4 Brewers Who Need to Step Up in NLDS Game 4

Today is a new day. Tuesday night’s loss is in the past, and the Milwaukee Brewers have another chance to secure their spot in the NLCS tonight. In order for that to happen, though, certain players are going to have to play an important role. 

Whether it’s getting the offense going, shutting down the Padres late, or simply making the routine plays, the Brewers need some of their key players to step up. Here are four who need to do exactly that in Game 4 if Milwaukee wants to end the series tonight.

Brice Turang

After struggling mightily during the 2025 postseason, Turang finds himself in a similar spot once again through the first three games of this NLDS. He started the series with an 0-for-10 at the plate, with just one walk to his name.

However, Turang’s final two plate appearances last night might have been exactly what he needed to get himself going. In the seventh inning, he reached on a bloop single into the outfield, which is about as classic a slump-buster as you can find. Then, in the ninth, he worked a six-pitch walk against Michael King. Neither plate appearance was spectacular, but getting on base twice late in the game could be enough to help Turang turn things around.

San Diego will start right-hander Walker Buehler in Game 4, and while the sample size is extremely small, Turang has had some success against him. In five career plate appearances, he’s 1-for-4 with a triple and a walk. Tonight feels like the night Turang finally comes through for this Brewers offense.

Garrett Mitchell

Through the first three games of the series, Mitchell has gone 2-for-11 at the plate. That’s not horrible, in such a small sample size. But there’s one number that stands out: six of his nine outs have come via the strikeout. That’s not going to cut it for a player who’s been hitting right behind the heart of Milwaukee’s lineup against right-handed pitching. If anything, too, the numbers undersell his struggles. He's looked overmatched in several key at-bats.

With Buehler getting the start for San Diego tonight, there’s a good chance Pat Murphy will once again slot Mitchell into that same spot in the order. If the Brewers’ best hitters can get on base, Mitchell is going to have opportunities to drive them in. It’s time for him to take advantage of them. Like Turang, Mitchell has also had some success against Buehler in a very small sample. He’s gone 1-for-3 against the right-hander, while also drawing a pair of walks. Buehler won't work all that deep, though. Mitchell needs to cash in against the San Diego bullpen if the chance comes. He's unlikely to see Yuki Matsui for a third time in this series, but he could see Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, or Jason Adam for a second time—or even Bradgley Rodriguez for a third. He's gotten his looks. It's time to get his licks.

Trevor Megill

The Brewers’ closer hasn’t pitched since Game 2 on Sunday, and with an off day coming before a potential Game 5 on Friday, the odds are pretty good that Pat Murphy is going to get him into this game at some point.

Megill pitched extremely well in the first two games of the series. He earned the save in Game 1 before picking up the win in Game 2, throwing 2 1/3 combined scoreless innings along the way. Both of those appearances came in the ninth inning, but Milwaukee could be a little more creative with how they use him tonight.

If the Brewers have a tight game in the seventh or eighth inning with the top of San Diego’s order coming up, don’t be surprised if Megill trots out of the bullpen a little earlier than usual. This is the postseason. There’s no reason to save your best reliever for a save situation if the highest-leverage spot is setting up the guy throwing the ninth. Besides, Abner Uribe did work in Game 3, so he might be down in Game 4. Megill might be asked for six outs, or at least to provide a bridge to a closeout by Logan Henderson (who's on his throw day and might be available in relief).

Cooper Pratt

The 22-year-old shortstop has been fine at the plate through the first three games of the NLDS, going 3-for-11 with three singles. He hasn't exactly been a difference-maker offensively, but he also hasn't been a problem. Defensively, however, it’s been a different story.

Pratt played some strong defense at shortstop during the regular season, but he’s already committed a pair of throwing errors in this series. Unfortunately, the second one came at a particularly costly time last night, allowing the game-winning insurance run to score.

Pratt's a young player playing in his first postseason, and one costly throw doesn’t erase everything he did during the regular season. Nor was all the fault on that play his; Jake Bauers could (and probably should) have picked it. But Milwaukee needs more from their shortstop defensively tonight.

The Brewers are one win away from the NLCS. If they want to get there tonight, they’re going to need contributions from plenty of different players. Turang and Mitchell need to find a way to get the offense going. Megill needs to be ready whenever his number is called, and Pratt needs to make the routine plays at short. Do those things, and Milwaukee has a very good chance to put this series away tonight.

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