2018 National League Central tie-breaker game

The 2018 National League Central tie-breaker game was a one-game extension to Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2018 regular season, played between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs to determine the champion of the National League's (NL) Central Division. It was played at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois on October 1, 2018.

2018 National League Central tie-breaker game

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E Milwaukee Brewers 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 12 0 Chicago Cubs 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1  3 0
Date	October 1, 2018
Venue	Wrigley Field
City	Chicago, Illinois
Umpires	HP: Fieldin Culbreth 1B: Jeff Nelson 2B: Jim Reynolds 3B: Chad Fairchild LF: D. J. Reyburn RF: Adam Hamari
Attendance	38,450
Television	ESPN
TV announcers	Karl Ravech, Eduardo Pérez, Tim Kurkjian, and Buster Olney
Radio	ESPN
Radio announcers	Jason Benetti and Chris Singleton

The Brewers won, 3–1, and became the top seed in the NL playoffs. The Cubs hosted the NL West runner-up Colorado Rockies in the NL Wild Card Game on October 2, with the Rockies winning 2–1 in 13 innings to advance to face the Brewers in the National League Division Series.^[1][2]

The Cubs and Brewers ended the 2018 season tied for the division lead and the NL's best win–loss record at 95–67 (.586), thereby guaranteeing that whoever lost would host the Wild Card Game two days later.^[3] The tie-breaker was counted as a regular season game for both teams, with all events in the game added to regular season statistics.^[4][5] October 1 also marked the first time two division tie-breakers had been played in a single season.^[6]

Background

Main articles: 2018 Chicago Cubs season and 2018 Milwaukee Brewers season

See also: 2017 Chicago Cubs season, 2017 Milwaukee Brewers season, and 2018 National League West tie-breaker game

  

The Brewers' July 27 trade with Kansas City reunited former teammates and 2015 World Series champions Mike Moustakas (left) with Lorenzo Cain (right).^[7] Cain signed with Milwaukee as a free agent in the offseason.^[8] Both men hit singles in the tiebreaker.

Chicago had won two consecutive National League Central Division championships,^[9] and were expected to win a third-consecutive division title.^[10][11] The Milwaukee Brewers finished 2017 six games back of the Cubs, despite leading the 2017 division race by 5.5 games at the All-Star break. Milwaukee's last playoff appearance was its 2011 division title.^[12]

To challenge for the 2018 division, the Brewers made several key offseason acquisitions, among them starter Jhoulys Chacin, former Kansas City Royal Lorenzo Cain and then-Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich.^[13] The Cubs' high-profile^[14][15] offseason acquisitions, Yu Darvish and Brandon Morrow, were lost to injury during the season,^[16][17][18] and both missed the tie-breaker game.

Milwaukee emerged from a crowded early division race on May 18. Chicago took the division lead from the Brewers on July 14 and maintained sole possession of first place until falling to a third-place St. Louis club at home in the penultimate game of the season.^[19] Chicago had surged out of the All-Star break to a five-game lead over the Brewers lead on September 2, but Milwaukee put together a 19–7 September record^[20] that included four wins over the Cubs in nine days.

The Brewers ended the season on an 8-game win streak,^[21] while the Cubs won their final game 10–5 over the Cards to force the tiebreaker.^[22] The Cubs won the right to host the tie-breaker with an 11–8 head-to-head record against the Brewers.^[22]

Game summary

October 1, 2018, 12:05 pm (CDT) at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, 65 °F (18 °C), overcast

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Milwaukee Brewers	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	3	12	0
Chicago Cubs	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	3	0
WP: Corey Knebel (4–3)   LP: Justin Wilson (4–5)   Sv: Josh Hader (12) Home runs: MIL: None CHI: Anthony Rizzo (25) Attendance: 38,450 Boxscore

 

The Cubs acquired Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy on August 31 in a waiver trade^[a][25] Murphy logged one of three Cubs hits in the tiebreaker.

