MILWAUKEE — There are now less than four weeks left in Major League Baseball’s regular season.

The Milwaukee Brewers entered Tuesday with a two and a half game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the National League Central Division. The Cincinnati Reds are still somewhat in the race, but they don’t play the Brewers anymore and have been hit by a resurgence of COVID.

Dennis Krause got the insights of former Brewers pitcher Jerry Augustine on the situation.

Will the division come down to the final weekend?

Augustine: Without a doubt. 

American Family Field, Brewers and Cubs.

Augustine: That’s the only way it can come down to. I think when you look at these ball clubs in the next 20, 25 ball games, that they have to end this season, it all comes down to the last series. There are always reasons why they put schedules the way they do.

Everybody’s thinking maybe the Cubs weren’t going to be able to play with the Brewers, but they’ve stepped their game up. They’ve got some good offense. They’re playing stronger defense, their bullpen is starting to pitch the ball very well, along with their starting staff. So, I just think with the schedule, the way it’s set up, I think at the end of the season, it comes down to two teams that are going to be battling for the division. I think it’s going to be the Cubs and the Brewers.

You and I both respect the work of Brewers General Manager Matt Arnold. Carlos Santana and Mark Canha have really helped. But the question is, is the Brewers offense good enough to win deep into the playoffs?

Augustine: Well, it’s a good thing they got those two guys. Let’s look at what they’ve done. Santana’s had like an 11- to 14-game hitting streak — was busted up last night. You take what Canha has done, been on base the last 16 games and been a big influence. I think that those two guys have really helped the ball club when (Willy) Adames was really struggling.

They took Adames, and they put him between Santana and Canha. Those two guys, they’re veterans that give you a good at bats. Adames started getting better pitches and started swinging the bat better, struggling a little bit of late. But those two guys have really helped this ball club. But the veteran players at this time of year, we’re in a sprint now, have to step up and that’s going to be a big part of the Brewers. 

Christian Yelich has been slumping of late. We talked a lot about Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff, but Freddy Peralta was the pitcher of the month in August. 5-0. He can’t be overlooked.

Augustine: I call him the carnival because you never know what he’s going to come up with when he comes into a game. I think what Freddy did, he’s found out how to slow the pace of the game. Slow the game down, do what you do to throw strikes. You look at one thing that he’s done very well. He’s still fastball Freddy. He locates his fastball very well.

But when he’s been able to stay down, he stays on top, stays back and he’s been able to command his off-speed pitches. His breaking ball, he’s gotten a shorter slider than he had before. He’s very positive with his changeup, throws it to good locations, but it’s still the fastball and locating that fastball. Keeping ahead of hitters is so important for him and he needs that. But his secondary pitches have really made the difference.