On September 13, the Milwaukee Brewers became the first team in Major League Baseball to clinich a spot in the postseason, following a loss by the New York Mets to the Texas Rangers. With a 91-58 record and a six and a half-game cushion in the NL Central, Milwaukee is now firmly positioned not just for October baseball, but for a potential run at the best record in the sport.
While the Brewers have at least secured a postseason spot, the bigger prize looms large: a third straight NL Central title, a first-round bye and possibly home-field advantage throughout the playoffs should they maintain their dominance.
From Slow Start to League Leader
One of the defining moments of the Brewers’ playoff-clinching weekend came courtesy of Andruw Monasterio, who delivered a dramatic walk-off hit that sent American Family Field into a frenzy. The utility infielder has often flown under the radar, but his clutch swing in extra innings not only sealed another victory for Milwaukee, but also embodied the resilience that has fueled this team’s surge.
However, it’s easy to forget how roughly the season began in Milwaukee. The Brewers stumbled to an 0-4 start, and by May 24 they were 25-28 and trailing in the division. From that low point, however, Milwaukee tore off a remarkable run: a staggering 65-30 record since then, the best stretch in baseball by a wide margin.
That surge has been driven by balance and consistency. The Brewers rank among the top offenses in the league, in fact they are second in runs scored per game, and they’re also one of the stingiest teams in terms of runs allowed, ranking fourth-best in the majors. In other words: wins are not coming purely from slugging, or purely from pitching, but from a complete roster performing well on most fronts.
Pitching, Youth, and Midseason Moves
Milwaukee’s success hasn’t come by accident. Several midseason acquisitions and internal reinforcements have paid off handsomely. One of the biggest surprises: the acquisition of pitcher Quinn Priester from Boston. Since joining the Brewers early in the season, Priester has compiled a 13-2 record, extended a franchise-record decision streak, and consistently delivered quality outings.
Equally important has been the emergence of Jacob Misiorowski, the 6-foot-7 flamethrower whose electric stuff has become a staple of Milwaukee’s rotation. Misiorowski’s ability to miss bats, combined with improved command as the season has progressed, has given the Brewers a legitimate homegrown ace in the making. His presence alongside veterans and new arms has added depth and intimidation to a pitching staff that ranks among the best in the National League.
Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s young core–players like Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick and William Contreras–have stepped up in big ways, blending energy, athleticism and timely hitting with veteran leadership. Manager Pat Murphy has emphasized the “culture we’ve developed,” one rooted in consistency and competitiveness, and it’s clear that this club has found its identity.
Christian Yelich’s Message to the Team
In the postgame locker room, veteran Christian Yelich stepped up as the voice of experience, addressing the Brewers with a speech that set the tone for October: “You should never take the postseason for granted. People play their entire careers and never get to experience it. We’ve been fortunate here. Guys who have been here a while got to experience it a lot.
“We haven’t accomplished what we want to accomplish, but there’s something to be said being on a postseason team, playing winning baseball. Guys that are doing it for the first time realize how hard that is. How much commitment you have to make to yourself and each other to mentally prepare and physically prepare. To go out there and put it on the line every night.
“The cool thing about these celebrations, and hopefully we have a bigger one than just this tonight, is you remember that for the rest of your life. You should enjoy it, you should take it in, but that it’s not the end. We’re this kind of team because of how much we care for each other. How we play for each other and how good of friends we are. And we have the opportunity to be friends for life.
“We go and do this whole thing, and go where we want to go, everyone in this room is friends for life. That starts with the belief. You speak it into existence, you see it, you visualize it, you believe that we can do it. We’re playing with house money. Like Murph said, nobody thought we could do this. Nobody expected us to be here. Everybody thought we were going to have a losing record.
“Look at us now.”
Eyes on the Division, Eyes on the Best Record
Clinching a playoff spot is obviously a major milestone, but it’s only the beginning for Milwaukee. The Brewers are projected to take their third straight division crown–a feat that would further guarantee postseason security and favorable seeding.
Moreover, Milwaukee has a two-game edge over the Phillies in the race for the best overall record in baseball, and crucially Milwaukee holds the tiebreaker. If the Brewers continue their strong run and avoid significant injuries down the stretch, the prospect of home-field advantage throughout the postseason is very much within reach.
The Brewers franchise record for wins is 96 (set in both 2011 and 2018), and Milwaukee needs just seven victories in its final 14 games to surpass that mark. At that point, the Brewers may begin to calibrate how aggressively they pursue late-season wins; balancing a drive for the top seed with the need to rest players and preserve pitching strength heading into October.
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