MILWAUKEE - The Brewers have figured out there’s a battle before the battle.
In the postseason, the day before the game can get its own kind of mind game treatment, and Milwaukee has leaned into it. When visiting teams take their pre-series workout at American Family Field, the Brewers have been known to dial down the noise with smooth jazz. Last year before the National League Division Series, they went with yacht rock for the Cubs, fully aware that a certain manager couldn’t stand it.
This time, with the Dodgers in town on Saturday afternoon on the eve of the NL Championship Series, the soundtrack was lo-fi.
Jake Bauers, the Brewers’ resident DJ, said he was into it when asked about the vibe before NLDS Game 3 in San Diego, where the Padres used a similar approach.
“I don’t know about that,” he said before NLDS Game 3 in San Diego, when the Padres gave the Brewers similar treatment. “But it was a nice little vibe.
I think it’s perfect for an off-day workout. It put me in a great headspace.
It felt good out there.”
Not every team takes the hint and keeps things mellow. After Milwaukee pumped smooth jazz through the ballpark before NLDS Game 1, the Padres answered by dragging a massive speaker from the visitors’ clubhouse onto the field and cranking up their own music - and the energy with it.
Then, when the Brewers had their turn to work out in San Diego, the Padres went even farther. This was not smooth jazz, and it was not some soft background hum. It was straight-up elevator music.
Abdel Yeb, one of Milwaukee’s replay gurus, laughed when he saw players on their phones trying to figure out the song.
“After an emotional [ Game 2 in Milwaukee ], riding that high, I actually enjoyed the zen,” said Yeb. “Obviously, it’s not something we’re actively thinking about when we’re going through our throwing program and ground balls and everything. And that decision is not baseball ops.”
In Other News...
Brewers Get An Early Miguel Rojas Read Before NLCS Opener
Miguel Rojas gave the Dodgers a meaningful early sign as they approached the National League Championship Series, getting back on the field for batting practice and ground balls after the back injury that forced him out of the NLDS. Dave Roberts said the issue is not expected to keep the infielder out of the next round, which matters for a Los Angeles team still fine-tuning its roster before opening the series against Milwaukee.
The Dodgers plan to keep evaluating Rojas before the NLCS opener, so the final call is still ahead even if the early indicators are encouraging. Roster construction is part of the equation too, with Los Angeles leaning toward carrying a 13th pitcher and likely trimming a position player, another small but relevant detail as the Brewers prepare to see which version of the Dodgers theyll be facing. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers NLCS Roster Leaves One High-Stakes Pitching Twist To Watch
With the National League Championship Series set to open against the Dodgers, the Brewers have turned in a roster that reflects both their usual balance and the urgency of October. Milwaukee is carrying the expected mix of infielders, outfielders, catchers and pitchers, and the club enters the series with a bullpen that has had several days to reset. That gives the Brewers a little more flexibility than they might normally have this time of year, especially when it comes to deciding how to handle middle relief in the most important spots.
The most interesting wrinkle now is how Milwaukee lines up its pitching after the initial wave of the series. The Brewers have already mapped out their starting plan for the first three games, but the way they use the rest of the staff could shape the tone of the matchup just as much as the names on the lineup card. Against a Dodgers club that can force managers to make decisions early, every lever matters, and the Brewers still have at least one high-stakes pitching choice hanging over the series. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Woodruff Just Created A Brewers Roster Dilemma For October
Brandon Woodruff took a notable step in his comeback from a right shoulder injury this week, getting back on a mound for the first time as he works toward a possible late-October return. For a Brewers club with bigger immediate concerns, it still matters because Woodruff is trying to build himself back into a relief option if Milwaukee keeps advancing, and every bullpen session from here carries a little more weight than usual.
The next stretch will help determine how realistic that path is, with more mound work ahead and a possible live batting practice session if his arm responds well. It has been a good October for Brewers storylines off the field too, with Pratt even getting rewarded by Coca-Cola after his NL Division Series celebration with Fanta, but Woodruff's recovery is the one that could actually reshape the roster if the Brewers need another arm in the months ahead. [Read more 🡒]