José Quintana started for Chicago,^[26] and Jhoulys Chacín started for Milwaukee.^[27] ESPN broadcast the game, with Karl Ravech, Eduardo Pérez, Tim Kurkjian, and Buster Olney. The game was also broadcast on ESPN Radio, with Jason Benetti and Chris Singleton.^[28][29]

Christian Yelich had a run batted in (RBI) single for the Brewers in the third inning. Anthony Rizzo of the Cubs tied the game with a home run in the fifth inning, the first hit the Cubs had off of Chacín.^[30] Lorenzo Cain and Ryan Braun of the Brewers added RBI singles in the eighth inning. Orlando Arcia had his first career four hit game and scored two of Milwaukee's runs.^[31]

Aftermath

See also: 2018 NLDS, 2018 NL Wild Card Game, and Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award

 

Christian Yelich would win the 2018 NL MVP over Cubs shortstop Javier Baez, who finished second in MVP voting.^[32]

With the win, the Brewers extended their regular-season win streak to 9 and qualified for home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs. Finishing one loss behind the Brewers, the Cubs hosted the 2018 NL Wild Card Game and the NL West runner-up Rockies the following day. Colorado defeated the Cubs in 13 innings.^[2] It was Chicago's first opening-round exit since the Dodgers swept the Cubs in the 2008 NLDS.^[b]

Milwaukee swept the Rockies in the NLDS,^[34] but their win streak ended at 14 in the NLCS when the Dodgers beat Milwaukee 4–3 on October 13, the Brewers' first loss in 27 days.^[35] L.A. would win the NL pennant at Miller Park in seven games.^[36]

Yelich won the NL MVP over Baez, who finished in second. Both men won Silver Slugger awards^[37][38] and finished as Gold Glove runners up^[39] at their respective positions. Rizzo, Cain, Brewers third baseman Travis Shaw and Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward were also Gold Glove runners up. Brewers manager Craig Counsell would finish second in NL Manager of the Year voting, losing to Atlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker.^[40]

This game, along with the NL West tie-breaker game, were the last such tie-breaker games in Major League Baseball, as the league eliminated this scenario starting with the 2022 season. All ties in the standings would be broken through various formulas.^[41]

Footnotes

1. The following season, MLB eliminated the waiver trade, which had allowed teams to conduct trades after the July 31 deadline by first putting a player on a "trade waiver." Teams could then claim that player. The team with lowest record among those claiming the waivered player could then initiate a trade transaction. The so-called "waiver deadline" was Aug. 31.^[23][24]
2. Major League Baseball changed its playoff format in 2012 from a four-team to a five-team format, adding a second Wild Card spot and each league's respective Wild Card play-in game.^[33] In 2008, the top-seeded Cubs hosted the lowest seeded division champion, the Dodgers (the NL West champions) instead of the Brewers due to the Brewers being the wild card team, and the previously used restriction of teams from the same division meeting in the Division Series, in the 2008 NLDS.

References

General

• "Brewers vs. Cubs - Box Score - October 1, 2018". ESPN.
• "Brewers vs. Cubs - Play by Play - October 1, 2018". ESPN.
• "2018 Milwaukee Brewers Trades and Transactions". BaseballReference.com.
• "2018 Chicago Cubs Trades and Transactions". BaseballReference.com.

