Brewers Chase NLDS Sweep as Padres Face Elimination in Game Three
The Milwaukee Brewers hold a two-to-zero lead over the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series and can advance to the NLCS with a victory on Tuesday at Petco Park. Game 3 gets underway at 9:30 p.m. EDT, with right-handers Dustin May starting for Milwaukee and Nick Pivetta taking the mound for San Diego.
Milwaukee enters Tuesday’s matchup after claiming consecutive one-run victories at home during the opening games of the series. The Brewers finished the regular season with a 103-59 record, going 48-33 on the road, while San Diego went 91-71 overall and 51-30 at home. FanDuel lists the Padres as a 135-dollar favorite with the over-under set at seven runs.
Late-Inning Drama Sets Up High Stakes in San Diego
In Game 1, San Diego’s Ty France hit a high drive to left field that struck a roof cable before Jackson Chourio caught it for the second out, keeping the ball live under stadium ground rules as Milwaukee secured the win. Game 2 featured further late-game tension when the Padres asked All-Star closer Mason Miller to record six outs for the first time all season. After a scoreless eighth, Miller walked the bases loaded in the ninth, and Chourio delivered a game-winning two-run single up the middle with two outs.
Padres manager Craig Stammen acknowledged that asking Miller to work more than one inning created difficulties. “I think that’s definitely something strategy-wise that we were very comfortable with going into the game but something going forward that we may have to adjust as the playoffs go,” Stammen told CBS Sports. Meanwhile, San Diego third baseman Manny Machado pointed to historical precedent to keep morale high. Machado learned on Monday that the 1984 Padres also fell behind two games to none in the NLCS before winning three straight against the Chicago Cubs to reach the World Series. “Listen, man, sports is a crazy game,” Machado said.
Pitching Matchups and Lineup Performance in Game Three
Dustin May takes the ball for Milwaukee holding a 7-9 record and a 4.70 ERA across the regular season, which includes a stint with the St. Louis Cardinals before a trade-deadline acquisition. May surrendered just one run over seven innings against San Diego on August 12 and threw a one-hit shutout against them on June 15 while pitching for St. Louis. Nick Pivetta counters for San Diego, carrying a 3-2 record and a 2.86 ERA into his second postseason appearance this autumn after tossing three and one-third innings of one-run ball against the Cubs in the wild-card round. Christian Yelich holds a 7-for-18 batting average with two home runs against Pivetta in past meetings.
Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy emphasized that his club remains fully focused despite holding the series advantage. “You’re just trying to scrape to win every game,” Murphy told CBS Sports on Monday. “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.”
Frequently Asked Questions About the National League Division Series
What are the pitching rotation details for Game 3?
Dustin May starts for the Milwaukee Brewers, and Nick Pivetta takes the ball for the San Diego Padres. May posted a 3.14 ERA across 16 career appearances against San Diego, while Pivetta went 3-2 with a 2.86 ERA during the regular season.
How did Jackson Chourio perform in the first two games?
Jackson Chourio drove in the game-winning run in the ninth inning of Game 2 with a two-run single up the middle and also caught a critical live ball off a roof cable during the ninth inning of Game 1.
What is the regular-season head-to-head record between Milwaukee and San Diego?
The two teams played nine times during the regular season, splitting those games evenly with four wins apiece before meeting in the postseason.
Not the ideal position you want to be in. But these boys, this group, we’ve been up against the wall all year. A lot of people didn’t think we would be in this position to begin with, and here we are.
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