ReverendBrewmeister

That's a very fair question and that other posters might be able to make a better case, but here's why Kiner-Falefa seems to be a target: (1) Salary Cost: He is within a price range that the Brewers seem to make free agent signings at. (2) Availability: During the last trade deadline time period, he was on the Pittsburgh roster, a team that was definitely a seller in 2025 and probably should have sold more. Additionally, there weren't any real great shortstop candidates in the 2025 trade market (3) Versatility: He is capable of being a starting shortstop but is probably more of a utility player. When thinking of the holes on the Brewers roster midseason in 2025, that seemed to be the issue: trying to upgrade from Ortiz–potentially also from Durbin–in the starting lineup, while also being a capable bench player if he was taking Monasterio's spot on the roster. (4) Potential Contract Length: He has been playing on shorter contracts. He was signed for 2 years/$15 million in Pittsburgh. If he were signed to a similar deal for 2026 & 2027, that wouldn't block the Brewers elite prospects at shortstop (Pratt, Made, Peña) coming through the system. So I don't think there's a clamoring for Kiner-Falefa among posters, other than looking for the least rotten apple towards the bottom of the barrel. Kim would be a better signing, but would he sign for what the Brewers might pay for a free agent?

If Kim does decline the player option, it would be Interesting to see if he might be a signable to a one-year contract for what would be the second year after his injury. Maybe even a two-year contract. It's worth looking into, though I don't anticipate it happening. I know that it wouldn't be a major needle moving signing, but I'd even consider looking at Kiner-Falefa on a one-year contract to help push Ortiz/fill the void, while not blocking any potential development of Pratt and others for the longterm shortstop position.

Quick bottom of the 8th. Didn’t have Uribe sitting long. He needs to come out dealing.

Another zero from the bullpen. Tack on at least one more insurance run.

Uribe needs to gather himself and dial in. Gotta be an adrenaline rush.

Murphy: “Need insurance runs.” Turang: “You rang?”

Insurance runs, please.

Indeed. Though finishing in 9 innings with a comfortable lead would be more than acceptable. Don't know if the members of this forum could survive a 9th inning walk off, let alone a 15-inning game.

Before that, it was the three-game sweep at Texas (SEP 8–10). So it's been awhile since they lost three games in a row where they were using the roster more like games where the result truly mattered.

“Momentum is only as good as the next day’s starter." (Attributed to Earl Weaver.) That seems to be the issue in these games. Cubs had a disastrous start in Game 1, but followed it up with a bad start in Game 2. But then the Brewers had consecutive starts from Priester and Peralta in Games 3 and 4 that set both those games into holes that weren't climbed out of. Who knows what the start of Game 5 will be like. But if whoever starts can actually get through 1–3 innings without giving up runs, that will turn the whole matter. But both teams can be thinking the same thing, based on how the first four games have gone.

I'd think maybe ask Chad Patrick to start on Saturday and just try to air it out for two innings. Maybe they can get two-plus or three innings out of him. Then you could have Miz and Quintana as potential pitchers for that 3rd--6th Inning range. Mears would be the "break glass in case of emergency" guy for the early frames. But the offense needs to show up in a big way for Game 5.

It's definitely pocket flask time.

That 4th run may be a bridge too far for the Brewers offense tonight.

Wriggled off the hook for another zero against the Cubs offense.

Needed runs there. Tossed away the opportunity.

Ortiz got the runners over. Yelich needs to drive them in.

The pattern of shutting down the Cubs offense after the 1st Inning is starting to hold true again in Game 4. Need to take advantage of that.

Need one of the 2025 season 4-run innings to spring out of nothing.

Heavy pitch count again for Peralta in the 2nd, but at least it was a zero on the board. Brewers hitters need to make Boyd work in the 3rd.

Dodgers just walked off ("erred off") the Phillies to clinch that series.

With that pitch rate from Peralta in the 1st Inning, there's a good chance this ends up more-or-less a bullpen game unless he can dial it in for the rest of his start. Will need a couple quick innings. Offense has to pick up the starting pitcher again in Game 4, like in Games 2 and 3.

Well, that blows. 3-run bomb for Happ.

Need the quicker put-aways when Peralta gets to 0-2 or 1-2 on the Cubs hitters. Got the first one with Busch.

Need Turang and Frelick to get clicking on offense again.

Peralta vs. Boyd Let's see a repeat of the Game 1 results.