The Brewers have already checked the biggest box in front of them: the National League Central title is theirs, and a first-round bye is secured. From there, the path gets a little more interesting.
Milwaukee is guaranteed at least the No. 2 seed in the National League, but the real prize is still in play. The Brewers have a one-game edge over the Dodgers and a magic number of four to lock down the No. 1 seed, which would give them home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. If that holds, Milwaukee would open the NLDS against one of the top two Wild Card teams.
Right now, that would mean either the Cubs or the Phillies. If the Dodgers were to jump Milwaukee in the standings, the Brewers would instead be lined up with either the Braves, who have already clinched the NL East, or the No.
3 Wild Card team, which is currently the Padres. The Diamondbacks are technically still alive for that spot, but only if something shocking happens.
So for now, the four teams to keep an eye on are Chicago, Philadelphia, San Diego and Atlanta.
And if you’re sorting those matchups by how they look for Milwaukee, the Padres land at the bottom of the list in the Brewers’ favor. San Diego is the hottest team in baseball, having won eight of its last 10, and even if it’s only sitting in the No.
3 Wild Card slot on paper, it feels like the most dangerous draw of the bunch. If the Brewers can avoid the Padres, they probably will.
Philadelphia is a different kind of problem. The Phillies have real postseason punch, with stars in the rotation and right in the middle of the lineup. They’re built to matter in October, and in a five-game NLDS, that kind of firepower can swing a series fast.
Atlanta might be the most manageable of the possible non-Cubs matchups. The Braves have the division title, and they’ve got Chris Sale leading the rotation after another strong season.
Ronald Acuña Jr. left early on Tuesday after fouling a ball off his shin, though his CT scan was negative. Even with that note of concern, Milwaukee would arguably match up well with Atlanta and could be favored in that series.
At the top of the list is the opponent Milwaukee knows best: the Cubs. The Brewers have already seen plenty of Chicago this year and have had the upper hand, going 9-4 against them.
There’s also some uncertainty around Alex Bregman, who is still at least slightly up in the air after taking a foul ball to the face. He won’t go on the Injured List, but it’s fair to wonder whether he’ll be at full strength.
In Other News...
Cubs Could Turn To An Unexpected Playoff X-Factor Or Two
The Cubs are weighing a few less obvious names as they shape their playoff roster for the National League Division Series, a reminder that October often rewards flexibility as much as star power. Justin Steele has given the club a reason to think about left-handed help after showing promise in a rehab outing, while Justin Dean offers a different kind of value as a speed-first outfielder who has mostly filled a pinch-running role.
Gavin Hollowell is also in the conversation after working back from a shoulder injury and turning in strong rehab appearances. None of these choices is set in stone, but the possibility of carrying an extra arm or a specialist runner speaks to how the Cubs are trying to cover specific postseason needs, even if the final decisions are still to come. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Fans May Need To Watch Carter Hawkins This Offseason
The Red Sox spent the day locking in their baseball leadership, with manager Chad Tracy getting a three-year contract extension after stepping in on an interim basis in April and executive Craig Breslow having club options exercised for the 2029 and 2030 seasons. It was a clear sign Boston wants continuity at the top, and it also quietly sharpened the broader front-office market for anyone around the league keeping an eye on possible movement.
For Cubs fans, the ripple effect could be worth watching. Chicago executive Carter Hawkins is already being mentioned as the kind of name that can surface when front office openings start to appear, and this kind of shuffle only adds to the possibility that his offseason could become more interesting than expected. If the Red Sox are settling in, other clubs may soon be looking for the same sort of stability, and that is where Hawkins starts to enter the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Suddenly Face A Bigger Edward Cabrera Problem Than October
Edward Cabrera arrived as the kind of rotation upgrade the Cubs hoped would steady things down the stretch, but the blister issues that pushed him into the bullpen have only complicated the picture. Chicago made the move to try to keep him effective and available, yet the role change has not produced the immediate lift the club wanted from a pitcher it believed could help as a top starter.
Now the bigger question is not just how Cabrera fits into October plans, but whether he can even pitch his way onto the playoff roster in a meaningful way. A rough outing that saw him give up three runs in less than an inning only sharpened the concern, and with his numbers trending the wrong direction this season, the Cubs may be heading toward a longer offseason evaluation of what Cabrera is at this point and what he can still become. [Read more 🡒]