It took perhaps longer than expected, but the Milwaukee Brewers are your 2021 NL Central Division champs, claiming the honor with an 8-4 sweep-topping victory over the New York Mets in front of a sellout American Family Field crowd on Sunday afternoon.
The Brewers previously clinched a playoff spot – their franchise-first fourth postseason visit in a row – last Saturday with a 6-4 win over the rival Chicago Cubs. But with today's victory, the Brewers lock up the NL Central – their first division title since 2018 and just fifth in team history (three in the NL Central, two in the AL East) – and ensure themselves a place in the NLDS rather than the one-game Wild Card match.
Here are some shots from the champagne-soaked, confetti-sprinkled celebration:
NL Central Champs!
#ClawsUpMKE pic.twitter.com/cCcdeNkqzo — Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 26, 2021
ð¾ð¾ð¾ð¾ð¾ð¾ pic.twitter.com/x0zLIFowyU — Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 26, 2021
UECK'S LOVIN' IT!!!! ðð@Brewers | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/Hj9iCoxxLJ — Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) September 26, 2021
Now, even with six games left to go in the regular season, the Brewers can blast some bubbly and smoke some cigars in the locker room – and wait to find out who they will play in the first round of the NL playoffs. With the NL-leading San Francisco Giants out of reach, Milwaukee will claim the second seed in the league – meaning their first-round opponent will be whoever wins the NL East, currently between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies. (The Braves currently hold a two-game lead over the Phillies.) No matter who wins the NL East, however, the Brewers will host the best-of-five NLDS series at American Family Field when it throws out the first pitch on Friday, Oct. 8.
Best of all, today's division-clinching victory means that the St. Louis Cardinals can win as many games in a row as they want to end the season – they're still stuck in the single-elimination Wild Card game against one of the best two records in the NL and, better yet, still stuck looking up at the NL Central champion Brewers no matter what.
Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for more Brewers news and postseason updates as they are announced.
As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.
When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.