Brewers' looming decision could secretly open door for Reds postseason

The Milwaukee Brewers locked up the NL Central for the third time in as many seasons over the weekend, also guaranteeing themselves a first-round playoff bye.

They've inarguably been the best second-half team in the league, following up a blistering 21-9 stretch in August with a steady, albeit less impressive, performance in September. With six games left to go for every team in the league, the Crew hold a three-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies for the No. 1 seed in the Senior Circuit.

That might sound inconsequential to the Cincinnati Reds, but the Brewers' playoff push actually matters quite a bit for those hoping to see postseason baseball in the Queen City.

The Brewers and Reds will square off in the final regular season series this weekend, and you can be sure that Milwaukee will be trying their hardest to win every game until they secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

Thus, Reds fans would be right to root for the Brewers this week as they clash with the San Diego Padres; a few wins by Milwaukee could mean that they'd rest their starters over the weekend, potentially handing the Reds a far easier path to crucial wins in the most important games of the season.

Reds fans should want the Brewers to lock up the No. 1 seed in the National League

Coming into the final week of the season, the Reds, by virtue of their four-game sweep over the Chicago Cubs, are tied with the free-falling New York Mets for the third Wild Card spot in the NL.

It's more than likely that they'll be chasing down a playoff spot in the final series of the regular season, though that figures to be a tall task if the Brewers are playing at full strength. Milwaukee is 7-3 against the Reds this year, including a 3-1 record at American Family Field, where the final series will be played.

The good news is that the Brewers haven't been quite as dominant this month as they were in August, and they're also ailing a bit as they limp to the finish line. The team is currently missing Jose Quintana, Brandon Woodruff, and Trevor Megill from its pitching staff, and you can be sure Pat Murphy will want to rest his players as much as possible to avoid risking injury if they have nothing to play for.

Of course, should the Reds make the postseason, they're going to have to face the best teams in the league anyway; an easier-than-scheduled series with the Brewers might not be the perfect litmus test for a franchise that hasn't made the playoffs in a full season since 2013.

Still, you never know what could happen if you make the dance. The Reds are dangerous this year, though a cushy finale in Milwaukee certainly wouldn't hurt their playoff odds.