As the Brewers get ready to line up against the defending back-to-back World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, Pat Murphy is keeping his attention on the kind of player who can swing October. With Christian Yelich set for a new role, Murphy also looked back at what his club took from the 2025 NLCS and made it clear he expects another big postseason stretch from Jackson Chourio.
In an interview with MLB Network Radio, Murphy didn’t hide how he feels about the young left fielder.
“Jack Jack is special, and just hanging around him, you'll see what we're talking about. There's a smile on his face, he's the same every single day…He's a special talent, takes pride in his game, should win the Gold Glove this year, and he's a tremendous hitter. All three games we won, he played a pivotal role offensively, in the San Diego series, so his October is heating up.”
Chourio is tied with William Contreras and Bryce Turang for the most at-bats on the Brewers this postseason with 16. By his regular-season standards, the bat hasn’t fully taken off, but he has still delivered when it mattered most, leading Milwaukee with six runs batted in. He has struck out only once in those 16 at-bats and has also worked a walk while playing the outfield.
His walk-off hit off Padres star Mason Miller in the NLDS already has a place in postseason lore, and now he gets another shot at the Dodgers. Milwaukee has homefield advantage, but it enters as a clear underdog, which only sharpens the spotlight on players like Chourio and the chance to build a bigger October résumé.
In Other News...
Brewers Get An Early Miguel Rojas Read Before NLCS Opener
Miguel Rojas gave the Dodgers a meaningful early sign as they approached the National League Championship Series, getting back on the field for batting practice and ground balls after the back injury that forced him out of the NLDS. Dave Roberts said the issue is not expected to keep the infielder out of the next round, which matters for a Los Angeles team still fine-tuning its roster before opening the series against Milwaukee.
The Dodgers plan to keep evaluating Rojas before the NLCS opener, so the final call is still ahead even if the early indicators are encouraging. Roster construction is part of the equation too, with Los Angeles leaning toward carrying a 13th pitcher and likely trimming a position player, another small but relevant detail as the Brewers prepare to see which version of the Dodgers theyll be facing. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers NLCS Roster Leaves One High-Stakes Pitching Twist To Watch
With the National League Championship Series set to open against the Dodgers, the Brewers have turned in a roster that reflects both their usual balance and the urgency of October. Milwaukee is carrying the expected mix of infielders, outfielders, catchers and pitchers, and the club enters the series with a bullpen that has had several days to reset. That gives the Brewers a little more flexibility than they might normally have this time of year, especially when it comes to deciding how to handle middle relief in the most important spots.
The most interesting wrinkle now is how Milwaukee lines up its pitching after the initial wave of the series. The Brewers have already mapped out their starting plan for the first three games, but the way they use the rest of the staff could shape the tone of the matchup just as much as the names on the lineup card. Against a Dodgers club that can force managers to make decisions early, every lever matters, and the Brewers still have at least one high-stakes pitching choice hanging over the series. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Woodruff Just Created A Brewers Roster Dilemma For October
Brandon Woodruff took a notable step in his comeback from a right shoulder injury this week, getting back on a mound for the first time as he works toward a possible late-October return. For a Brewers club with bigger immediate concerns, it still matters because Woodruff is trying to build himself back into a relief option if Milwaukee keeps advancing, and every bullpen session from here carries a little more weight than usual.
The next stretch will help determine how realistic that path is, with more mound work ahead and a possible live batting practice session if his arm responds well. It has been a good October for Brewers storylines off the field too, with Pratt even getting rewarded by Coca-Cola after his NL Division Series celebration with Fanta, but Woodruff's recovery is the one that could actually reshape the roster if the Brewers need another arm in the months ahead. [Read more 🡒]