NL Champions Milwaukee Brewers have some Knicks energy

What do the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks and recent National League Pennant-winning Milwaukee Brewers have in common? It’s not playing the same offense, nor some other secret baseball sauce. Nor did OG Anunoby lift outfielder Jackson Chourio’s hand before he caught the final out from known Dodgers favorite Kiké Hernandez on Thursday.

Rather, the connection between the Knicks and Brewers is more personal. Milwaukee lefty Aaron Ashby, who got the last nine outs of the Brewers’ 6-4 win in Game 4, is childhood best friends with Knicks bench wing Landry Shamet. The two grew up in Kansas City and attended Park Hill High School together.

Sure enough, video has resurfaced of Ashby during a postgame interview in June, and he’s wearing Shamet’s No. 44 jersey as he congratulates his friend.

Additionally, Shamet was in attendance at Citi Field in August when Ashby and the Brewers visited the Mets. Of course, Shamet was wearing Ashby’s No. 26 jersey.

And weirdly enough? The Brew Crew played a lot like the Knicks against the Dodgers in the NLCS. This team came from behind in all four games of the series to snatch victory from the mighty Dodgers, quashing any three-peat dreams. Game 4 in particular was notable, with Los Angeles leading 4-0 after two innings only to lose 6-4.

Not at all unlike how the New York Knicks often didn’t come alive until the second half during their championship run. Sometimes as late as midway through the fourth quarter! The Knicks trailed the San Antonio Spurs by 29 points at halftime of Game 4, and by as many as 20 points early in the fourth quarter before rallying to within one and Anunoby hitting his game-winning tip-in to seal the game.

Could these same Brewers go on a similar run in their first Fall Classic since 1982? They’re certainly the hottest team right now. The Guardians and Rays play Game 4 of the ALCS at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, with Cleveland up 2-1 in the series. Stay tuned!