We are no strangers to underdog stories in MLB. The Rockies pulled the underdog tale back in 2007, when they won 21 of their final 22 games to reach the World Series. And these seasons underdogs? Definitely Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers officially became the first team to punch their ticket to the 2025 MLB playoffs. And the most impressive part? They’ve been the best team in MLB, by stats as well as the eye test, and are sitting comfortably atop the NL Central, with a six-game lead over the Cubs.

The New York Mets’ 3-2 loss to the Rangers guaranteed that the Brewers will at least get a wild-card spot. Historically, this will be their 11th trip to the postseason. Unimpressive, right? But upon a closer look, we can see that this is their sixth appearance in the postseason in seven years. And they have achieved this feat without any expectations from fans and analysts alike. Something manager Pat Murphy was quick to point.

“These guys, nobody believed in ‘em. Nobody predicted they’d be .500. There’s no one. They went against that,” Murphy said in a conversation with MLB insider Ken Rosenthal during 9-8 win over the Cardinals.

0.500? The Brewers are currently above 0.600. Fun fact: This is the first time in their history that the Brewers have crossed this mark! This comes on the back of being completely written off during the pre-season predictions. They lost Willy Adames in free agency and traded Devin Williams to the Yankees, and ZiPS had them narrowly finishing behind the Cubs in the NL Central. And PECOTA was predicting an 80-82 record and no shot at the postseason.

Fast forward to mid-September with just 15 games left, and the narrative couldn’t be more different. And now their attention shifts to making a deep run in the playoffs, and possibly their first world championship.

The Brewers have their strategy ready for the playoffs

Murphy’s job is not ending after pushing the team to the playoffs; rather, he is now up to a new challenge. And it looks like he is ready for it. Brandon Woodruff looks healthy and ready to roll as the Brewers gear up for the playoffs. And Pat Murphy has a plan to keep it that way. With Woodruff going through an injury-hit season, his velocity isn’t quite what it was in his prime. But one look at his stats will show that the 32-year-old has still been sharp.

He’s putting up a 3.32 ERA, a 6-2 record, and 74 SOs across 59 2/3 innings in 11 starts this season. Now, with October baseball locked, Murphy wants to make sure his best arm is at full strength when it matters most. His approach? Building in extra rest between Woodruff’s starts. According to reports, the reigning NL Manager of the Year is putting health first. He’s betting that a fresh Woodruff gives the Brewers their best shot in the postseason.

Well, that’s how the best managers work, and considering how things are going for the Brewers, they have a real shot at the World Championship. All thanks to Pat Murphy’s incredible work this season.