The Brewers prove to the Mets that they would be a tough playoff opponent

MILWAUKEE — It's unclear whether the Mets will play in October, but this weekend started with the club getting a good look at how an October team plays.

The Brewers are running.

You are the aggressor and wait for others to make mistakes.

They play defense.

You get leads and keep leads.

Their position player group is the third youngest in baseball and shows the energy you would expect from an athletic, up-and-coming club on a daily basis.

A Milwaukee team that ranks in the middle of the pack in home runs came into Saturday's game tied with the Orioles for the fifth-most runs scored in baseball.

“It’s like a football team,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Friday. “We need to be able to beat you in more ways than one.”

The Brewers defeated the Mets in just about every way in Friday's series opener at American Family Field. They took advantage of the long ball in the first inning when Rhys Hoskins launched a grand slam.

They ran all over the Mets, got six steals without getting caught, and advanced three more times with two wild pitches and a passed ball.

Only the Nationals have stolen more bases than the Brewers this season. It's not just about the total number of steals, but where they came from: On Saturday, ten different Brewers had stolen at least nine bases, virtually everyone posing a threat.

“We’re going to run every time we get on base,” Murphy said before taking advantage of Francisco Alvarez and a Mets pitcher who was too slow.

The Mets rank 19th in runners retired, better since adding Luis Torrens and retiring Omar Narvaez, but still not particularly strong.

If Carlos Mendoza's group finds its way to the postseason, it wouldn't be surprising to see teams like the Brewers take advantage of them on the bases.

The Brewers are considered number 3 in the National League and are waiting for a duel with whoever receives the third wild card from the Mets to the Braves to the Diamondbacks.

If a date with the NL Central champions a few days ago was preferable to a matchup with the No. 4 seed Padres, perhaps Friday's game served as a reminder that the Brewers are doing a lot of things right.

Murphy played for free because their seeding is guaranteed and signaled he would not use substitutes on consecutive days.

After Frankie Montas lasted just four innings — the Brewers' rotation is just about OK — Murphy turned to a bullpen that was the second-best in baseball and didn't even bother using his best arm in Devin Williams.

Joe Ross, Hoby Milner and Trevor Megill struck out the Mets' bats over the final five innings, lowering the group's ERA to 3.16.

Only the Guardians' ERA of 2.59 was better.

The Brewers rarely give up leads, have the second-best save percentage in the game and don't give up games, which also includes excellent defensive work.

Only the Royals entered the game with a slightly better grade in Statcast's Runs Prevented.

At least in the Gold Glove talks will be Brice Turang (second base), Joey Ortiz (third base) and Sal Frelick (right field).

Maybe rookie Jackson Chourio too, but he has split time at the corner outfield spots.

“We have a lot of young energy. Young energy that loves to play,” Murphy said. “We’re a really good baserunning team. We are a really good defensive team. …You have to do a lot of different things. Not everyone will be able to do these things, but you can’t put all your eggs in one basket.”