Milwaukee checks every box for baseball’s best record: a steady, balanced attack, a robust run differential, and a favorable closing schedule that keeps them on pace for about 100 wins. The playoff field could feature all 12 contenders, with Kansas City rising in the mix and Detroit and Toronto positioning for top seeds. LA’s depth and Philadelphia’s late-season push loom as major NL threats, while Rockies face a brutal September. Bold late-season storylines include Raleigh’s 60-homer pace, Ohtani’s WAR chase, and Painter’s September debut.