MILWAUKEE — The National League Division Series between the Atlanta Braves and Milwaukee Brewers is set to begin Friday.
Atlanta claimed the NL East title for the fourth straight season. The Brewers finished as the NL Central champions and are making their fourth straight postseason.
We have a reporter and photographer following the Braves series in Milwaukee. LIVE coverage throughout the day on Channel 2 Action News.
It isn’t the first series between the franchises this year. During the regular season, the Braves went 1-2 against the Brewers at Truist Park in July, but that series happened in the middle of key trade deadline moves.
Atlanta general manager Alex Anthopoulos acquired outfielders Joc Pederson, Eddie Rosario, Adam Duvall and Jorge Soler near the July 30 trade deadline. Each have proven their worth during the last two months of the season.
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This marks the first time the Brewers have faced the Braves in the postseason, but it’s fitting in memory of Hank Aaron, who died earlier this year.
Of course, the Braves played in Milwaukee before the team moved to Atlanta in 1966. Hammerin’ Hank won a World Series title with the Milwaukee Braves in 1955.
Here is what to know about the Braves opponent:
Season in Review
Milwaukee finished as NL Central champions with a 95-67. The Brewers ended the regular season in a sweep to the Dodgers and series lost against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Brewers were one win short of tying the franchise record. They went 96-66 in 2011 and 96-67 in 2018.
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Top Hitters
- SS Willy Adames (.262, 25 HRs, 73 RBIs with Rays and Brewers)
- RF Avisaíl García (.262, 29 HRs, 86 RBIs)
- 3B Eduardo Escobar (.253, 28 HRs, 90 RBIs with Diamondbacks and Brewers)
- INF Luis Urías (.249, 23 HRs, 75 RBIs)
Pitching Staff
The Brewers have three All-Star starting pitchers in Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta.
Burnes, who finished 11-5 with a 2.43 ERA, will start Game 1. The right-hander led the NL in ERA this season and had 234 strikeouts and only 34 walks in 167 innings.
In July 30 start, Burnes gave up five runs and nine hits over four innings, but the Brewers still won the game 9-5.
Woodruff (9-10, 2.56) will start Game 2 on Saturday. In the Braves 8-1 win on July 31, Woodruff gave up eight hits and three runs over five innings.
The Brewers bullpen meanwhile will be without reliever Devin Williams, the 2020 NL Rookie of the Year and main setup man.
Williams fractured his pitching hand when he punched a wall the night the Brewers clinched the NL Central title.
Baseball Reference and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
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