The Brewers didn’t get to 103 wins by living and dying with the long ball, and Game 3 showed exactly why. Milwaukee can beat you with power when it has to, then turn around and win with pressure, movement, and one smart decision after another.
William Contreras LAUNCHES this ball for the solo HR 🚀
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) October 7, 2026
Brewers make it a 2-1 game! pic.twitter.com/pg7t5W0OhL
That formula helped them climb back against the Padres after falling behind 2-0. William Contreras opened the door in the fourth inning, cutting the deficit in half with a 365-foot solo homer off Nick Pivetta. The three-time All-Star catcher gave the Brewers’ offense a jolt and eased some of the burden on starter Dustin May, especially with Milwaukee having a tough time breaking through against San Diego.
Contreras’ postseason numbers have never matched his regular-season profile - he entered with a .211 average and a .639 OPS in his first 20 playoff games - but he remains one of the key pieces on baseball’s most statistically dominant team. Milwaukee finished last in the NL with 154 home runs this season, yet Contreras still brings plenty of punch, carrying a career .272 average along with five seasons of 17 or more homers.
The Brewers then leaned back into what they do best. After consecutive singles and a sacrifice bunt in the fifth, Jackson Chourio sent a fly ball to shallow left. Dustin Harris made the catch, but Cooper Pratt broke for the plate and scored to tie it at 2-2.
San Diego answered again, this time on a Jake Cronenworth home run, but Milwaukee has made a habit of striking when the moment looks biggest. Contreras already has two hits, and if he delivers one more, the Brewers could be pouring champagne in the visitors’ clubhouse.
In Other News...
William Contreras Just Put Brewers Fans On Notice About His Future
William Contreras has been at the center of Milwaukees NLDS push against the Padres, giving the Brewers the kind of middle-order production that can change a short series in a hurry. He delivered important home runs in Games 1 and 3, a reminder of just how much value he has brought since arriving in Milwaukee in 2022, when he quickly established himself as one of the clubs most durable everyday players with more than 140 games played each season.
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
Pat Murphy was in the middle of a live interview during Game 3 of the NLDS when the moment every Brewers fan dreaded came flying into view. Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill slid to make a catch on Sal Frelicks drive, turning what looked like a loud extra-base hit into an abrupt defensive standout and stopping Murphy cold in real time.
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 🡒]