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Brewers fall to Padres, 4-3, in tense Game 3 as NLDS series tightens
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- Brewers fall to Padres, 4-3, in tense Game 3 as NLDS series tightens
More tense drama and another one-run game in Game 3 of the National League Division Series? Sure, why not?
The problem for the Milwaukee Brewers is that the well-struck ball up the middle in the ninth found a glove this time around.
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The Brewers out-hit San Diego and squared up their share of baseballs at Petco Park on Oct. 6, but another defensive miscue plated the winning run in the sixth inning for the Padres, who won the third straight one-run game in the series, 4-3. The Brewers still lead the series, 2-1, but must now return to Petco for Game 4 on Wednesday night.
Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts trapped a 107-mph screamer off the bat of Christian Yelich with two on in the ninth, then ran to the bag and then threw to first base for a game-ending double play after the Brewers had walked twice with one out against surprise reliever Michael King, who was trying to get a six-out save. It almost followed the same blue print as Game 2, when Jackson Chourio's two-out single won the game.
Bogaerts had his fingerprints all over the game. His diving play at shortstop kept a ball from skirting into the outfield and saved a run in the fifth, and he singled with two outs in the sixth against reliever Antonio Senzatela, then reached second on a wild pitch by DL Hall.
That loomed large when Miguel Andujar came to the plate and sent a shattered-bat ball in the direction of Cooper Pratt.
Bogaerts leaped over the baseball, and though Pratt fielded it cleanly with a shard of bat in his line of sight, he threw low. First baseman Jake Bauers couldn't pick it, and it squirted away far enough for Bogaerts to score and make it a 4-2 game.
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The Brewers always stayed close. After San Diego plated two runs in the third, William Contreras launched his second home run of the series in the top of the fourth. Milwaukee tied the game in the fifth on a daring scamper home by Pratt for a sacrifice fly on Chourio's shallow fly ball. But No. 9 hitter Jake Cronenworth sent a JoJo Romero pitch over the right field wall in the bottom of the fifth to replenish the lead. It's San Diego's only home run in the series thus far.
The Brewers managed their own two-out rally in the seventh when Yelich singled in a tally for his first playoff RBI since Game 7 of the 2018 National League Championship Series. But the Brewers stranded runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth, wasting an 11-6 advantage in hits.
Brewers starter Dustin May lasted only three innings, giving up two runs in the third after reaching triple-digit velocities in the first two innings. After throwing five straight balls to open the fourth, Brewers manager Pat Murphy did a mid-at-bat pitching change, replacing him with Romero.
Nick Pivetta gave up loud contact for the Padres, including two screamers flagged down by center fielder Jackson Merrill. One came off the bat of Chourio leading off the game, with Merrill making a sliding catch on the outfield warning track. All told, Pivetta allowed two runs on five hits in 4⅓ innings.
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Michael King, the Padres ace starter who was pulled after one batter in the sixth inning of Game 2, returned to the hill for the final two innings in Game 3, a daring gambit perhaps necessitated by the absence of closer Mason Miller. Miller went on the paternity list earlier in the day, and left-handed standout Adrian Morejón did not get loose in the bullpen.
Milwaukee got strong work from its own bullpen, allowing three hits in five innings, but the Brewers couldn't get over the hump as they did in Game 2 with a rally down to their final strike. Contreras hit a long, loud foul ball with one out in the ninth against King. The catcher finished with three hits and a walk, atoning for a lost ABS challenge on May's first pitch of the game.
Game 4 will feature a first pitch at 9 p.m. CT.
Brewers vs. Padres box score
| TEAM |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
R |
H |
E |
| MIL |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
11 |
1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SD |
0 |
0 |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
- |
4 |
6 |
0 |
Here's the schedule for the NLDS:
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Game 1: Brewers 3, Padres 2. Brewers lead the series, 1-0.
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Game 2: Brewers 4, Padres 3 . Brewers lead the series, 2-0.
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*Game 3: Padres 4, Brewers 3 . Brewers lead the series, 2-1.
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* Game 4: Oct. 7, 9 p.m. CT
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Game 5:Oct. 9, 3:30 or 7 p.m. CT (if necessary)
*Games in San Diego
Brewers lose, 4-3, and we'll try this all again tomorrow
01:04 AM ET, October 7 2026, JR Radcliffe
Xander Bogaerts delivered a huge game for the San Diego Padres. He trapped a well-struck ball off Christian Yelich's bat, ran to second and threw to first for a game-ending double play; this time the shot up the middle found a glove. The Brewers had put two runners on via walk with two outs, but it's a 4-3 Milwaukee loss that forces Game 4 tomorrow night in San Diego.
The Padres made all the plays; the Brewers didn't, pretty simple result in yet another exceedingly well played game. This series has been incredible. Milwaukee just needs to land the knockout blow and skip yet another Game 5 after taking a 2-0 series lead, avoiding the fifth-game escape they had in 2011 and 2025.
