This NL Central team’s playoff hopes still alive before Brewers’ final series

The Milwaukee Brewers are sitting pretty in the NL standings, up 2.5 games on the Philadelphia Phillies for the top seed in baseball with just three games to play. While the Brewers enjoy a Thursday off-day before their closing series with the Cincinnati Reds, a Phillies loss to the Miami Marlins this evening would give Milwaukee the one seed without having to win a single game for the rest of the season.

That said, the Brewers still have something to play for. Not only may the team need a win or two to officially lock up the top seed in the National League, but winning just one game against the Reds would give the 2025 Brewers the best regular season record in franchise history. It would be an unbelievable feat, especially considering where the Brewers sat halfway through the month of May.

However, stealing games from Cincinnati will be no easy task. By virtue of a strong month of September, paired with a colossal collapse from the New York Mets, the Reds remain very much alive in the National League playoff picture. They sit just one game back of the Mets for the third Wild Card, while currently holding an identical record to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Cincinnati Reds come to town with a lot to play for in the final three games of the regular season

While the Reds will be fighting for their lives at American Family Field, the Mets will square off in a series finale with the Chicago Cubs on Thursday afternoon before heading to Miami for their final three-game set of the year. Despite holding what will be another losing record for the 2025 season, the Marlins are playing some of their best baseball right now, winning eight of their last ten games. The Reds have a real chance to sneak into the postseason, but the Brewers certainly won't just hand them three victories, especially not if the difference between being the No. 1 and No. 2 seed next month is on the line.

That distinction comes with more than just bragging rights. The No. 1 seed offers teams a bye in the Wild Card Round and guarantees home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Having the best record in the sport also means you get to host the World Series regardless of the opponent, should you get to that stage.

The difference between the No. 1 and No. 2 seed also matters for the sake of the Division Series, as the top seed will face the winner of the No. 4 vs No. 5 Wild Card series (currently the Cubs and San Diego Padres), while the second seed faces the winner of No. 3 vs No. 6 (currently the Los Angeles Dodgers and Mets).

Therefore, securing the No. 1 seed during their series with Cincinnati this weekend not only means home-field advantage, but it could also mean avoiding the defending champion Dodgers and their star-studded starting rotation until the NLCS.

Both teams have a lot on the line this weekend, so don't expect a lethargic closing series between two squads just ready for the offseason. The Brewers are not only trying to secure the top seed and the best regular season record in franchise history, but they are also trying to get back into their best form before the playoffs begin. A matchup with the Reds, who need every win they can get if they're going to sneak into the postseason, should be perfect for the Brew Crew this weekend.