Fans watch as the San Francisco Giants’ Mike Yastrzemski catches a deep fly-out hit by the Chicago Cubs’ Joc Pederson during the third inning of a spring training game on Friday in Mesa, Ariz. (AP photo)

MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Brewers understand a repeat of last year’s performance won’t earn them a fourth straight playoff berth.

Milwaukee went 29-31 last year and never was above .500 throughout the pandemic-shortened season but reached the postseason thanks to Major League Baseball’s expanded 16-team playoff format. MLB since has returned to its typical 10-team playoff system.

The Brewers aren’t making any apologies for last year but know they can’t afford to finish below .500 again.

“Yeah, we didn’t come steamrolling in the playoffs by any means but we got there, and a lot of teams didn’t get there,” outfielder Christian Yelich said from the Brewers’ spring training site in Phoenix. “I think that’s something that you should be proud of, and especially in a year like that. I definitely think there’s room for improvement.”

The Brewers will need bounce-back seasons from Yelich and all the other hitters up and down their lineup who slumped last year.

Yelich, the 2018 NL MVP, batted just .205 after winning batting titles in 2018 and 2019. Keston Hiura hit .212 and had an NL-high 85 strikeouts last year after hitting .303 with a .938 OPS in 2019. Avisail Garcia’s average fell from .282 in 2019 to .238 in 2020. Omar Narvaez saw his average plunge from .278 in 2019 to .176 last year.

Milwaukee’s offseason moves focused more on defense than offense.

The Brewers have four former Gold Glove winners in Yelich, second baseman Kolten Wong and center fielders Lorenzo Cain and Jackie Bradley Jr.

That should boost a pitching staff that features two potential aces in right-handers Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes. The presence of Josh Hader and 2020 NL Rookie of the Year Devin Williams in the bullpen will make it tough for opponents to rally against the Brewers in the late innings.

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NEW LOOK

The Brewers made two big moves late in the offseason by signing Wong and Bradley. Wong takes over as Milwaukee’s starting second baseman, with Hiura shifting from second to first base.

The addition of Bradley gives the Brewers four former All-Stars for the three outfield spots: Bradley, Cain, Garcia and Yelich.

The most notable absence from the Brewers’ roster is Ryan Braun, who has a franchise-record 352 career homers. The Brewers declined to exercise a mutual $15 million option on his contract.

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ROOKIE TO WATCH

After going through two elbow surgeries and pitching in independent leagues, Justin Topa made his major-league debut at the age of 29 last season and posted a 2.35 ERA in six games before pitching two scoreless innings in the playoffs. The 30-year-old Topa should be part of the Brewers’ bullpen this season.

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CAIN’S RETURN

Cain played just five games last season before opting out. The two-time All-Star and 2019 Gold Glove center fielder is back this season and should add punch to the Brewers’ lineup.

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ROTATION QUESTIONS

The front of the Brewers’ rotation is solid with Woodruff and Burnes, but the Brewers need better performances from the rest of their starters. The rest of Milwaukee’s rotation figures to include Brett Anderson (4-4, 4.21 ERA last season), Josh Lindblom (2-4, 5.16) and Adrian Houser (1-6, 5.30).

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Milwaukee Brewers schedule

All times EDT

April 1 vs. Minnesota 2:10 p.m.

April 3 vs. Minnesota 7:10 p.m.

April 4 vs. Minnesota 2:10 p.m.

April 5 at Chicago Cubs 7:40 p.m.

April 6 at Chicago Cubs 7:40 p.m.

April 7 at Chicago Cubs 2:20 p.m.

April 8 at St. Louis 4:15 p.m.

April 10 at St. Louis 2:15 p.m.

April 11 at St. Louis 2:15 p.m.

April 12 vs. Chicago Cubs 7:40 p.m.

April 13 vs. Chicago Cubs 7:40 p.m.

April 14 vs. Chicago Cubs 1:40 p.m.

April 16 vs. Pittsburgh 8:10 p.m.

April 17 vs. Pittsburgh 7:10 p.m.

April 18 vs. Pittsburgh 2:10 p.m.

April 19 at San Diego 10:10 p.m.

April 20 at San Diego 10:10 p.m.

