The Brewers need to figure out this division if they want to make a deep run in 2024

Despite how this week has started out, things have been good for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2024. They have held the lead in the NL Central for the vast majority of the season and currently have that lead stretched to 8.5 games over the Cardinals and Reds.

Barring a catastrophic upset of 2014 proportions, the Brewers should be looking at another chance at a postseason run this year. And with a more high-powered offense than they've had the last couple seasons, there are chances they could last longer than one round for the first time since 2018.

But to do so, they'll very likely have to get past a group of teams that have given them fits.

If they want to go anywhere in the playoffs, the Brewers will need to figure out the NL West.

The teams in the NL West (save one) have been the bane of existence for many teams across Major League Baseball. That has especially been the case for the Brewers thus far in the 2024 season.

The Dodgers, the cream of the crop in the division, have beaten up Milwaukee this year with the Crew owning just a 2-4 record in their five games against each other. The Brewers can at least finish strong on Thursday as a win would give them a series split in the current four-game set between the two teams.

Things haven't gone a whole lot better against the Padres. That season series is over and the Brewers ended up going just 2-5 in the two series, snagging one win at home and another on the road in San Diego.

The Brewers have at least managed to split their four game so far with the Colorado Rockies, though that's not much of a feat to brag about against a team with the National League's worst record.

The Brewers haven't played the Giants or Diamondbacks yet this season, but didn't fare well against either team in 2023. Milwaukee finished 2-5 against San Francisco and 2-4 against Arizona before dropping another two games to the latter in an early playoff exit.

Unfortunately, the road to the World Series is all but certain to go through at least one of those teams. While the Dodgers lead the NL West, the scorching hot Padres and Diamondbacks occupy the top two Wild Card spots. Meanwhile, the Giants are just 4.5 games back of the third and final spot.

It's hard to imagine all of those teams will make the playoffs, but more than one of them will and will probably also stand in the way of the Brewers. Between now and then, the Crew will need to figure out what it takes to finally overcome them.