In some important ways it’s not even the same team the Brewers faced a few weeks ago.
They have added Abbott (who, of course, shut down the Brewers) de la Cruz, and Votto, who may be well past his prime but can still add a veteran presence.
I’m not saying that they will, or should, run away with the division. But I won’t be surprised if, after they come down from this torrid streak, they still have enough weapons to at least stay with the Brewers. They remind me in a general way of teams like the Cubs and Royals in the 2014-15 period when they made a dramatic jump from doormat to winning team. Or like the Brewers in 2007 and 2017.