April 21 at San Diego 4:10 p.m.

April 23 at Chicago Cubs 2:20 p.m.

April 24 at Chicago Cubs 2:20 p.m.

April 25 at Chicago Cubs 2:20 p.m.

April 26 vs. Miami 7:40 p.m.

April 27 vs. Miami 7:40 p.m.

April 28 vs. Miami 1:40 p.m.

April 29 vs. L.A. Dodgers 7:40 p.m.

April 30 vs. L.A. Dodgers 8:10 p.m.

May 1 vs. L.A. Dodgers 7:10 p.m.

May 2 vs. L.A. Dodgers 2:10 p.m.

May 3 at Philadelphia 7:05 p.m.

May 4 at Philadelphia 7:05 p.m.

May 5 at Philadelphia 7:05 p.m.

May 6 at Philadelphia 1:05 p.m.

May 7 at Miami 7:10 p.m.

May 8 at Miami 6:10 p.m.

May 9 at Miami 1:10 p.m.

May 11 vs. St. Louis 7:40 p.m.

May 12 vs. St. Louis 7:40 p.m.

May 13 vs. St. Louis 1:40 p.m.

May 14 vs. Atlanta 8:10 p.m.

May 15 vs. Atlanta 7:10 p.m.

May 16 vs. Atlanta 2:10 p.m.

May 18 at Kansas City 8:10 p.m.

May 19 at Kansas City 8:10 p.m.

May 21 at Cincinnati 7:10 p.m.

May 22 at Cincinnati 4:10 p.m.

May 23 at Cincinnati 1:10 p.m.

May 24 vs. San Diego 7:40 p.m.

May 25 vs. San Diego 7:40 p.m.

May 26 vs. San Diego 7:40 p.m.

May 27 vs. San Diego 1:10 p.m.

May 28 at Washington 7:05 p.m.

May 29 at Washington 7:15 p.m.

May 30 at Washington 1:05 p.m.

May 31 vs. Detroit 2:10 p.m.

June 1 vs. Detroit 7:40 p.m.

June 3 vs. Arizona 7:40 p.m.

June 4 vs. Arizona 8:10 p.m.

June 5 vs. Arizona 4:10 p.m.

June 6 vs. Arizona 2:10 p.m.

June 8 at Cincinnati 7:10 p.m.

June 9 at Cincinnati 7:10 p.m.

June 10 at Cincinnati 12:35 p.m.

June 11 vs. Pittsburgh 8:10 p.m.

June 12 vs. Pittsburgh 4:10 p.m.

June 13 vs. Pittsburgh 2:10 p.m.

June 14 vs. Cincinnati 8:10 p.m.

June 15 vs. Cincinnati 8:10 p.m.

June 16 vs. Cincinnati 2:10 p.m.

June 17 at Colorado 8:40 p.m.

June 18 at Colorado 8:40 p.m.

June 19 at Colorado 9:10 p.m.

June 20 at Colorado 3:10 p.m.

June 21 at Arizona 9:40 p.m.

June 22 at Arizona 9:40 p.m.

June 23 at Arizona 3:40 p.m.

June 25 vs. Colorado 8:10 p.m.

June 26 vs. Colorado 4:10 p.m.

June 27 vs. Colorado 2:10 p.m.

June 28 vs. Chicago Cubs 8:10 p.m.

June 29 vs. Chicago Cubs 8:10 p.m.

June 30 vs. Chicago Cubs 2:10 p.m.

July 1 at Pittsburgh 7:05 p.m.

July 2 at Pittsburgh 7:05 p.m.

July 3 at Pittsburgh 4:05 p.m.

July 4 at Pittsburgh 1:05 p.m.

July 5 at N.Y. Mets 7:10 p.m.

July 6 at N.Y. Mets 7:10 p.m.

July 7 at N.Y. Mets 7:10 p.m.

July 8 vs. Cincinnati 8:10 p.m.

July 9 vs. Cincinnati 8:10 p.m.

July 10 vs. Cincinnati 7:15 p.m.

July 11 vs. Cincinnati 2:10 p.m.

July 16 at Cincinnati 7:10 p.m.

July 17 at Cincinnati 7:10 p.m.

