Misiorowski to Open NLDS as Brewers Host Red-Hot Padres
Milwaukee's ability to use ace Jacob Misiorowski twice is a key strategic advantage that could blunt San Diego's late-season power surge.
Overview
- The National League Division Series begins Saturday, Oct. 3, at American Family Field in Milwaukee with Jacob Misiorowski scheduled to start Game 1.
- Milwaukee finished the regular season with the best record in baseball and features deep starting pitching anchored by Misiorowski, who went 16-5 with a 1.80 ERA and an average 100 mph fastball.
- San Diego enters the series as baseball's hottest team after a late offensive flip led by Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill and finished the regular season with 183 home runs, 29 more than Milwaukee.
- The Padres advanced by beating the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card round, a series that included Tatis homering on the first pitch he saw, and San Diego also relies on an October-tested bullpen with weapons such as Mason Miller.
- National pundits overwhelmingly favor the Brewers—ESPN's expert poll had 22 of 24 picking Milwaukee—but most analysts predict a close matchup that could go the full five games and come down to Milwaukee using Misiorowski twice and San Diego holding late-inning leads.