These aren’t the same Milwaukee Brewers who have made regular playoff appearances the last several years. Milwaukee became the first major league team to clinch a division championship Wednesday when it sealed its third NL Central title in the last four years.

That's because the Brewers officially qualified for the 2024 postseason with a Wednesday afternoon loss by Craig Counsell's Chicago Cubs. That's the same Craig Counsell from Whitefish Bay who left the Brewers last fall after managing the team for nine seasons for the rival Cubs.

It's been a tough year for Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell. After nine seasons of managing the Milwaukee Brewers, Counsell left the Brewers last offseason to a sign a five-year, $40 million contract with the Cubs,