Brewers' Pat Murphy doesn't think his team has played great. Milwaukee's record suggests otherwise

Pat Murphy, the Milwaukee Brewers' manager, seems to think his team has yet to play at their best despite their impressive record. Speaking after the team's 22-0 win over the Seattle Mariners, Murphy admitted, "I don’t think we’ve played great. We haven’t really jelled. We haven’t really come together." However, the team's results tell a different story, with Milwaukee on track for its eighth playoff berth in the past nine years and chasing its fourth consecutive NL Central title.

The recent 22-0 victory came after three wins against the Los Angeles Dodgers, who previously swept Milwaukee in the NL Championship Series.

Former NL manager of the year Pat Murphy expressed doubt about his team's performance but acknowledged the trust placed in them. "Maybe I’m too critical. Maybe I’m missing something," he said. First baseman Jake Bauers echoed Murphy's sentiment, stating, "I think it says we’re a good baseball team. I think in tough times it can be easy to lose sight of that, but we have the right people around to bounce back when things get tough."

The 17-day stretch the Brewers survived without breaks or easy victories, including a 10-7 record, reinforced the strength of their team. "I think we’re a good baseball team," said Bauers. "I think in tough times it can be easy to lose sight of that, but we have the right people around to bounce back when things get tough, and we have the right people around to continue to play winning baseball."

Milwaukee has needed to maintain its momentum to stay ahead of the Chicago Cubs, who now trail by five games in the NL Central standings. The Brewers, who could have had a significant advantage in a potential postseason series with the addition of two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, have instead relied on pitchers like Logan Henderson, who outdueled Skubal in a recent series.

Milwaukee's pitching coaching staff has also been credited with helping pitchers like Kyle Harrison thrive. Despite challenges such as injuries to Brandon Woodruff and Quinn Priester, the Brewers' lineup has produced the fewest home runs in the league, yet they remain among the top five teams in scoring. Manager Murphy believes the team's success lies in their ability to remain competitive, even when they are not at their best.