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William Contreras hits a bomb foul, then draws a one-out walk
12:58 AM ET, October 7 2026, JR Radcliffe
Tension mounts in San Diego after William Contreras hit a missile way out of here but easily foul down the left field line, but he did draw a one-out walk, with Luis Lara coming on as a pinch runner. Contreras finishes the night having reached base four times, with two runs scored and a home run.
Perhaps this is Brice Turang's big moment? Michael King is up over 35 pitches trying to close this down.
We are headed to the ninth with the Brewers needing a rally
12:52 AM ET, October 7 2026, JR Radcliffe
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Feel familiar? The Brewers head into the ninth down a run, 4-3, after Abner Uribe worked a clean eighth. Michael King will return to the mound to try and seal the deal.
Nontraditional move to bring in Michael King pays off (so far) for Padres
12:43 AM ET, October 7 2026, JR Radcliffe
It's wild to see the Padres starter in Game 2 working in the eighth inning of Game 3, but so far, it's worked out for the Padres. Cooper Pratt and Sal Frelick, both of whom did get hits against King in the fifth inning in Game 2 after he had lost his perfect game, flew out and grounded out, respectively. Pinch hitter David Hamilton, in for Joey Ortiz, then singled on a 2-2 pitch after the Padres thought they had struck him out on a check swing.
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Up came Jackson Chourio, who grounded out to put the Padres three outs away from victory. No Chourio magic this time.
The announcers are speculating that Adrian Morejón may not be available, hence the move the King, and I guess we'll find out in the ninth with the 2-3-4 hitters due up.
The Padres still lead, 4-3.
DL Hall works through a scoreless seventh inning
12:34 AM ET, October 7 2026, JR Radcliffe
DL Hall yielded the second hit of the night by Jake Cronenworth against a left-handed pitcher, but the Padres cannot score in the seventh inning after Jackson Merrill strikes out for the final out. Great work from Hall, who's gotten four outs and also just got Tatis and Merrill to (theoretically) keep them out of the equation for the eighth and ninth.
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Hall could be the winning pitcher if the Brewers can rally for a couple runs here, though it's the bottom third of the order due up. The Brewers have definitely made a couple mistakes, but this has been a poised game, and the Brewers have 10 hits, so they continue to give themselves opportunities.
Remember, no Mason Miller, who left on paternity leave and isn't available to close this game down. Adrian Morejón is still back there, but the Brewers got to him in Game 1 (for William Contreras' home run, notably), and starter Michael King, who retired the first 14 men of Game 2, is back two days later to pitch this eighth inning.
Bold choice for someone who just threw five innings two days ago. Perhaps the Brewers break through against a tired pitcher?
Christian Yelich has that elusive playoff RBI and the Brewers are once again back within one
12:19 AM ET, October 7 2026, JR Radcliffe
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This time, with a runner at third and two outs for a third straight inning, the Brewers come through.
Christian Yelich, who hasn't had a playoff RBI since Game 7 of the 2018 NLCS (19 playoff games), slings a ball to left center and plates William Contreras, who singled with two outs and moved all the way to third when a high-rise blooper from Brice Turang fell out of reach of diving left fielder Jase Bowen.
Bowen was just put into the game as a pinch runner, and he got thrown out stealing second. I gotta think Dustin Harris might have gotten there, but Harris was subbed out for Miguel Andujar (who hit the ball that led to the run which currently stands as the difference in the game.
Bradgley Rodriguez is staying in there to face Garrett Mitchell. Update:Mitchell strikes out for a third time tonight, and we head to the bottom of the seventh with the Padres ahead, 4-3.
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Brewers shoddy defense allows Padres to score again
12:07 AM ET, October 7 2026, JR Radcliffe
Jake Bauers' arduous defensive series continued as he cannot corral a low throw from Cooper Pratt, and the Padres absolutely steal a run from the Brewers.
The throw bounced, but Bauers should have had it.
Bogaerts singled with two outs and then went to second because of a wild pitch by DL Hall. After a long at-bat, Miguel Andujar shattered his bat, with both the bat and ball coming at Pratt. That threw off Pratt's timing, who gets docked for the error, but that's a ball Bauers needs to get. His defense has really suffered in this series as he deals with his various injuries, and that's the second time he wasn't able to make a clean throw home to get a runner.
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Padres have a 4-2 lead now and look poised to give this series another day.
Antonio Senzatela gets the first two outs, leaves with runner on first base
11:59 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Brewers right-handed reliever Antonio Senzatela struck out Ty France, got a groundout from Ethan Salas and then yielded a single to Xander Bogaerts, prompting manager Pat Murphy to come get him and bring in DL Hall for the lefty Dustin Harris.
The Brewers have still out-hit the Padres, 7-5, and have had really promising at-bats, in my opinion. I still think there's some offense left in their lineup for this game, especially with the top of the order due up in the seventh.
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Lefty Dustin Harris will get replaced by right-handed Miguel Andujar to face Hall.
The deficit is still 3-2.