July 18 at Cincinnati 1:10 p.m.

July 20 vs. Kansas City 8:10 p.m.

July 21 vs. Kansas City 2:10 p.m.

July 23 vs. Chicago White Sox 8:10 p.m.

July 24 vs. Chicago White Sox 7:10 p.m.

July 25 vs. Chicago White Sox 2:10 p.m.

July 27 at Pittsburgh 7:05 p.m.

July 28 at Pittsburgh 7:05 p.m.

July 29 at Pittsburgh 7:05 p.m.

July 30 at Atlanta 7:20 p.m.

July 31 at Atlanta 7:20 p.m.

Aug. 1 at Atlanta 1:20 p.m.

Aug. 2 vs. Pittsburgh 8:10 p.m.

Aug. 3 vs. Pittsburgh 8:10 p.m.

Aug. 4 vs. Pittsburgh 2:10 p.m.

Aug. 6 vs. San Francisco 8:10 p.m.

Aug. 7 vs. San Francisco 7:10 p.m.

Aug. 8 vs. San Francisco 2:10 p.m.

Aug. 9 at Chicago Cubs 8:05 p.m.

Aug. 10 at Chicago Cubs 8:05 p.m.

Aug. 11 at Chicago Cubs 8:05 p.m.

Aug. 12 at Chicago Cubs 2:20 p.m.

Aug. 13 at Pittsburgh 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 14 at Pittsburgh 7:05 p.m.

Aug. 15 at Pittsburgh 1:05 p.m.

Aug. 17 at St. Louis 7:45 p.m.

Aug. 18 at St. Louis 7:45 p.m.

Aug. 19 at St. Louis 7:45 p.m.

Aug. 20 vs. Washington 8:10 p.m.

Aug. 21 vs. Washington 4:05 p.m.

Aug. 22 vs. Washington 2:10 p.m.

Aug. 24 vs. Cincinnati 8:10 p.m.

Aug. 25 vs. Cincinnati 8:10 p.m.

Aug. 26 vs. Cincinnati 2:10 p.m.

Aug. 27 at Minnesota 8:10 p.m.

Aug. 28 at Minnesota 7:10 p.m.

Aug. 29 at Minnesota 2:10 p.m.

Aug. 30 at San Francisco 9:45 p.m.

Aug. 31 at San Francisco 9:45 p.m.

Sept. 1 at San Francisco 9:45 p.m.

Sept. 2 at San Francisco 3:45 p.m.

Sept. 3 vs. St. Louis 8:10 p.m.

Sept. 4 vs. St. Louis 7:10 p.m.

Sept. 5 vs. St. Louis 2:10 p.m.

Sept. 6 vs. Philadelphia 2:10 p.m.

Sept. 7 vs. Philadelphia 7:40 p.m.

Sept. 8 vs. Philadelphia 7:40 p.m.

Sept. 10 at Cleveland 7:10 p.m.

Sept. 11 at Cleveland 6:10 p.m.

Sept. 12 at Cleveland 1:10 p.m.

Sept. 14 at Detroit 6:40 p.m.

Sept. 15 at Detroit 1:10 p.m.

Sept. 17 vs. Chicago Cubs 8:10 p.m.

Sept. 18 vs. Chicago Cubs 7:10 p.m.

Sept. 19 vs. Chicago Cubs 2:10 p.m.

Sept. 20 vs. St. Louis 7:40 p.m.

Sept. 21 vs. St. Louis 7:40 p.m.

Sept. 22 vs. St. Louis 7:40 p.m.

Sept. 23 vs. St. Louis 2:10 p.m.

Sept. 24 vs. N.Y. Mets 8:10 p.m.

Sept. 25 vs. N.Y. Mets 7:10 p.m.

Sept. 26 vs. N.Y. Mets 2:10 p.m.

Sept. 28 at St. Louis 7:45 p.m.

Sept. 29 at St. Louis 7:45 p.m.

Sept. 30 at St. Louis 1:15 p.m.

Oct. 1 at L.A. Dodgers 10:10 p.m.

Oct. 2 at L.A. Dodgers 9:10 p.m.

Oct. 3 at L.A. Dodgers 3:10 p.m.