins (56-95, 35 GB)NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers (87-64)** Chicago Cubs (77-75, 10.5 GB)St. Louis Cardinals (76-75, 11 GB)Cincinnati Reds, (74-78, 13.5 GB)Pittsburgh Pirates (71-80, 16 GB)NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers (89-62)San Diego Padres (86-66, 3.5 GB)Arizona Diamondbacks (83-68, 6 GB)San Francisco Giants (73-78, 16 GB)Colorado Rockies (59-93, 30.5 GB)NL Wild Card

San Diego Padres (86-66, +2.5 Games)Arizona Diamondbacks (83-68)New York Mets (83-68)Atlanta Braves (81-70, 2 GB)Chicago Cubs (77-75, 6.5 GB)St. Louis Cardinals (76-75, 7 GB)AL East

New York Yankees (88-63)Baltimore Orioles (84-67, 4 GB)Boston Red Sox (75-76, 13 GB)Tampa Bay Rays (74-77, 14 GB)Toronto Blue Jays (72-79, 16 GB)AL Central

Cleveland Guardians (87-65)Kansas City Royals (82-70, 5 GB)Minnesota Twins (80-71, 6.5 GB)Detroit Tigers (79-73, 8 GB)Chicago White Sox (36-116, 51 GB)AL West

Houston Astros (82-69)Seattle Mariners (77-74, 5 GB)Texas Rangers (72-79, 10 GB)Oakland Athletics (67-86, 16 GB)Los Angeles Angels (61-90, 21 GB)AL Wild Card

Baltimore Orioles (84-67, +4 Games)Kansas City Royals (82-70, +1.5 Games)Minnesota Twins (80-71)Detroit Tigers (79-73, 1.5 GB)Seattle Mariners (77-74, 3 GB)Boston Red Sox (75-76, 5 GB)Tampa Bay Rays (74-77, 6 GB)**Denotes clinched division

Despite winning the NL Central last season, expectations were muted for the Brewers coming into 2024. They lost manager Craig Counsell when he decided to take the same job with the Chicago Cubs.

Former NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in February. They didn’t make many aggressive moves in free agency, with the exception of a two-year, $34 million deal for Rhys Hoskins.

Things have wound up working out for the Brewers thanks to terrific seasons from Willy Adames, Jackson Chourio, William Contreras and Freddy Peralta.

Christian Yelich, who hit .315/.406/.504 in 73 games, would have been on that list before a back injury that required season-ending surgery in August stopped what was a terrific rebound year for the former NL MVP.

Chourio and fellow rookie Tobias Myers have been fantastic. The 20-year-old Chourio is the youngest player in MLB history to have a 20-20 season.

MLB @MLBIt’s a 20 HR/20 SB season for the 20-year-old Jackson Chourio! pic.twitter.com/YIvyH5mKvL

Myers, who bounced around the minors with five different teams before landing in Milwaukee, has a 3.07 ERA in 24 appearances.

Devin Williams’ return in July after missing four months due to a back injury has given the bullpen another late-inning option with Trevor Megill and Jared Koenig.

Even though the Brewers don’t have the same star-studded rosters as top NL contenders like the Phillies and Dodgers, their consistently high level of play all year indicates they will be a dangerous opponent in the postseason.

Milwaukee will be looking for its first playoff series win since reaching the NLCS in 2018. The Brewers are one of five existing franchises that has never won a World Series.