Brewers miss another scoring chance
11:50 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Joey Ortiz put up a fight and got ahead, 3-1, but then flew out to right field, and the Brewers missed another second-and-third, two-out scoring chance for a second straight inning. They keep putting the pressure on but are still looking for one more big swing, down 3-2 into the bottom of the sixth.
Another two-out scoring opportunity, another pitching change
11:46 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Joey Ortiz is up with runners at second and third and two outs, with the Padres bringing in Bradgley Rodriguez from the bullpen. Yuki Matusi allowed a walk to Christian Yelich and a single by Cooper Pratt but also got Garrett Mitchell to strike out looking (his second called third strike today) and got a groundout from Sal Frelick.
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For the second inning in a row, the Brewers have a chance to cash in a two-out chance, but once again, it'll have to come against an excellent bullpen arm.
Jackson Chourio makes a running catch to end the fifth
11:32 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Jackson Chourio can go get it, too; he just made a nice backhanded running catch to keep Manny Machado from racking up some extra bases. That was on the first pitch he saw from Antonio Senzatela, who checked in after JoJo Romero retired Fernando Tatis Jr. (strikeout) and Jackson Merrill.
Jake Cronenworth's home run is the difference in the game, but the Brewers deficit is just 3-2 as we head to the sixth.
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And just like that, the Padres have the lead back
11:22 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Jake Cronenworth just launched the first pitch he saw from JoJo Romero in the fifth just over the wall in right field. And the Brewers are chasing yet again, just like that, with a 3-2 deficit.
Cronenworth was the guy who nearly made the play at second base to save the day in Game 2 on Jackson Chourio's screamer. He's struggled in this postseason, but not on that lefty-lefty swing.
Brewers fail to score again after Turang grounds out
11:20 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Brice Turang grounded into a force out, so Xander Bogaerts' diving save has officially saved a run for the Padres. Instead of lead, the Brewers have to settle for the tie as we head to the bottom of the fifth.
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Turang is 9 for 59 in his playoff career (.153 batting average) with a homer and four doubles.
Brewers have loaded bases with two outs for Turang, and Matsui is coming in
11:15 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
William Contreras just grounded an 0-2 pitch to the hole that nearly gave the Brewers the lead; shortstop Xander Bogaerts made a diving stop to knock it down, and though he didn't get an out, he saved a run.
But the bases are now loaded, Brice Turang is up, and the Padres are turning to left-hander Yuki Matsui to face him. Could this be the playoff moment the Brewers have been waiting for from Turang?
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It's 2-2 in the top of the fifth.
Brewers tie the game on daring send from third base
11:10 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Jackson Chourio fell behind, 0-2, but ultimately popped out to shallow left field. It looked way too shallow for Cooper Pratt to try and score, but he surprisingly took off and scored ahead of the throw from Dustin Harris. It's a sacrifice fly, another RBI for Chourio, and we are tied at 2-2. Cooper Pratt's speed delivers!
Brewers have second and third with one out for Jackson Chourio
11:05 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Does he have another big moment in him?
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Jackson Chourio is striding to the plate, and Nick Pivetta is departing. The Padres will turn to right-handed reliever Jason Adam here with one out in the fifth. Cooper Pratt smoked a single up the middle, Sal Frelick went opposite field with a grounder (after a pitch that would have been strike two wasn't challenged) and then Joey Ortiz laid down a sacrifice bunt.
Top of the order due up with a chance to flip the scoreboard, with San Diego holding a 2-1 lead.
JoJo Romero with a sensational relief appearance
10:59 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Just when you might have been feeling a little bad about that trade that brought Dustin May to Milwaukee ... the other piece of the deal comes through.
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Romero battled back from a 3-1 count to strike out Xander Bogaerts, added a strikeout of Dustin Harris and then ended the inning with a pop-out. The left-handed reliever, acquired in the same deal that brought May over from the Cardinals for prospects Josiah Ragsdale and Alexander Frias, sends us to the fifth, where the Padres have a 2-1 lead.
Pat Murphy doing the mid-at-bat pitching change ... in the playoffs!
10:51 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Dustin May walked Ethan Salas on four pitches, then threw a fifth straight ball inside to Xander Bogaerts, and manager Pat Murphy jumped out of the dugout for a pitching change.
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We've seen Murphy utilize the mid-AB pitching change for Brandon Sproat and Robert Gasser this year, and now he's doing it in the playoffs for Dustin May. It'll be JoJo Romero who comes into the game to face Bogaerts, and May will leave having thrown three-plus innings.
May looked great early but seems to have lost it. The Padres stealing two bases off of him in the third converted to runs, and he's having fourth-inning control issues.
Brewers can't do anything else, deficit is 2-1 headed to bottom fourth
10:45 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Brice Turang and Christian Yelich hit soft groundouts and Garrett Mitchell looked at a called strike three to end the fourth inning. The Brewers desperately need something from Turang in these playoffs; he had a home run in Game 5 of last year's NLDS but has really struggled in his small career playoff sample.
