Melvin has been loyal to Yost, probably too loyal. Just before spring training, Melvin extended Yost's contract through next season. But since then, the stakes for the Brewers only have risen.

In early July, Melvin traded for CC Sabathia, trying to nudge the Brewers toward their first postseason appearance since 1982 before the likely departure of Ben Sheets as a free agent.

The Brewers then went 20-7 in August, extending their wild-card lead to a season-high 5½ games.

The Brewers are 3-8 in September, reducing their lead over the Phillies and Astros to only three games with 15 to play. The calendar is in their favor, but the remaining schedule isn't. They face the Phillies three more times this weekend (MLB on Fox, Saturday, 3:55 p.m. ET).

After that, the Brewers play six more games against the Cubs, while the Phillies and Astros meet only one more opponent with a winning record — the Marlins, who are a mere 74-72.

Yost appears tense to rival scouts and executives who have seen the Brewers play recently. So does his team, an offensive powerhouse that is averaging only 2.8 runs per game in September.

"There's a sense of panic, anxiety," one scout said. "The team picks up on it. He's a Nervous Nellie. A manager is supposed to calm you down, not rile you up."

A year ago, the Brewers were even in the loss column with the first-place Cubs on Sept. 16, then went into a 3-7 tailspin during which Yost was ejected three times in a four-game span.