1 hr ago
Brewers Challenge Baseball’s Home-Run Revolution With Small Ball
The Milwaukee Brewers won more games than any other team this season.
They scored many runs without hitting many home runs.
Instead, their players often reached base, avoided strikeouts, stole bases and moved runners with bunts and singles.
They also made pitchers work hard by taking many pitches and drawing walks.
This style is different from the modern trend of trying to hit the ball high and far.
Some baseball people believe the Brewers’ approach creates pressure and big innings.
Others note that recent playoff success has usually involved teams with more home-run power.
The Brewers believe they can use the same style in the playoffs.
Their first test is a division series against the San Diego Padres.
Milwaukee won a franchise-record 103 games and posted MLB’s best record.
The Brewers scored 832 runs, second-most in MLB, while hitting only 154 homers.
Milwaukee led MLB in batting average and on-base percentage and had the lowest launch angle.
The Brewers emphasized walks, contact, stolen bases, bunts, defense and relentless baserunning.
Milwaukee opened its NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres seeking its first World Series title.
- Who
- The Milwaukee Brewers, their coaches and players, and the San Diego Padres.
- What
- The Brewers are pursuing a playoff run with a low-home-run, high-contact style of baseball.
- Where
- Milwaukee, including American Family Field, where the Brewers host the Padres.
- When
- During the 2025 regular season and the NL Division Series beginning Saturday.
- Why
- The Brewers aim to turn their 103-win regular-season approach into their first World Series title.
Small-Ball Approach
Home-Run Power
How to create offense
Small-Ball Approach
The Brewers rely on contact, walks, bunts, stolen bases, singles and pressure on pitchers and defenses.
Home-Run Power
The modern baseball trend emphasizes hitting the ball in the air and producing home runs, which can create quick runs.
Value of difficult at-bats
Small-Ball Approach
Milwaukee coaches and players argue that long at-bats and even hard-fought outs tire pitchers and improve opportunities for subsequent hitters.
Home-Run Power
A low-home-run lineup may need strong pitching and execution because it has less power to compensate when manufacturing runs becomes difficult.
Postseason outlook
Small-Ball Approach
The Brewers believe their 103-win season shows their style can succeed in October, and analysts see similarities to successful low-power teams such as the 2014 and 2015 Kansas City Royals.
Home-Run Power
Recent World Series history has generally favored teams with more home-run power, and Milwaukee’s similar 2024 approach ended with a sweep and only four runs in the NL Championship Series.
Key facts
- Regular-season record
- 103 wins, the best record in MLB and a franchise record
- Runs scored
- 832, second-most in MLB
- Home runs
- 154, tied for the second-lowest total in MLB
- Batting profile
- MLB-best .258 batting average and .341 on-base percentage
- Launch angle
- 9.2 degrees, the lowest in MLB
- Stolen bases
- 162, fifth-most in MLB
- Opening playoff matchup
- NL Division Series against the San Diego Padres
Quotes
Brice Turang
Milwaukee Brewers second baseman
“Home runs come and they’ll help you win games. And so do stolen bases. So do walks, playing defense. All that matters as well.”
livemint.com
“You can win (103) games in a regular season, there’s no reason you can’t win in the postseason doing the exact same thing.”
livemint.com
Sources
Related news
Suárez Homer Lifts Reds Past Brewers 4-3
Brewers Rally Past Cubs, Hold Off Ninth-Inning Comeback
Dodgers Clinch Playoff Berth While Chasing Third Straight World Series
Rookie A.J. Ewing powers Mets past Marlins 9-4
Morales Homers in Debut as Nationals Defeat Braves