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But it's just a 2-1 deficit heading to the bottom of the fourth. The Brewers have been here before.
William Contreras hits a bomb, and the lead is back down to 2-1
10:40 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Oct 6, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras (24) celebrates after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning against the San Diego Padres in game three of the NLDS for the 2026 MLB Playoffs at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images
William Contreras absolutely crushed a 2-2 hanging curve from Nick Pivetta and did his customary slow stroll around the bases after the ball cleared the wall in left field. The hard contact finally yields a run leading off the fourth inning, and the Brewers have cut the deficit to 2-1. The fans do not love the Contreras pagentry.
His second home run of the postseason has got the Brewers right back in business.
Padres score again after stolen base, single make it 2-0
10:34 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
The Padres have stolen two bases on Dustin May in the third, and both have come around to score. Merrill's two-out swipe (William Contreras couldn't even get a throw off) matters big time when Manny Machado snuck a single past the outstretched glove of Joey Ortiz.
It's 2-0 Padres, and then Ty France hits a ball to the warning track that May thought might be out. At least it's not 4-0, but Petco Park has come alive and the Padres have the edge, 2-0.
Padres score first for third game in a row
10:31 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
San Diego uses some small ball to get the first run of the game, and for the third time in this series, the Brewers will play from behind. At least the first two games worked out.
Samad Taylor swung at an amazing breaking pitch from May and missed, but then May came back with a fastball down the middle that he lined back into center. Taylor then stole second, moved to third on a Jake Cronenworth bunt and scored on an infield tapper from Fernando Tatis Jr.
May gives up a loud single to Jackson Merrill after that, and we're already in the zone where I wonder how much longer he'll be out there, but he's looked really solid for the most part. Padres lead, 1-0, with two outs in the third and a runner on first.
The Brewers keep crushing the ball but aren't getting results
10:22 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Sal Frelick smoked one that Jackson Merrill ran down. Jackson Chourio hit one off the end of the bat that died at the warning track. Jake Bauers launched a foul ball onto the roof, well foul along the right-field line (before striking out). And somehow, Joey Ortiz's seeing-eye grounder made it through for a single. Milwaukee has no runs through three innings, but they have been getting great swings against Nick Pivetta. Can't imagine there will be too many more opportunities against him.
Pat Murphy on live TV ... and oops, probably shouldn't have said that
10:20 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Pat Murphy was being interviewed live on-air when Sal Frelick smoked a ball to the gap in center, and Jackson Merrill ran it down, to the chagrin of the manager who uttered "G**dammit, Merrill" on live TV. Oopsie.
Merrill made a really nice catch and has now stolen two extra-base hits from the Brewers, who are smoking the ball all over the park, but they need to smoke it somewhere where the standout centerfielder is not.
Dustin May looks fantastic through two innings
10:15 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Not sure how long Dustin May has in this game, but he's continuing to throw 100 miles per hour and dismiss Padres. He strikes out two of the three men he faced in the second inning, Ethan Salas and Xander Bogaerts, before getting a pop-out from Dustin Harris. We head to the third inning of a scoreless game.
He has thrown 31 pitches in two frames, but I'm not sure pitch count even really matters here. Pivetta at 34 through two.
Brewers go quietly in second, but Yelich singles, and San Diego loses an ABS challenge
10:06 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
The Brewers have the first hit of the game on a Christian Yelich one-out single, but he doesn't move up as the Brewers go down queitly from there with a Garrett Mitchell pop-up and a Cooper Pratt groundout.
Brice Turang, who has only batted cleanup twice before in his career, led off the frame and worked a nine-pitch at-bat but whiffed through a curveball for strike three.
There's another interesting nugget; Padres 20-year-old catcher Ethan Salas also just lost a challenge on a pitch, so both teams have one remaining for the rest of the game.
Dustin May reaching 99mph in scoreless first inning
09:56 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
It's probably safe to assume Dustin May doesn't expect to work too deeply into this game, he's hitting 99.9 miles per hour on multiple pitches!
After a two-out walk to Manny Machado, May induces a Ty France groundout and the Padres go scoreless. But the big setback is the loss of the first ABS challenge on a pitch that absolutely was not important. Contreras is a big reason why the Brewers are in this position, but that's a gaffe that could sting a bit.
Huge mistake by William Contreras to burn first ABS challenge
09:51 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
There is no other way to say it; William Contreras just made a massive mistake challenging the first pitch of the game from May, an ultra low-leverage ball that robs the Brewers of a challenge right out of the gate. An error that's going to cause a lot of passivity in challenging going forward. It's been a story line all year that Contreras is an eager challenger, and that was a killer.
Fernando Tatis Jr. grounded out, but that's a costly at-bat.
