The Brewers see their time off as both a prize and an obstacle. They opened workouts at American Family Field on Tuesday, determined to keep their edge. With a franchise-record 97 wins, they claimed the top seed, home-field advantage, and a first-round bye. That success also brought five days without competition, pushing their next game to Saturday. Their main challenge this week is keeping their rhythm intact.
“You don’t want to lose that edge. You want to keep it as intense as you can, with also having the recovery mindset of getting our bodies right and feeling good going into this,” said Brewers pitcher Aaron Ashby via an interview from Spectrum News 1.
The Brewers aim to make a strong playoff push, and home-field advantage plays a major role in that pursuit. They will face the winner of the Cubs-Padres Wild Card series when the best-of-five division matchup begins Saturday at American Family Field.
The Brewers practiced inside the ballpark during the afternoon while keeping an eye on Game 1 of the Cubs-Padres Wild Card Series on the Jumbotron.
Brewers set to prove doubters wrong
Even with the best record in baseball, doubts linger about the Brewers’ ability to thrive in October. They sit tied for 21st in home runs, with Christian Yelich’s 29 setting the pace, a sharp contrast to the power-heavy lineups that usually dominate the postseason.
“You can say well, they don’t hit homers – well then, go ahead and try throwing it down the middle and see what happens,” remarked Brewers skipper Pat Murphy.
The Brewers built their success this season on balance rather than pure power. They posted the best run differential in baseball, led the National League in stolen bases, and showcased some of the strongest defensive play in the majors.
The biggest concern for the Brewers heading into the postseason is their starting rotation, which took a major blow when Brandon Woodruff went on the injured list. Murphy mentioned that the team would provide an update on Woodruff’s status by Tuesday, but no announcement has been made yet.
After grinding through 162 games to secure the best record in baseball, the Brewers are set to show that strong chemistry and balanced play can outlast raw power when October baseball begins.
