Garrett Mitchell turned one of the biggest plays of Milwaukee’s NLDS clincher into something that looks like it belongs in a museum.
On Wednesday night in San Diego, the Brewers closed out the Padres with a tight road win in Game 4 and punched their ticket to the NLCS. The payoff is a matchup with the Los Angeles Dodgers, with a World Series berth now hanging in the balance.
The moment everyone will remember came in the eighth inning, when Manny Machado sent a deep drive toward the seats that seemed headed for a game-tying homer. Mitchell got there in time, reached up, and hauled it in before it could land in the bleachers.
The catch didn’t just save the game. It became art.
Machado could only head back to the dugout in disbelief, while the Padres fans behind the play were left stunned and frustrated. Mitchell’s grab had the kind of clean, dramatic finish that made it feel larger than life.
Milwaukee didn’t exactly coast through the series, either. The Brewers won all three games by slim margins, a run of close calls that should only strengthen the belief that this group can handle October pressure.
Next comes a much bigger test. The Dodgers are waiting, and they arrive as the reigning two-time World Series champions. They also swept Milwaukee in last year’s NLCS.
Los Angeles advanced by beating the Atlanta Braves in four games, though the source notes the Dodgers are not at full strength, with Shohei Ohtani looking like a shell of himself because of a series of injuries and rust.
The NLCS between the Brewers and Dodgers is set to begin Sunday in Milwaukee.
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William Contreras Just Put Brewers Fans On Notice About His Future
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For a Brewers team that has leaned on him heavily, the longer-view conversation now matters almost as much as the October at-bats. Contreras said in an interview that he will be a free agent after the 2027 season unless he signs an extension, and he acknowledged some uncertainty about whether his future will remain in Milwaukee. For a fan base that has grown used to seeing him in the lineup and in the middle of big moments, it is the kind of update that keeps the attention on what he does now while quietly raising the question of what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Murphys Live Playoff Reaction Captured Brewers Fans Frustration
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For Milwaukee, it was the kind of play that summed up an inning, a game and maybe a series, all at once. The Brewers still had a chance to finish the sweep, but San Diego held on for a 4-3 win, and Murphys interrupted reaction only underscored how quickly the night swung away from Milwaukee. [Read more 🡒]
Pat Murphy's Game 4 Pitching Choice Could Decide The Brewers' Season
After dropping the first three games of the National League Division Series, the Brewers are staring at a Game 4 decision that could shape the tone of the rest of their October. Pat Murphy has not announced a starter yet, and the question around who gets the ball has become one of the most important calls left on Milwaukees board.
Robert Gasser and Chad Patrick are both in the mix, with Kyle Harrisons role still unclear after some uneven recent work. Gasser has trended up lately, while Patrick has been mostly effective aside from one rough outing late in the season, giving Murphy a pair of very different options as he tries to keep Milwaukee alive. [Read more 🡒]