Jake Bauers
1B · Age 31 · Bats Left
Where things stand
Jake Bauers earned NLCS MVP honors after the Milwaukee Brewers swept the Los Angeles Dodgers to reach the 2026 World Series. The 31-year-old delivered crucial performances throughout the series, including a go-ahead two-run home run off Blake Snell in Game 3 after an 11-pitch at-bat, and finished with four hits, six RBIs, and three walks across the playoff matchup. Bauers' postseason success marks a remarkable turnaround for the player who nearly retired two years earlier after a difficult 2024 season, having earned his roster spot on a minor league deal before the 2026 campaign.
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Jake Bauers coverage
Every position player’s top moment from the NLCS
The Brewers swept the Dodgers in the NLCS with contributions from nearly every position player. NLCS MVP Sal Bauers delivered the series' most impactful moment with an 11-pitch at-bat against Blake Snell in Game 3, hitting a two-run home run that gave Milwaukee a 3-2 lead worth +.320 WPA. Catcher Willy Contreras went 3-for-4 with a 438-foot home run in Game 2, while outfielders like Jackson Chourio and Joey Ortiz provided key hits and defensive plays throughout the series.
Brew Crew BallBrewers postseason Breaking T shirts thread
Breaking T is releasing daily merchandise celebrating the Brewers' 2026 postseason run, with designs commemorating key moments and players. The Brewers swept the Dodgers and advanced to the World Series as National League Champions, with standout performances from players like William Contreras, Jake Bauers, Jackson Chourio, and Garrett Mitchell. Christian Yelich was named the franchise's first official captain in its 50-plus year history. The merchandise line captures memorable moments including Chourio's walk-off single against San Diego and Mitchell's wall catch that sent Milwaukee to the League Championship Series.
Brew Crew BallFrom non-roster invitee to NLCS MVP: Jake Bauers rewarded for series-changing performance
Jake Bauers earned NLCS MVP honors after leading the Milwaukee Brewers to a sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2026. The 31-year-old had nearly retired two years earlier after posting a .199 batting average in 2024, but returned on a minor league deal and eventually earned a roster spot. Bauers finished the 2026 regular season with 26 home runs and a .873 OPS, then delivered four hits and six RBIs during the playoff series, including a crucial 12-pitch walk in Game 2 that shifted momentum in the Brewers' favor.
Reviewing the BrewBreaking T releases new three new shirts for your NL Champion Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers have reached the 2026 World Series for the first time since 1982, and Breaking T has released three new commemorative shirts to celebrate. The designs feature players including Jake Bauers, Garrett Mitchell, Jacob Misiorowski, William Contreras, and Brice Turang, with one shirt highlighting Bauers' performance in the League Championship Series where he hit a go-ahead two-run homer in Game 3 after lengthy at-bats.
Brew Crew BallBauers takes home NLCS MVP after series filled with signature moments
MLB.com BrewersBrewers head to the World Series for the first time since 1982
The Milwaukee Brewers swept the Los Angeles Dodgers to win the National League pennant and reach the World Series for the first time since 1982. The Brewers won the clinching game 6-4 behind strong relief pitching from JoJo Romero and Aaron Ashby, who combined for five scoreless innings. Jake Bauers earned NLCS MVP honors after going 4-for-14 with three walks and six RBIs across the series. Milwaukee will face either the Tampa Bay Rays or Cleveland Guardians in the World Series, with Cleveland leading their series 2-1.
Brew Crew BallBlake Snell’s pregame comments come back to bite him in most satisfying way for Brewers fans
Blake Snell suggested before Game 3 of the NLCS that the Brewers might struggle mentally when facing adversity, but Milwaukee responded by scoring four runs in the seventh inning to take the lead. Jake Bauers battled Snell for 11 pitches before hitting a go-ahead two-run homer, followed by Garrett Mitchell's solo shot off a missed changeup. The Brewers, who had recorded five come-from-behind wins in their first seven postseason games, proved they could handle pressure rather than let their focus slip as Snell had predicted.
Reviewing the BrewUnsung hero from Brewers' Game 3 victory overshadows Pat Murphy's questionable bullpen decision
The Brewers defeated the Dodgers in Game 3 of the NLCS behind several offensive contributions, including Jackson Chourio's leadoff homer and Jake Bauers' go-ahead home run off Blake Snell. Manager Pat Murphy made a questionable decision by leaving struggling reliever Abner Uribe in the game to face Will Smith, who hit a two-run double to give Los Angeles the lead. DL Hall entered after the damage was done and delivered 2.1 scoreless innings of relief, becoming an unsung hero as the Brewers' offense rallied to win the game in the seventh inning.
Reviewing the BrewBauers blast has Brewers on the brink of World Series
Jake Bauers hit an 11-pitch home run off Blake Snell in the seventh inning to give the Brewers a 3-2 victory in Game Three of the NLCS, putting Milwaukee one win away from reaching the World Series for the first time in 44 years. Jackson Chourio homered on the game's first pitch, and Garrett Mitchell added another home run, while starter Robert Gasser pitched five scoreless innings for the Brewers. The Dodgers had taken a 2-1 lead on Will Smith's two-run double in the sixth inning before Bauers' heroics turned the game around.
