Brewers chase first 100-win season, home-field advantage with 4 games remaining
CBS 58 WISCONSIN (CBS 58) — Milwaukee Brewers fans could witness franchise history Thursday night as the team enters the final four games of the regular season with plenty still on the line.
The Brewers have already secured the National League Central title and a first-round postseason bye, but manager Pat Murphy and his team are now chasing two more major accomplishments: the first 100-win season in franchise history and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Milwaukee enters Thursday night's series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies with a 99-59 record, meaning just one more victory would give the Brewers 100 wins for the first time.
If they don't reach the milestone Thursday, they'll have three more opportunities during their final regular-season series against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field.
For fans, reaching triple digits would add another milestone to what has already been a historic season.
"It's kind of crazy to have that much success for a small-market team," Owen Evelt of Neenah said. "It's a great season, and I'm excited to have milestones to lead up to the postseason."
The Brewers are also closing in on the No. 1 seed in the National League.
Milwaukee's win Wednesday night, combined with the Los Angeles Dodgers' loss to the San Diego Padres, gave the Brewers a two-game advantage over Los Angeles with four games remaining.
Milwaukee also owns the tiebreaker over the Dodgers, leaving its magic number at two to clinch the NL's top seed.
That means any combination of two Brewers wins or Dodgers losses would secure the No. 1 seed for Milwaukee.
Finishing with baseball's best record would also give the Brewers home-field advantage throughout the postseason, including the World Series if Milwaukee advances that far.
The Brewers have already guaranteed themselves a spot in the National League Division Series by securing a first-round bye, meaning they will avoid the best-of-three Wild Card Series.
Now, the final four games are about positioning — and history.
The Brewers have never won 100 games in a regular season and have never won a World Series championship. Milwaukee came close last season, reaching the National League Championship Series before being swept by the Dodgers.
This year's club enters the final weekend with another opportunity to change the franchise record books.
One victory gets Milwaukee to 100.
A combination of two favorable results secures the National League's No. 1 seed.
And with October baseball already guaranteed, the Brewers have four games left to put the finishing touches on one of the most successful regular seasons in franchise history.