Brewers go 1-2-3 in the first, but they look good doing it
09:48 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
William Contreras hit a ball hard for an out to center, Jake Bauers struck out but worked Nick Pivetta for eight pitches and Chourio led off the game with a screamer. The Padres get a 1-2-3 inning, but Milwaukee's hitters look locked in early. Pivetta threw 17 pitches – not great, not terrible – and now Dustin May takes the hill. I imagine everyone will be curious to see how long May lasts in this outing, and who comes next when it's done.
Jackson Merrill robs Jackson Chourio
09:42 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
We have Jackson-on-Jackson crime to kick off this game, with Jackson Merrill (same rookie class!) making a sliding catch on the warning track in center after Jackson Chourio smoked a ball to one of the deepest part of the park. Merrill is a very good center fielder, and he showed it; remember, he also robbed Christian Yelich of extra bases in Game 2. That's a tough out, but another great swing by Chourio.
Let's play Game 3 of the NLDS
09:39 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
What a gorgeous-looking night in San Diego as Nick Pivetta takes the hill for the Padres in Game 3 of the National League Division Series. The Brewers will go to work to try and make sure there's no baseball tomorrow.
Padres also make a lineup change
09:19 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Gavin Sheets was originally penciled in as the designated hitter, but he was scratched with a stiff neck, meaning Samad Taylor is now in the lineup at that spot. He'll bat eighth, and Xander Bogaerts moves up to sixth. Here's the new lineup, with a dangerous left-handed bat out of the equation.
So in addition to losing their closer to the paternity list, they might also be without Sheets.
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Fernando Tatis Jr., right field
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Jackson Merrill, center field
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Manny Machado, third base
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Ty France, first base
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Ethan Salas, catcher
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Xander Bogaerts, shortstop
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Dustin Harris, left field
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Samad Taylor, designated hitter
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Jake Cronenworth, second base
Dodgers take Game 3 over Braves, 3-1
09:09 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
The Brewers saw some shaky work from closer Edwin Díaz earlier this year, but he appears to be somewhat improved, although he gave up a leadoff double in the ninth after relieving Tanner Scott. But he got some light contact and got the outs he needed to give the Dodgers a 3-1 lead, and now they lead the series, 2-1.
Yoshi Yamamoto allowed one run in seven innings on four hits, with 10 strikeouts and one walk. The man just delivers in the postseason.
Tomorrow, Los Angeles can punch its ticket to the NLCS. Will the Brewers be the team to meet them there for a second year in a row?
Here's a surprise; Mason Miller heads to paternity list for Padres
09:05 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Mason Miller, the top-shelf closer who couldn't quite put the Milwaukee Brewers away in Game 2, has been placed on the paternity list by the San Diego Padres and won't be available in Game 3.
The MLB's commissioner office approves these transactions during the playoffs to avoid any roster shenanigans. Pitcher Wandy Peralta will take Miller's place, and Miller can be out anywhere from 1-3 days. Once he returns, it'll be Peralta whom he replaces on the roster.
Miller threw a season-high 40 pitches on Sunday, so it's possible the team would want to stay away from him at all costs on Tuesday anyway, but he's also the team's best pitcher in an elimination game, so I can't imagine this was part of some grand scheme.
What makes it funny is that San Diego just had a pitcher return from the postseason paternity list: Walker Buehler, who is available tonight. The pitcher who took Buehler's place on the postseason roster, Randy Vásquez, did not appear in Games 1 or 2, so there was no real advantage cultivated there.
Former Brewers pitcher Brent Suter works a scoreless eighth for Atlanta
08:36 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Brent Suter, the longtime pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers, just worked a scoreless eighth inning for the Braves, and now the bats will try and go to work to cut into the Dodgers 3-1 lead in the first NLDS Game 3 of the night.
Austin Riley made an amazing diving snare of a grounder at third base for an out that he nearly spun into a double play. Suter had a 1.63 ERA in 28 innings with the Braves this season after he was dealt there from the Angels at the trade deadline.
The 37-year-old played seven MLB seasons in Milwaukee from 2016-22.
Padres have Jackson Chourio 'circled'
08:35 PM ET, October 6 2026, Todd Rosiak
SAN DIEGO – Milwaukee Brewers relievers Aaron Ashby and DL Hall were asked prior to NLDS Game 3 at Petco Park on Tuesday, Oct. 6 how they'd pitch to Jackson Chourio if they were in the opposing bullpen.
Hall, smiling, simply raised four fingers to indicate an intentional walk.
"Listen, when he's locked in and he's focused, it's just, his hands are so fast," Ashby said of Chourio, who hit a game-tying, two-run home run in Game 1 and then drove in the tying and winning runs in the ninth inning of Game 2. "I don't know if you can truly understand how impressive it is and how late of a decision he can make at the plate and still hit the ball 110 the other way on a late decision. There's just not a lot of guys doing that.
"You have to pitch to him because the other four guys behind him, I wouldn't want to face them either. Yeah, he's a special kid, and I'm glad he's on our side."
Milwaukee Brewers pitcher DL Hall signals how he would handle pitching to teammate Jackson Chourio -- by intentionally walking him. Hall was discussing Chourio before Game 3 of the National League Division Series between the Brewers and Padres at Petco Park in San Diego on Oct. 6, 2026.
