Can the Milwaukee Brewers Win the World Series Without Homers?

The article digs into the Milwaukee Brewers’ current home run drought. It puts this struggle in context with the history of World Series winners who didn’t lead the league in homers.

What does that mean for a team built on speed, defense, and pitching in an era obsessed with power? The Brewers’ 2025 season has already thrown some curveballs—injuries to key players, but also some unexpected run production.

And let’s be real, the postseason just keeps rewarding the teams that go deep. The long ball seems to matter more every October.

Historical examples: World Series winners without homer dominance

Over baseball’s long history, a few champions proved you don’t have to smash the most home runs to win it all. These outliers usually played in eras with different offensive styles, and they needed almost everything else to go right—pitching, defense, baserunning, and clutch hitting.

• 1906 White Sox — They leaned on pitching, defense, and aggressive baserunning to win in a time when homers barely happened.
• 1924 Senators — Walter Johnson led the way, and a strong defense helped them win before the home run boom really took off.
• 1965 Dodgers — Sandy Koufax was untouchable, and their speed and defense made up for a lack of power.
• 1982 Cardinals — They beat a slugging Brewers team by doubling down on speed, defense, and clutch pitching instead of the long ball.
• 2012 Giants — Buster Posey’s balanced offense and a nails bullpen showed that timely execution can trump sheer power.

Still, things have changed. Since 2020, every World Series champ has finished in the top four for home runs. October baseball now feels like it hinges on those big swings, especially in tight, low-scoring games.

What the stats tell us about pitching, defense, and timing

Some eras let teams win with deep pitching, great defense, and smart baserunning. But now, the league trends toward three true outcomes, and teams with power bats and strong bullpens usually have the edge.

Power isn’t the only way to win in October, but it’s the most common path these days. That’s just how the game’s been leaning lately.

The 2025 Brewers: a different path to contention

Right now, the Brewers finished 22nd in homers, but somehow they’re third in runs. They’ve found ways to score without blasting the ball out of the park every night.

Injuries to Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, and Andrew Vaughn have made things tricky. The team can’t just wait around for someone to hit a three-run shot.

Still, Milwaukee’s got speed, solid defense, and a pitching staff that keeps games close when the bats go quiet. That’s not nothing, especially these days.

The postseason loves power, though. If the Brewers want to shake things up, they’ll need to squeeze every bit of value from their running game, keep the defense sharp, and use their pitchers at just the right moments.

Every mistake on offense could feel huge when runs are hard to come by and the other team’s throwing heat. It’s a tough spot, but not impossible.

So, what can actually move the needle for them?

• Speed and baserunning — push the envelope, take extra bases, and make the other team sweat.
• Defensive excellence — turn tough plays into outs, keep things tidy, and don’t give away runs.
• Timely pitching — mix and match arms to get through dangerous hitters, and don’t let the ball leave the yard.
• Small-ball leverage — cash in on little mistakes, move runners over, and scrap for every RBI.

 
Here is the source article for this story: The Brewers are last in the league in homers; can they win the World Series?