Specific

1. Lacques, Greg (September 30, 2018). "Game 163! Historic day on tap as Dodgers-Rockies, Cubs-Brewers set for NL tiebreakers Monday". USA Today. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
2. "Rockies vs. Cubs - Game Summary - October 2, 2018 - ESPN.com". ESPN. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
3. McCalvy, Adam (May 24, 2018). "Brewers set for Game 163 against Cubs". MLB.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
4. "MLB - Breaking down Monday's division tiebreaker doubleheader". ESPN. October 1, 2018. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
5. Snyder, Matt (October 1, 2018). "Brewers vs. Cubs in NL Central tiebreaker: What to know about pivotal Game 163 in Chicago". CBSSports.com. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
6. "MLB - Breaking down Monday's division tiebreaker doubleheader". Espn.com. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
7. Flanagan, Jeffrey. "Royals send Moose to Brewers for 2 prospects". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
8. Grathoff, Pete. "Mike Moustakas, Lorenzo Cain shared a laugh on first day as Brewers teammates". Kansas City Star. Retrieved July 13, 2021. Moustakas was in the lineup and took time to greet old friend Lorenzo Cain, who signed with Milwaukee as a free agent last winter.
9. Neveau, James (September 22, 2018). "Chicago Cubs Clinching Scenarios: Saturday". NBC Chicago. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
10. L, Jaymes. "2018 NL Central Preview: Chicago Cubs". Brew Crew Ball. SB Nation. Retrieved July 12, 2021. The Cubs should probably win the NL Central again this year, and they should probably win it by a fairly comfortable (let's say at least 5-ish games?) margin.
11. "NL Central 2018 preview: Breakdown of the teams and players entering the new MLB season". Denver Press. The Associated Press. Retrieved July 12, 2021. there's no reason to think they won't be in the mix for another title this year
12. "Brewers 2, Cardinals 1: First playoff berth since 2011 is assured". Jsonline.com. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
13. Sullivan, Paul. "A Cubs-Brewers encore in October is just what baseball needs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 13, 2021. Stearns added veterans Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich last offseason
14. Stephen, Eric. "Yu Darvish, Brandon Morrow among 6 Dodgers who are now MLB free agents". True Blue LA. SB Nation. Retrieved July 13, 2021. Darvish headlines the group...
15. Miller, Bradon. "Cubs Release Brandon Morrow Following Yet Another Procedure". Cubs Insider. Retrieved July 13, 2021. Brandon Morrow was the definition of "sparkle and fade" during his time with the Cubs, starting the first half of 2018 as a dominant closer before a string of injuries prevented him from ever pitching again.
16. Wells, Adam. "Yu Darvish Out for Season After Elbow Injury Diagnosed as Stress Reaction". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
17. Muskat, Carrie. "Morrow expects DL stint to be minimal". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
18. "Cubs Reliever Brandon Morrow Out for the Season with Biceps Injury". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
19. "Cubs lose 2-1 to Cardinals as NL Central race goes to final day". WGN. Associated Press. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
20. Bretl, Paul. "Milwaukee Brewers: Behind The Impressive September Run". Fansided. Reviewing the Brew. Retrieved July 13, 2021. This led to the Brewers finishing September with a NL best 19–7 record.
21. Tototraitis, Joe. "Brewers top Tigers; NL Central tiebreaker vs Cubs next". apneas.com. Associated Press. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
22. Sandalow, Brian. "Fit to be tied: Cubs beat Cardinals, headed to playoff against Brewers". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
23. Axson, Scooby. "How Does the Waiver Trade System Work in MLB?". SI.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
24. "Trade Deadline | Glossary". www.mlb.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 13, 2021. As of 2019, the July 31 Trade Deadline is the only trade deadline.
25. "Nats trade Daniel Murphy to Cubs, Matt Adams to Cardinals". ESPN. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
26. Muskat, Carrie (May 24, 2018). "Cubs top Cardinals, face Brewers in tiebreaker". MLB.com. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
27. "Jhoulys Chacin to start for Brewers in tiebreaker to decide NL Central". Espn.com. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
28. Cafardo, Ben (September 30, 2018). . Espnmediazone.com. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
29. "ESPN, ESPN Radio have coverage of Monday's baseball playoffs". Blogs.hudsonvalley.com. September 30, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
30. "Cold bats cost the Cubs in NL Central tiebreaker loss to the Brewers". Chicago Tribune. August 30, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
31. R.J. Anderson. "Brewers vs. Cubs final score, things to know: Milwaukee wins NL Central in tiebreaker game". CBSSports.com. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
32. Chiarelli, Mark. "Christian Yelich Claims 2018 National League MVP Award". Baseball America. Retrieved July 13, 2021. ...topping Javy Baez and Nolan Arenado. Yelich received 29 of 30 first-place votes.
33. Rudnansky, Ryan. "MLB Playoff Format 2012: Explaining Wild Card, Divisional Series Changes & More". Bleacher Report. Retrieved July 13, 2021. Starting in 2012, the two wild-card teams from each league play each other in a single-game playoff the day after the regular season ends.
34. "MLB playoffs: Brewers punch NLCS ticket with savvy moves, platoon help". Usatoday.com. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
35. Perry, Dan. "Dodgers vs. Brewers final score: Justin Turner comes up big as NLCS heads to Los Angeles even". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
36. Los Angeles Dodgers advance to the World Series, beating Milwaukee 5-1 in Game 7, WRIC, October 21, 2018
37. "2018 Silver Slugger Award Winners". MLB.com.
38. Castrovince, Anthony. "6 NL first-timers among Silver Slugger honorees". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
39. Randhawa, Manny. "The 2018 Gold Glove Award winners are ..." MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
40. Castrovince, Anthony. "Melvin wins 3rd Manager Award, Snitker his first". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
41. "Everything you need to know about '22 season". MLB.com. Retrieved March 10, 2022.