Manager Pat Murphy placed Chourio in the leadoff spot again for Game 3, but instead realigned a bit behind him with lefties Jake Bauers and Brice Turang sandwiched around William Contreras in the third spot.
"There's all sorts of things behind it," Murphy said. "You want to try to line up the hitters according to how you think they're going to pitch them and what are the pitchers coming – in a game like this, you don't know how long any starter's going, and you want to always match up according to how you think they're going to bring guys in.
"Jackson, he's circled, if you will, as well as anybody in the lineup, (and) you want to have behind it somebody that if they're going to bring in this guy, that's going to present a little more of a different challenge.
"It's your best five hitting in the first five, usually. Interchange. You don't want to always put two lefties together unless you're trying to invite that. You're going to switch one of them out.
"In this situation, I just decided to do that."
Dodgers holding 3-1 lead in other NLDS Game 3
08:12 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
With the series between the Braves and Dodgers tied at 1-1, Los Angeles appears to have the upper hand through six innings, with a 3-1 lead behind excellent work from last year's postseason hero, Yoshinobu Yamamoto. For my money, he's the pitcher I would want to see the least of anyone remaining in these playoffs.
Brewers fans who would like to see the Dodgers get bounced thought maybe Atlanta's win in Game 2 gave the Braves a window to pull the upset. Still time to come out ahead, but ace Chris Sale yielded a lot of loud contact and two home runs today; it would be much worse if former Brewers utility man Mauricio Dubón hadn't made a great catch to rob another homer at the wall.
Some stray observations from the Game 2 epic
08:09 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
With an extra day to marinate in the Game 2 walk-off winner over the Padres and star closer Mason Miller, some thoughts I've had:
David Hamilton can be an adventure in the field, and he was rightfully given some attention for his error that led to what would have been the winning run in the seventh had it not been for the comeback. But it's also worth noting that Hamilton did a lot in that game, including a great running catch in the second inning with his back to the infield that almost certainly would have been a run otherwise. He also made a difficult play look easy one batter before botching the grounder, and his speed is what coaxed a run-scoring error out of Jake Cronenworth in the bottom half of the seventh. That easily could have been the third out, and instead, the Brewers pulled to within 3-2. He almost dang near hit a three-run home run that just pushed foul in the fifth.
Cronenworth, who made a highlight-reel robbery earlier in the series at second base, could have gotten to that ball. Chourio needed every mile-per-hour on that screamer to get through.
I wonder if the Padres were so dead set on using Mason Miller for two innings (or, at the very least, more than one inning) that they talked themselves into taking starter Michael King out earlier than they should have. King retired the first 14 men he faced, and though he gave up three well-hit balls after that, he was still in pretty good shape. The Padres did let him come back out for the sixth ... only to pull him after he hit a batter. King didn't look happy to get the hook; it feels like there's a scenario where the leash is a little longer, and Miller needs to get fewer outs at the end.
I can't believe Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick and Gary Sánchez didn't swing at a single offering from Miller in their ninth-inning at-bats. Just an incredible display of what makes the Brewers work.
If this hadn't been a Chourio showcase, it really could be the Sal Frelick game. It's amazing how quickly he went from second to home on an absolute screamer up the middle that center fielder Jackson Merrill got to quickly. Even if Luis Campusano doesn't drop the ball, Frelick is safe on that play. Plus, he drove in the first run of the game, threw out Manny Machado in the seventh at third on a play that easily could have been a throw home to try to cut down the insurance runner and was part of the walk-a-thon in the ninth. For a couple guys that are essentially not starters, Frelick and Hamilton were huge in that win.
Aaron Ashby has been absolutely nails in this series, especially for someone who had allowed eight earned runs in 9⅓ playoff innings before this year. He's registered eight big outs, including after a defensive breakdown put two runners on with nobody out in the eighth of Game 2. A massive escape job.
Brice Turang is batting just .161 with a .230 on-base percentage in 63 playoff plate appearances. Milwaukee needs something from him to keep advancing. He did hit a playoff homer last year in the 3-1 win over the Cubs in Game 5, and he does have four playoff doubles.
How do teams do in the division series when they go ahead 2-0
08:08 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
As you might imagine, teams with a 2-0 lead in the division series have quite the advantage. In fact, if we're just talking NLDS, there are literally zero teams that have taken a 2-0 lead in the NLDS at home who have gone on to lose the series since division play began like this in 1995.
There are, however, examples in the American League of a home team going ahead, 2-0, and losing the series, but not since Cleveland in 2017.
