Brewers Padres – The Milwaukee Brewers look to snap a record-tying 12-game postseason road losing streak in tonight’s pivotal Game 4 against the San Diego Padres.
For the Milwaukee Brewers, the postseason road has become a place of profound frustration. They haven’t won a playoff game away from home since the 2018 NLCS, enduring 12 consecutive losses. Tonight in San Diego. they face a historic burden: avoid becoming the first franchise to lose 13 straight postseason road games while staring down a Padres team energized by a late-game rally in Game 3.
The Padres are leaning on nine-year veteran Walker Buehler to close the series. It is a return to a familiar stage for the right-hander, who closed out the 2024 World Series for the Dodgers. Buehler. who owns a 3.04 ERA across 19 career postseason outings and posted a 3.62 ERA in 13 second-half starts this year. was activated from the paternity list just two days ago. He steps into a rotation role that saw the Padres lean heavily on Michael King. who pitched two innings to close Game 3. despite having already thrown into the sixth inning just two days prior.
Milwaukee counters with 27-year-old left-hander Robert Gasser. Acquired from San Diego in the 2022 Josh Hader trade. Gasser finished his regular season with a 1.67 ERA over his final six outings. Manager Pat Murphy has emphasized that while the team has other multi-inning options like Shane Drohan and Chad Patrick—both of whom started games this year—Gasser remains their primary starter. The Brewers. who utilized openers three times during last year’s postseason. considered the tactic again but ultimately chose to trust Gasser against a Padres lineup featuring three right-handed hitters in the top four spots.
The decision carries tactical weight. If the Brewers win tonight. they force a Game 5 back in Milwaukee. but that outcome would likely require them to start their ace. Jacob Misiorowski. Should they advance, burning Misiorowski tonight would leave him unavailable until the middle games of the NLCS. Manager Pat Murphy has not ruled out using Misiorowski for an inning tonight instead of a standard bullpen session. a strategy similar to the Marlins’ approach with Sandy Alcantara down the stretch. They will have a fresh Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill available after both sat out Tuesday.
San Diego enters the night with a fluctuating bullpen. While closer Mason Miller has been activated from the paternity list—taking Wandy Peralta’s roster spot—others are fatigued. Adrian Morejon remains under evaluation for shoulder issues. and pitchers Bradgley Rodriguez. Yuki Matsui. and Jason Adam all logged work in Tuesday’s Game 3. Manager Craig Stammen noted that Joe Musgrove may be forced into a high-leverage role to steady the group.
Lineups reflect the desperation of the moment. Brewers manager Pat Murphy is shuffling his deck for the fourth time in four games. keeping Brice Turang at cleanup despite a 2-for-40 slump. while bumping Christian Yelich up to the two-hole. San Diego has shifted Austin Hays into the DH spot, batting fifth. This move pushes Samad Taylor to left field and moves the lefty-hitting Dustin Harris to the bench. though Harris. along with Gavin Sheets. remains a potential pinch-hit threat. Sheets’ availability is uncertain as he continues to manage a foot issue and a stiff neck.
Stats underscore the disparity in momentum. Brewers catcher William Contreras is batting 4-for-11 in the series with two home runs, while Yelich has collected four hits. Conversely, Milwaukee’s left-handed hitters—Turang, Jake Bauers, and Garrett—have combined for a 5-for-33 mark with 15 strikeouts. For the Padres, Manny Machado is hitting .375 with a 1.212 OPS, supported by Ty France and Xander Bogaerts. Meanwhile, Fernando Tatis Jr. is struggling, with just one hit in his last 18 at-bats.
In the history of best-of-five series. teams that lose the first two games but win Game 3 have forced a Game 5 in 18 of 39 instances. with 10 of those teams eventually winning the series. The game airs at 7 p.m. PT/9 p.m. CT, available on FS1, FOX Deportes, and FOX One. In Canada, Sportsnet covers the game in English, while RDS handles the French broadcast for the NL postseason.
Brewers Padres NLDS MLB playoffs Robert Gasser Walker Buehler Game 4