Why Dodgers better hope they draw Brewers again in 2024 MLB Playoffs

The Milwaukee Brewers' playoff hopes took a nosedive when Brandon Woodruff was ruled out for the 2024 season following shoulder surgery. That means the team will either be teetering on the edge of contention, buoyed by big steps from their fleet of kids like Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick, or they'll be actively shopping Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames ahead of those stars' escalating paydays.

Either way, the Dodgers could benefit; Adames has, reportedly, always been on their radar. But, as history's dictated time and time and time and time again, playing the Brewers in October is a much surer way to reach the World Series than acquiring ex-Brewers stars.

The 2023 Diamondbacks just became the latest beneficiaries of this remarkable cosmic "Good Luck Chuck" scenario, becoming the ninth team to defeat Milwaukee in the postseason before moving onto the World Series. Milwaukee, a franchise without a title, has only made the postseason nine times.

Technically, the Dodgers should've known they were toast the second they saw the 84-win Diamondbacks with the Brew Crew Glow looming in their bracket.

Dodgers guaranteed World Series path if they go through Brewers in playoffs

It's just science.

Now, the above list isn't entirely accurate. The '82 Cardinals didn't defeat the Brewers to reach the World Series. They defeated the Brewers in the World Series. Regardless, though, that's nine Fall Classic participants and five champions who've gone through the Crew en route to a title, and Arizona could become the sixth winner in a matter of days. It's spooky season for a reason.

For all the coming talk of parity that's sure to dominate the airwaves following an 84-win squad and a 90-win relative juggernaut making the World Series, the clearest and most obvious solution to MLB's playoff format issue is that each season's No. 1 seed should be required to play the Brewers. That way, they'll be able to overcome any rest/rust issues and take care of business en route to the World Series.

It doesn't make much sense, but it improbably hasn't failed yet. Certainly worth a try.