Here's the full look at the data:
In NLDS games (since 1995) when home team takes a 2-0 lead
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Won in three: 15
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Won in four: 4
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Won in five: 2
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Lost series: Never
In NLDS games when visiting team takes 2-0 lead
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Won in three: 6
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Won in four: 4
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Won in five: 0
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Lost series: 1 (Cincinnati in 2012)
In ALDS games when home team takes 2-0 lead
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Won in three: 12
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Won in four: 7
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Won in five: 2
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Lost series: 3 (Cleveland in 1999, Oakland in 2003, Cleveland in 2017)
In ALDS games when visiting team takes 2-0 lead
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Won in three: 7
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Won in four: 3
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Won in five: 1
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Lost series: 3 (New York Yankees in 1995*, Oakland in 2001, Texas in 2015)
*Featured 2-3 format where better seed played at home in games 3-4-5
Overall home teams with 2-0 series lead in DS
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Won in three: 27
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Won in four: 11
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Won in five: 4
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Lost series: 3
Overall teams with 2-0 series lead in DS
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Won in three: 40
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Won in four: 18
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Won in five: 5
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Lost series: 7
In other words, teams that go up 2-0 have a better than half shot of winning in three games (57%), and only 10% lost the series. Heck, only 17% went to five games.
Here are tonight's starting lineups
08:08 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
The Milwaukee Brewers will return Joey Ortiz to the starting lineup at third base for Game 3 of the National League Division Series, with Milwaukee looking for a 3-0 sweep of the Padres. As you might expect, Jackson Chourio is back at the leadoff spot after doing so in Game 2 against a right-hander. The results were ... quite good from that game.
Milwaukee Brewers lineup for NLDS Game 3
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Jackson Chourio, left field
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Jake Bauers, first base
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William Contreras, catcher
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Brice Turang, second base
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Christian Yelich, designated hitter
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Garrett Mitchell, center field
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Cooper Pratt, shortstop
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Sal Frelick, right field
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Joey Ortiz, third base
Dustin May, starting pitcher
San Diego Padres starting lineup for NLDS Game 3
The Padres have made some tweaks, pushing Dustin Harris (No. 2 hitter the first two games) later in the order and promoting lefty swinger Jackson Merrill to the No. 2 spot. Ethan Salas, the 20-year-old phenom catcher who started Game 1 behind the plate and didn't play in Game 2, is batting fifth in Game 3. Gavin Sheets is in the lineup as designated hitter for a second straight game.
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Fernando Tatis Jr., right field
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Jackson Merrill, center field
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Manny Machado, third base
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Ty France, first base
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Ethan Salas, catcher
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Gavin Sheets, designated hitter
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Xander Bogaerts, shortstop
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Dustin Harris, left field
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Jake Cronenworth, second base
Nick Pivetta, starting pitcher
Thoughts from Pat Murphy during Monday media availability
08:06 PM ET, October 6 2026, JR Radcliffe
Take a look at this transcript from Pat Murphy's media availability Monday when the Brewers worked out at Petco Park.
On Mason Miller possibly tipping pitches...
I'd be not telling the truth if I didn't tell you that it's part of our game today in a big way. The most important part is to make sure your pitchers, catchers, infielders, coaches, nobody's giving anything away.
So pitchers by grip, by where they stand, by if their mouth is open or closed, eyes are down, head is up, more turned, feet are a different way -- there's so many elements. Big breath, small breath, taps on the ground. There's so many ways to give away a pitch.
They're creatures of habit, so, in fact, you have to practice that and stay on that. As soon as one thing isn't a deal, then they turn their glove a little or flash in their glove a little or dig a little more. There's a science to it now.
So it's that, and then making sure infielders aren't moving early or make sure your catcher's not making the same steps defensively every time.
Coaches sign. Sometimes we give the sign from the dugout or teams do, making sure that's not picked up.
Then the base coaches you can tell because the base coaches, hitters are coming in and peeking at the base coach, and if he moves, then it's one pitch. So you have to put in time.
Now, as far as picking up other teams, there's a whole process to that, and how do you relay it from second base? And are you deking, or are you doing it for real? That's all part of the game. It's all part of it right now. And it's a big part of it that's happening.
I think we first recognized it with the Dodgers back in the day, but they say that it originated, Yankees-Red Sox way back when. I might be wrong on that. And the rules were different, and you were giving signs back then.
The Dodgers had an elaborate system of once they found out or they could kind of decipher what sign system you were using -- because there was four or five. There's usually three signs, and there was four or five different ways. Chase the two, add one, outs plus one -- there was so many ways to do it.
On his patient hitters, particularly in the ninth inning of Game 2...
You've been at both games, and you've seen that San Diego has a tremendous pitching staff. That's all there is to it, they have tremendous pitching, tremendous team. Our thing is play offense, get to first, and you can't get to first by taking pitches only, but when the stuff is as good as Miller's stuff is, it's hard to get off a swing, but especially if you're looking at a certain area. If you're looking for a certain area that he generally goes, then you've got to stay stubborn. I thought they did a great job.
On Gary Sánchez liberally using the ABS challenge system...
Kraken, he's beautiful. He's a beautiful human, man. He's been such a huge part of our journey this year.
