None of that changes the math much for a Reds team playing out the string. Milwaukee's already got the better of this set head-to-head, and with a division crown well within reach, Cincinnati's goal down the stretch is simpler: play spoiler and see what the kids can do.
Milwaukee's lineup is humming right on schedule for a stretch run. Christian Yelich has reached base in 7 of his last 8 games with 3 doubles mixed in, and William Contreras strung together a stretch batting .350 with a .600 slugging mark. Throw rookie Jackson Chourio into that group and Pat Murphy's got as deep a top of the order as anyone in the league.
The bigger question for Milwaukee is workload, not production. Brandon Drohan is already pushing a career high in innings, which is part of why the Brewers are sticking with a 6-man rotation for at least one more turn before easing him into relief. Bo Naylor and JoJo Romero both got activated with the September roster expansion, giving Murphy fresh pieces to lean on as games start to matter more.
Cincinnati isn't without a bright spot — Sal Stewart has looked like a legitimate Rookie of the Year candidate since his call-up — but with the Reds mathematically buried and the Brewers chasing a division title, Saturday reads about like the records suggest: one team playing for October, the other auditioning for next year.