Brewers' focus on postseason in final week

ST. LOUIS -- Brandon Woodruff threw 63 pitches over four innings and called it a night at Busch Stadium on Tuesday as the Brewers began a controlled descent toward the National League Division Series.

Willy Adames was a late scratch with some discomfort in his just-healed right quad -- a precautionary call, the Brewers made a point to emphasize. Eduardo Escobar, who had missed some time this month with a right hamstring injury, saw his night limited to pinch-hit duty. While other relievers rested up, seldom-used Jandel Gustave was first out of the bullpen behind Woodruff and surrendered the go-ahead runs of a 6-2 loss to the Cardinals that gave St. Louis 17 consecutive victories and the NL’s second Wild Card spot.

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The Brewers witnessed the ensuing celebration knowing their postseason ticket was already punched. They are the NL’s No. 2 seed after securing the NL Central title on Sunday, turning this final week of regular-season games into a balancing act of rest and recovery while keeping everyone sharp.

“I’ve never clinched this early,” said second baseman Kolten Wong, the former Cardinal. “It’s definitely a different outlook, but you don’t change much. We’re still going to play. I’m still going to play most of the games. But I’m listening to my body a little more and understanding what’s important.”

What’s important is getting to Oct. 8 -- the date of Game 1 of the NLDS against the NL East champion at American Family Field -- with everyone healthy and sharp. The Brewers have five more game days remaining, two in St. Louis followed by three in Los Angeles against the postseason-bound Dodgers, then four days off at home before the start of the NLDS.

How does manager Craig Counsell view this final week?

“I think the question is a little different because we have a 28-man roster. That makes it a little different than how you'd think about it in previous Septembers [when teams could carry up to 40 active players],” Counsell said. “So our guys are going to play. Position players are going to play. We'll give guys days off, but they're going to play.

“With the pitching, we hope to have some flexibility, with the understanding we don't have to push guys. But I do think it's important that they continue to pitch. I don't think much will change.”

The Brewers have Adrian Houser scheduled to start Wednesday and Brett Anderson on Thursday, but they have not yet set their probable starters for the final regular-season series at Dodger Stadium. Club officials will meet Wednesday to plot those steps, Counsell said. Eric Lauer, Corbin Burnes, Freddy Peralta and Woodruff are lined up in that order at the moment.

If Burnes starts Saturday and Woodruff on Sunday, for example, then they would be in position for Games 1 and 2 against the Braves or Phillies in the NLDS.

“We understand we've wrapped this thing up. But you know, we don't want to approach it that way,” Woodruff said. “These are important games and important innings to get us ready. I think we just have to take it for what it is. Make sure we're healthy.”

Still, he added, “Dadgumit, you don’t want to lose.”

Woodruff had been given an inkling several weeks ago that Tuesday could be a shorter outing than usual if the Brewers had the division wrapped up. Still, the right-hander was displeased with his execution against the Cardinals after Adames’ last-minute replacement, Luis Urías, hit a home run in the top of the fourth inning off Cards starter Adam Wainwright to give Milwaukee a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Dylan Carlson led off with a homer to start a rally that led to a 2-2 tie on Wainwright’s perfect squeeze bunt. Then St. Louis pushed ahead against Gustave and Hoby Milner.

“They’re clicking on all cylinders, and they did it at the right time,” Woodruff said. “But I don’t think anybody is thinking, ‘Hey, take it.’ I don’t think that’s the stance anybody is taking. We’re still trying to win ballgames. But yes, we are aware that we have won the division and the most important thing is we turn out to be healthy for the playoffs. That’s the No. 1 goal.”

It’s all a balance.

“Guys want to play. I can tell you that,” Counsell said.