Yeah, we always say Kraken's pinch hits are usually started by a challenge, and then we go from there. I think for position players, because he's pinch-hitting late, he knows we have one left or two. He feels like he can use them if they're close. You'd like to see hitters more on that side of it than just never challenge.
ABS is a fascinating thing. I think it's worked. It can be frustrating until you go through it as a team and realize that like, when you lose one early, that changes how aggressive you can be late. Hitters especially, and it really comes down to the right situation. To leave two of them on the board is not good either, you know what I mean?
Because there's just such a closeness with some of these, I think it's important you understand where you're at and only challenge when it's a big situation.
On starting pitcher Dustin May...
Yeah, Dustin has done some really good things. He's experienced. I really believe that he's really tough on himself. He's very critical and wants to get it right. Yeah, the best version of him is really good.
On bullpen availability, and whether guys like Drohan and Gasser will get an opportunity in Game 3...
Yeah, we've had to use a lot of bullpen. That's the way it is. You could look back and say, wow, we wish the other team didn't have the exposure to Uribe and Megill and Ashby so many times, but that's the reality of it. You're just trying to scrape to win every game.
We've got a job to do, and the two emotional wins, the way we've had them, that's part of baseball, but it's time to move on and be ready today. So all hands on deck starting tomorrow.
On the Petco atmosphere (since he managed here once)...
When I was managing the Padres as the interim, we didn't have that environment that they have today. They have built a team here that the people come out in an incredible way. I've heard people say it is the best environment in baseball.
When I was here, we were -- I took over, and we were in fifth place. We didn't move the needle that much after that. But that was 70 games into the season, and we didn't have the opportunity to have that environment like they have now. It's a huge thing.
Hat's off to A.J. and the job that the organization has done bringing in the star players the way they have and creating an environment that's very, very advantageous.
Are there other hitters in the same ultra-confident mode as Jackson Chourio?
Yeah, when you think about it, when Brauny was here, Yeli, in '18 -- '18 and '19, he was unconscious. He could call his shot, so to speak. He's not that type of guy. Yeah, there's a lot of great hitters. I don't know if I know one that was 22 that was rolling and doing what Jackson's been doing.
I think of that guy in Cleveland, talking to Vogter and stuff about like he's kind of that guy. I've never run across one better than Jack Jack. Yelly, I can think about Yelly, I think of Brauny. When Brauny was confident, forget it. It was going to be hit hard. I wasn't even in Brauny's -- the prime of his career, but he was awfully good. Awfully good hitter.
Who are the starting pitchers for Brewers and Padres in NLDS Game 3?
08:00 PM ET, October 6 2026
Game 3 features a pair of right-handed veterans with playoff experience squaring off.
Take a look at the rundown on the starters for a possible clincher for the Brewers at Petco Park on Oct. 6.
Brewers playoff roster
07:45 PM ET, October 6 2026
The Brewers announced their playoff roster for the NLDS against the Padres before Game 1 on Oct. 3.
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Pitchers (13):Aaron Ashby, Shane Drohan, Robert Gasser, DL Hall, Kyle Harrison, Logan Henderson, Dustin May, Trevor Megill, Jacob Misiorowski, JoJo Romero, Antonio Senzatela, Chad Patrick, Abner Uribe
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Catchers (2):William Contreras, Gary Sánchez
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Infielders (6):Jake Bauers, David Hamilton, Joey Ortiz, Cooper Pratt, Brice Turang, Andrew Vaughn
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Outfielders (4):Jackson Chourio, Sal Frelick, Luis Lara, Garrett Mitchell
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Designated hitter (1):Christian Yelich
Brewers vs Padres playoff schedule
07:30 PM ET, October 6 2026
Here's the full playoff schedule for the Brewers-Padres NLDS:
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Game 1:Brewers 3, Padres 2 ( Brewers lead series, 1-0 )
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Game 2:Brewers 4, Padres 3 ( Brewers lead series, 2-0)
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Game 3:Tuesday, Oct. 6, 8:30 p.m., Petco Park
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Game 4 (if necessary):Wednesday, Oct. 7, 9 p.m., Petco Park
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Game 5 (if necessary):Friday, Oct. 9, 3:30 p.m. or 7 p.m., American Family Field
What radio station is the Brewers-Padres series on?
07:15 PM ET, October 6 2026
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You can listen to the game via the Brewers Radio Network including flagship station AM-620 WTMJ. Here's a list of the radio stations .
Jeff Levering and Lane Grindle will call the games on the Brewers R
What channel is the Brewers vs Padres playoff game on tonight? TV, live stream
07:02 PM ET, October 6 2026
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TV channel:FS1
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Livestream:You can stream the game on the Fox One or Fox Sports apps. Fubo also offers a free trial for new subscribers .
What time is the Brewers vs Padres playoff game tonight? Game 3 start time
07:01 PM ET, October 6 2026
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Time:8:30 p.m.
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Date:Tuesday, Oct. 6
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Location:Petco Park, San Diego
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Brewers fall to Padres, 4-3, in tense Game 3 as NLDS series tightens
