The Brewers are one win from the World Series, and that’s exactly why Game 4 calls for a little more aggression, not less.
With Los Angeles set to start right-hander Tyler Glasnow on Thursday night, Milwaukee should go right back to what has worked all postseason: stack the left-handed bats, force uncomfortable matchups, and keep pressure on from the first inning on. The Brewers already showed in Game 3 that they’re willing to shuffle the board when the matchup demands it. Now they should do it again.
Milwaukee’s Game 3 lineup featured Jackson Chourio leading off in left, followed by Brice Turang, William Contreras, Andrew Vaughn, Jake Bauers, Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara and Joey Ortiz. Vaughn, Lara and Ortiz stepped in for Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick and David Hamilton, and all three held their own.
But Glasnow changes the equation. The Brewers need Yelich back in the lineup, along with Frelick and Hamilton.
A lineup built around those pieces would give Milwaukee the kind of left-right balance it has leaned on throughout this postseason. Yelich belongs there.
He was even used as a pinch-runner for Vaughn on Wednesday, and he was on the bases when Jake Bauers delivered the go-ahead blast late.
Frelick matters here too. He adds another lefty bat near the bottom of the order, and that’s part of the recipe Milwaukee has used to keep pressure on opposing pitchers.
Hamilton brings a different kind of threat, one the Brewers have already seen pay off. In Game 2, he went 2-for-3 with three runs scored and two stolen bases.
That kind of speed has been a weapon for Milwaukee all postseason long.
A look at the lineup could make sense like this: Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, William Contreras, Jake Bauers, Christian Yelich, Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, Sal Frelick and David Hamilton.
The Brewers’ position is obvious: they’re in great shape, but they are not there yet. One more win is still required.
Thursday is not the night to ease up. It’s the night to load up on lefties, attack Glasnow early, and try to get to the Dodgers’ bullpen, a group Milwaukee has already had success against.
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