The Milwaukee Brewers’ improbable journey to the National League Championship Series was dramatically accelerated by two midseason acquisitions, Andrew Vaughn and Jacob Misiorowski, who transformed from minor league long shots into undeniable postseason heroes, showcasing the team’s ‘Above-Average Joes’ spirit.
The Milwaukee Brewers’ thrilling charge to the National League Championship Series owes much to the unexpected midseason brilliance of two players: Andrew Vaughn and Jacob Misiorowski. Just four months prior to their Game 5 heroics against the Chicago Cubs, both players were toiling in separate minor league organizations, their paths to postseason glory seemingly divergent and uncertain. Yet, on Saturday, October 11, 2025, they converged to play pivotal roles, propelling Milwaukee into the next round.
Game 5 Heroics: Sealing the NLDS Against the Cubs
The decisive Game 5 of the National League Division Series saw the Brewers defeat their rival Chicago Cubs 3-1. It was a tightly contested affair, ultimately decided by a combination of clutch hitting and dominant pitching from Milwaukee’s unlikeliest stars. Andrew Vaughn delivered the tiebreaking home run, and Jacob Misiorowski, in relief, earned his second win of the series, silencing the Cubs’ bats after an early challenge.
The Brewers’ offense was powered by home runs, all coming with two outs. William Contreras launched a 389-foot shot in the first inning, followed by Vaughn’s pivotal 383-foot blast in the fourth off Colin Rea. Brice Turang added insurance in the seventh with a 416-foot drive. The pitching collective—Trevor Megill, Jacob Misiorowski, Aaron Ashby, Chad Patrick, and Abner Uribe—combined for a stellar four-hitter, with Uribe securing the first multi-inning save of his career.
Andrew Vaughn’s Phoenix-Like Resurgence
At the start of June, Andrew Vaughn was considered to be “on the way down,” struggling significantly with the Chicago White Sox. His .189 batting average, .218 on-base percentage, and .314 slugging percentage in 48 games led to him being sent to the minor leagues by his former team. The Brewers acquired him in a trade for Aaron Civale but initially kept him in the minors, offering little reason to believe he’d be a major factor for the season.
Vaughn’s opportunity arose on July 7, when Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins went on the injured list. Manager Pat Murphy, known for his direct approach, challenged Vaughn to improve his plate discipline. The response was immediate and dramatic. Vaughn homered off Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto in his very first at-bat with Milwaukee and significantly improved his chase rate, batting an impressive .308 with a .375 on-base percentage and .493 slugging percentage in 64 games for the Brewers.
“This guy’s a gamer,” said Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold, highlighting Vaughn’s resilience. Vaughn himself attributed his turnaround to simple factors: “Change of scenery, being around some different coaches, different stuff and just playing free.” His journey from a struggling castoff to a postseason hero underscores the power of a fresh start, as detailed by AP News.
Jacob Misiorowski’s High-Velocity Comeback
Conversely, Jacob Misiorowski was a prospect “on the way up” at the season’s start. The flamethrowing right-hander quickly burst onto the scene, earning an All-Star Game selection after just five starts, a stretch that included victories against top pitchers like Paul Skenes and Clayton Kershaw. However, his promising season hit a snag when he went on the injured list with a left tibia bruise.
Upon his mid-August return, Misiorowski struggled, allowing 22 runs over 32 2/3 innings, leading to concerns about his postseason reliability. Manager Pat Murphy acknowledged, “We weren’t easy on him. I didn’t spend a lot of time trying to pump him up. I wanted to find out what he had.” Misiorowski proved his mettle in the NLDS. He threw three shutout innings in Game 2, hitting 104.3 mph and delivering 31 pitches over 100 mph. In Game 5, despite giving up a tying homer to Seiya Suzuki in the second inning, the 23-year-old right-hander quickly recovered, striking out three, allowing just three hits and one run over four innings, and notably, not walking a single batter for the first time in his major league career. His pivotal promotion earlier in the season was a key moment, as reported by AP News.
The Indirect Connection: A Trade That Changed Everything
The arrivals of Vaughn and Misiorowski were intricately linked. When Misiorowski was promoted from the minors in June, he took Aaron Civale’s spot in Milwaukee’s rotation. Civale, displeased with the bullpen assignment, expressed a desire to be traded to a team where he could continue starting. The Brewers obliged, sending Civale to the Chicago White Sox in a deal that brought Vaughn to Milwaukee. Ironically, Civale finished the season with the Cubs and pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings in the very series that solidified his former team’s NLCS berth. This crucial trade for Vaughn, as detailed by AP News, highlights the often unpredictable nature of player movement in baseball.
The “Above-Average Joes” and Lingering Demons
Manager Pat Murphy had affectionately dubbed his team the “Average Joes,” a nod to their small-market status and perceived lack of superstar names. Following the decisive victory over the Cubs, he declared an upgrade: “You can call them the average joes, but I say they’re the above-average joes.” This scrappy team, despite losing slugging shortstop Willy Adames and trading all-star closer Devin Williams, finished the regular season with an impressive 97-65 record, the best in the majors.
The win held significant emotional weight. It was the Brewers’ first postseason series win since sweeping Colorado in the 2018 NLDS. It also helped exorcise some playoff demons, particularly after last year’s Wild Card Series loss to the New York Mets, where a two-run ninth-inning lead evaporated. This time, Abner Uribe closed out the game flawlessly, ensuring no repeat of past frustrations. The victory was also a poignant tribute to Bob Uecker, the legendary broadcaster who passed away nine months prior after 54 seasons with the team. Fans proudly displayed signs reading “Do it for Bob Uecker.”
A Rivalry Reignited: Beating Counsell and the Cubs
The triumph was particularly sweet for Brewers fans, coming against their biggest rival and knocking former manager Craig Counsell out of the postseason. Counsell, a Milwaukee native who played for and became the winningest manager in Brewers history before departing for Chicago, has been a consistent target of boos at American Family Field. The victory provided a moment of catharsis for the fanbase, solidifying the rivalry’s intensity.
On to the NLCS: Dodgers Await
With the NLDS behind them, the Brewers now face the daunting task of the National League Championship Series against the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Game 1 is set for Monday in Milwaukee. For the “Above-Average Joes,” it’s another chance to chase their first pennant since 1982, when they competed in the American League, a journey made all the more compelling by the midseason magic of players like Andrew Vaughn and Jacob Misiorowski.
