With the National League Central title tucked neatly into their champagne-soaked back pockets, the Milwaukee Brewers aren’t about to rest on their laurels and go into cruise control until the calendar flips to October.
With NL Central Locked Up, Brewers’ Sights Set On A Top Seed
10 games are left, and their sights are set on chasing down the Phillies and Dodgers for one of the National League’s two top seeds. More importantly, it is one of the first-round playoff byes that comes with them.
For the sixth time in seven years, your Milwaukee Brewers are heading to the playoffs!!#BrewersFinalPitch | #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/UWVTTV8YcM
— Bally Sports Wisconsin (@BallySportWI) September 19, 2024
After their 2-1 walk-off victory over Philadelphia Wednesday night, Milwaukee heads into the weekend three games back of the Phillies, who not only lead the National League but also own the best record in all of baseball, and two back of the Dodgers. The deficits are four and three games since the Brewers dropped their season series against both teams.
Brewers As NL Top Seed?
The path to one of those top seeds will be daunting. Milwaukee’s remaining opponents — the Diamondbacks, Pirates, and Mets — have a combined record of 239-217. The Diamondbacks, who dropped two of three to the Brewers last weekend in Phoenix, are tied with the Mets for the final two NL Wild Card spots, and while they’re unlikely to close the six-game gap between them and the Dodgers in the NL West are only 2 1/2 games behind the Padres for the top wild-card spot, which comes with home field advantage in the opening round.
After that, Milwaukee travels to Pittsburgh for three games. While the Pirates currently sit at the bottom of the NL Central, PNC Park hasn’t exactly been a cakewalk for the Brewers, who are 10-10 there since the start of the 2022 season, including a 2-2 mark in 2024.
They return home to close out the regular season against a Mets team that has surged back into playoff contention and is trying to hold off a Braves team that heads into the weekend just two games back of the final NL playoff spot.
The road is slightly easier for the Brewers’ foes but not without their own challenges.
Philadelphia heads to New York this weekend for four games against the Mets. After that, they’ll head home against the Cubs for three. Then, three in Washington against the Nationals to finish the year. The Dodgers’ final nine games include six against the last-place Rockies split between a three-game series with the Padres. San Diego still has an outside chance at overtaking their longtime rivals for the NL West title.
NL Top Teams’ Remaining Games
Phillies: at Mets (4), vs. Cubs (3), at Nationals (3)
Dodgers: vs. Rockies (3), vs. Padres (3), at Rockies (3)
Brewers: vs. Diamondbacks (4), at Pirates (3), vs. Mets (3)
Main Photo Credits: Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
