Milwaukee etched its name deeper into baseball lore by notching its 97th win of the 2025 regular season–the most in franchise history. In their final game, the Brewers edged out the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 to seal the milestone and ride into the postseason on a high note.
That victory wasn’t just about breaking the record. With it, Milwaukee also locked up the best overall record in Major League Baseball and secured the top seed for the playoffs. For a franchise that has long chased milestones, this marks a culmination of sustained excellence this year.
“We don’t have the experience that would say we’re going to win, or maybe even the talent that says we’re going to win. We just have a team, and that team ended up with the best record in baseball,” manager Pat Murphy said.
The Win & Key Moments
The game started with a jolt: the Reds jumped to a 2-0 lead early, thanks to solo homers by Elly De La Cruz and TJ Friedl. Milwaukee countered starting in the third inning, when Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang opened with back-to-back doubles.
Then came the big punch: Danny Jansen launched a two-run homer in the fourth to put the Brewers ahead. Andrew Vaughn later added an RBI double that extended their lead. After that, the bullpen took over and slammed the door shut–Reds hitters went silent over the game’s last innings.
On the mound, Milwaukee’s arms delivered in spades. Freddy Peralta was limited to two innings (a nod to his upcoming playoff role), but the relievers–Aaron Ashby, Jared Koenig, Abner Uribe and others–combined for hitless baseball late in the game. Particularly notable: Trevor Megill, returning from injury, responded with a confident outing.
“Nobody was expecting this,” Peralta said.
Significance & What It Says About This Team
Milwaukee’s 97-65 final record bests the 96-win marks from 2011 and 2018, the previous franchise highs. It confirms that the Brewers are not just contenders, but among the elite this season.
Peralta, whose control and consistency have been critical all season, called the squad perhaps “the best team we have had,” given how few expected this level of success. His own regular season–17 wins, a 2.70 ERA, over 200 strikeouts–made him central to Milwaukee’s journey.
The timing of the record is key, too. As the Brewers head into the postseason, they do so not just with momentum, but with history on their side–the best record, home-field through the playoffs, and a roster battle-tested by pressure.
For Milwaukee to win the World Series with the franchise’s best regular-season record, the year we lost Bob Uecker, would feel like the universe smiling on the famously loyal Brewers fans,” MLB.com’s Will Leitch said.
The Postseason & Expectations
With the regular season behind them, Milwaukee now pauses before Game 1 of the National League Division Series on October 4. Their opponent will be either the Chicago Cubs or San Diego Padres, depending on how matchups resolve.
All eyes will be on how sustainable the Brewers’ push is. Can their pitching staff maintain form? Will their offense continue to deliver in high-leverage moments?
Brewers Make Franchise History to Close Out Regular Season