The Milwaukee Brewers’ recent loss to the New York Mets has reverberated throughout Milwaukee, as it marks the team's fourth straight postseason defeat when holding a multi-run lead. They started strong, jumping out to a quick 2-0 advantage in last night’s game before falling 8-4. They become the first team in Major League Baseball history to experience such a heart-wrenching trend, raising urgent questions about the team's future and whether they are truly "cursed."

The statistics are alarming. Over the past seven seasons, the Brewers have reached the playoffs six times, yet they have managed to win only one series — a sweep against the Colorado Rockies in the 2018 NLDS. Since then, the narrative has shifted dramatically, with the Brewers suffering through 10 losses in their last 11 playoff games since 2019, including last night's contest.

The 2021 NLDS serves as a painful reminder of what might have been. In a pivotal Game 4, the Brewers led the Atlanta Braves 4-2 in the fifth inning, only to watch that lead evaporate as they fell 5-4. The absence of Devin Williams caused Josh Hader to pitch in the eighth inning, unfamiliar territory for the closer, where he gave up a home run to Freddie Freeman to take the lead.

Fast forward to the 2023 NL Wildcard, where a familiar script played out. In Game 1 against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Milwaukee jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the second inning but ended up losing 6-3. The second game saw a similar fate; the Brewers held a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning before succumbing 5-2, effectively sealing their postseason fate.

These recent disappointments only serve to deepen a historical pattern that haunts the franchise. Every team that has eliminated the Brewers in the playoffs has either reached or won the World Series. From their first series loss as a franchise to the New York Yankees in the 1981 ALDS, to their most recent defeat against the Diamondbacks in 2023, the list includes perennial powerhouses like the St. Louis Cardinals (1982, 2011), Philadelphia Phillies (2008), and Los Angeles Dodgers (2018, 2020).

Each missed opportunity builds upon the last, creating a narrative of inevitability that leaves many to view them as a "regular season" team. As each October rolls around, the hope for redemption dims, replaced by the all-too-familiar reality of playoff heartbreak.

The Brewers have demonstrated their talent and potential for a playoff run, having claimed the NL Central title three times in the past four seasons. While they aim to bounce back from their 0-1 start in the NL Wildcard Series against the Mets, overcoming mental hurdles in crucial moments continues to pose a significant challenge. With each loss, the burden of history becomes increasingly daunting, raising an unsettling question: can this team finally break free from the constraints of its past, or are they destined to repeat their previous missteps?