What Happened
The San Diego Padres are turning to veteran right-hander Walker Buehler for Wednesday night's crucial Game 4 of the NLDS against the Milwaukee Brewers.
San Diego had to empty the tank in Game 3, calling on Game 2 starter Michael King to pitch the final two innings just days after a heavy workload. The Padres also activated closer Mason Miller from the paternity list, bolstering a bullpen that faces heavy fatigue after a grueling stretch.
On the other side, the Milwaukee Brewers are handing the ball to 27-year-old left-hander Robert Gasser. Milwaukee is fighting to break a 12-game postseason road losing streak—dating back to 2018—and avoid elimination in a high-stakes divisional battle.
Why It Matters
History suggests the team that drops the first two games and fights back to win Game 3 has a fighting chance. In past best-of-five series, teams in Milwaukee’s exact position bounce back to force a Game 5 roughly 46% of the time.
For the Brewers, a loss means elimination, while a win sets up a dramatic Game 5. However, burning pitching depth now could complicate their plans for the upcoming NLCS if they manage to advance.
Pitching and Lineup Outlook
Buehler enters the contest with a stellar 3.04 ERA across 19 career postseason outings. Recently activated from the paternity list, the veteran relies less on raw velocity now and more on veteran guile to navigate tough lineups.
Milwaukee counters with Gasser, who finished the regular season strong with a 1.67 ERA over his final six outings. Brewers manager Pat Murphy has continuously shuffled his lineup this series, keeping Brice Turang in the cleanup spot and bumping Christian Yelich up to No. 2 after a strong multi-hit performance in Game 3.
Meanwhile, San Diego’s offense features Manny Machado continuing a blistering postseason tear (.375 OPS), even as Fernando Tatis Jr. looks to break out of a recent slump at the top of the order.
What's Next
Game 4 airs nationally at 7 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. CT on FS1, FOX Deportes, and FOX One. With bullpens heavily taxed on both sides, early run production and starting pitcher longevity will likely decide which team punches their ticket forward and which season comes to an abrupt end.