Brew Crew BallBrewers' squash home run narrative in electrifying NLCS Game 3 victory over Dodgers
The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 in Game 3 of the NLCS, taking a commanding 3-0 series lead and moving within one win of the World Series. Jackson Chourio hit a leadoff home run on the first pitch of the game off Blake Snell, and Jake Bauers followed with a go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning after fouling off five pitches in an 11-pitch at-bat. The three home runs accounted for four of the Brewers' six runs, contradicting the narrative that the team lacked power despite hitting the second-fewest home runs during the regular season.
Reviewing the BrewBattle won! Again! Bauers takes Snell deep on 11th pitch for go-ahead HR
MLB.com BrewersJake Bauers topped previous career best at-bat by embodying Brewers' mantra
In Game 2 of the NLCS, Jake Bauers drew a 12-pitch walk against Yoshinobu Yamamoto with two runners on base in the third inning, fouling off six consecutive pitches before taking a curveball in the dirt. Christian Yelich followed with a go-ahead two-run single that forced Yamamoto from the game after just 75 pitches, helping the Brewers win 7-4. This marks the second time Bauers has won a 12-pitch at-bat this season, embodying the Brewers' "drag him" philosophy of grinding out counts and refusing to go down without a fight. Bauers led the National League with 94 walks during the regular season and has added six more in the postseason.
Reviewing the BrewJake Bauers v. Yoshinobu Yamamoto: A Breakdown
Yoshinobu Yamamoto, one of baseball's elite postseason pitchers, was pulled from Game 2 of the 2026 NLCS before completing the third inning after the Brewers employed a disciplined approach to wear him down. Rather than chasing pitches out of the zone like they did in last year's NLCS, Milwaukee focused on making Yamamoto work within the strike zone, fouling off pitches and working deep counts. Jake Bauers exemplified this strategy with a 12-pitch at-bat that forced Yamamoto to throw 75 total pitches through just 2⅔ innings, an unprecedented feat against the Japanese right-hander. The Brewers' patient approach succeeded in getting to the Dodgers bullpen early, with Christian Yelich following Bauers' walk with a single that ended Yamamoto's outing.
Brew Crew Ball12-pitch walk ... vs. Yamamoto?! Bauers outlasts ace before Crew's captain cashes in
MLB.com BrewersA position-by-position breakdown of Brewers vs. Dodgers
The Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers meet in the National League Championship Series for the third time in nine years. The article provides a position-by-position comparison of the two rosters, examining catchers, first basemen, and second basemen with regular season statistics and recent performance. The Brewers hold slight advantages at catcher and first base, with William Contreras performing well in the Division Series and Jake Bauers having a strong regular season, while the Dodgers' Will Smith struggled in the postseason and Freddie Freeman showed signs of age-related decline.
Brew Crew BallChristian Yelich’s strong start to postseason completely reshapes Brewers’ offense
Christian Yelich has emerged as a bright spot for the Brewers in their NLDS against the Padres after a disappointing 2026 regular season where he hit .235 with just 12 home runs and a 27% strikeout rate. Through three games, the 34-year-old has posted a 1.000 OPS with a 185 wRC+ while hitting line drives at a 55.3% rate, including a clutch RBI single off a 100 mph fastball in Game 3. With other Milwaukee hitters like Jake Bauers and Brice Turang struggling, Yelich stands as the team's most productive left-handed starter in the series and could be a key factor if the Brewers advance past San Diego.
Reviewing the BrewPat Murphy's Game 3 batting order tweak changes Jackson Chourio's lineup protection
Manager Pat Murphy restructured the Milwaukee Brewers' batting order for Game 3 of their NLDS against San Diego, moving Jake Bauers to the two-hole, William Contreras to third, and Brice Turang to cleanup—a lineup combination the team never used during the regular season. The change addresses opposing pitchers' focus on Jackson Chourio by providing him different protection, as Turang went hitless in the first two games despite batting directly behind Chourio in both contests. Joey Ortiz replaces David Hamilton at third base, while Dustin May starts for the Brewers against Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta in Milwaukee's first road playoff game.
Reviewing the BrewVOTE NOW: Bauers named finalist for 2026 Hank Aaron Award
MLB.com BrewersBrewers prioritize late-game matchups with starting lineup for Game 1 of NLDS
The Brewers set their Game 1 NLDS lineup against the Padres with Jacob Misiorowski starting on the mound opposite Robbie Ray. Manager Pat Murphy chose to start Christian Yelich as designated hitter, Luis Lara in right field, and Jake Bauers at first base, leaving Andrew Vaughn on the bench. The decision prioritizes favorable matchups in late-game situations, since Ray is expected to pitch only a few innings and the Padres have left-handed relievers Yuki Matsui and Adrian Morejon available later in the game.
Reviewing the BrewWhy Jake Bauers is confident in his approach, Brewers' chances in October this year
Jake Bauers, 30, has posted career highs across the board this season with 26 home runs, 86 RBIs, and a .266 batting average, crediting a mental shift toward staying present and accepting results rather than forcing outcomes. After nearly retiring following the 2024 season, Bauers emerged as a leader on the Brewers, baseball's best team, and believes his season-long practice of this mindset will help him maintain composure during the playoffs when opportunities are scarcer. Bauers described remaining present in October as a learned skill that requires daily practice, and he expressed confidence that both he and his teammates are better equipped for postseason success than in previous years.
Reviewing the Brew