With the regular season winding down and the postseason race in full swing, the Brewers are amid their most important stretch of the season.

Heading into Monday’s action, the Crew sits just two games back of Philadelphia for the National League’s third and final Wild Card spot.

Before wrapping up the season with matchups against Cincinnati, St. Louis, Miami and Arizona, the Brewers have September’s toughest test in front of them in the Mets. Here’s a look at the latter half of a vital homestand against New York.

Can Willy Stay Hot?

Fresh off breaking the Brewers record for most home runs in a season by a shortstop, Willy Adames looks to build upon his red-hot September.

Entering the series with the Mets, Adames is enjoying his strongest stretch of the season. He’s currently riding a nine-game hit streak, collecting four multi-hit games along the way.

Impressively, Adames has done this by tearing the cover off the baseball with eight extra base hits in his last nine games (four homers and four doubles). He’s put together a .394/.512/.879 slash line during the hitting streak while powering the Crew in key series vs. the Cardinals and Yankees.

Whether it’s breaking franchise records or leading his team during a postseason chase, Willy Adames is doing it all right now for the Crew.

Top Tier Pitching Duel in the Works

The Mets received a huge boost to their pitching rotation just in time for the series in Milwaukee.

Three-time Cy Young Award Winner Max Scherzer is slated to come off the injured list for the series opener – setting up for a star-studded battle against Corbin Burnes.

To no surprise, Scherzer has been dominant this season when healthy. The 38-year-old has tallied Cy Young-caliber numbers once again – a 2.26 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 20 starts.

The duel between Burnes and Scherzer pits a pair of aces that have been fantastic against their respective opponents. Burnes has logged a 1.71 ERA in four career appearances against the Mets, while Scherzer has collected just a 2.37 ERA in his career when facing the Crew. Their performances Monday night will go a long way toward determining the series winner.

Can the Brewers Kickstart a “Craigtember” Run?

Winners of seven out of their last ten contests, the Brewers have played some of their best baseball as the postseason race has heated up.

However, they remain two games back of the Phillies in the Wild Card race, and the stakes are high when the postseason-bound Mets come to town.

The opener against New York will be a huge one, as the Phillies have an off day – meaning a win against the Mets would give the Crew a half-game push in their Wild Card pursuit. Additionally, the Phillies will also deal with a tough series in Toronto beginning Tuesday.

With crucial contests across the league this week, the series with the Mets is one of the most pivotal matchups of the season. With mostly below-.500 teams ahead on the schedule, the Brewers face an opportunity to cook up some “Craigtember” magic – but it has to start against Francisco Lindor and the Mets.