It’s quite literally now or never for the Milwaukee Brewers as they head into Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. After the Diamondbacks were able to strike against Corbin Burnes and keep the offense flowing in their 6-3 victory, everything is on the line tonight.
Starting Pitching for the Brewers and Diamondbacks
It was announced on Tuesday night that Freddy Peralta would be starting Game 2 for the crew. The Brewers will turn to Peralta after Brandon Woodruff was announced as out of the series due to a shoulder injury. In Peralta’s last start on Sept. 23, it wasn’t one of his best outings; He allowed nine hits, four earned runs, and two home runs in three innings of work.
However, he did end his regular season with a 12-10 record and, 3.83 ERA over 165.2 innings of work. His 210 strikeouts were ranked fifth in the National League. This start will mark Peralta’s second playoff start for the Brewers. In 2021, he pitched five innings in a 3-0 Brewers loss against the Atlanta Braves in Game 3 of the NLDS.
Arizona will have Zac Gallen on the mound Wednesday. Gallen has been a favorite for the Cy Young Award after placing fifth last year. He appears to rank among the top in the National League in nearly every category: 17 wins (2nd), 220 strikeouts (3rd), 4.4 WAR (4th), and 3.47 ERA (7th) in 210 innings of work, which is ranked second in the NL.
The last time Gallen started against the Brewers, he held the team to only three hits in a 5-1 victory, and earlier in the season, struck out 11 to shut out Milwaukee 3-0. Hopefully, the Gallen magic isn’t all there tonight, otherwise, the Brewers can consider their season over.
In a best-of-three series, the bats need to come alive.
The Brewers were able to score three runs last night, this mostly thanks to a Tyrone Taylor two-run bomb in the second inning. Other than that, that’s all they were able to muster up. There were times the crew left the bases loaded, unable to capitalize on those moments.
What could’ve been a game-tying moment turned into an Evan Longoria Gold Glove moment when he made a diving catch on a Tyrone Taylor hit that probably would’ve driven in one, if not two runs.
Taylor said it was pure disbelief. He couldn’t believe that Longoria made a catch like that, but, it is Evan Longoria we’re talking about, he’s been doing this for years.
“He’s been doing it since I was a little kid,” said Taylor. “I’ve watched that man do that, so I shouldn’t have been in that much disbelief.”
He knew it. Instantly.@tyrone_taylor15 X #BrewedForBattle pic.twitter.com/nwxEfHaEn2
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 3, 2023
Challenges were not on the Brewers’ side on Tuesday, either. Brice Turang had been sent to first base after the home plate umpire ruled he was hit by a pitch, which brought the score to 4-4, but after the Diamondbacks’ challenge, it was ruled that Turang actually wasn’t hit by the pitch, and was sent back to the plate and the Brewers were down a run.
Then, Christian Yelich made a turn around second and slid back in the sixth inning, initially being called safe at the plate. But after review, even with the impressive swim move, Yelich was called out and the Diamondbacks retained their challenge again.
The Brewers had 12 hits, four walks, and a hit that only amounted to three runs. They were also 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
“I think it’s pretty simple. It’s a do-or-die game,” pitcher Devin Williams said. “We need to come out and play our best game.”
How to Watch:
Wednesday’s game will begin at 6:08PM CST, you can tune in on ESPN2, or listen on the radio on 620 WTMJ. The Brewers face elimination for the fourth consecutive time in five years, let’s hope for the best.
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