SAN DIEGO — Freddy Peralta already was important to the Brewers†hopes of reversing their recent postseason heartbreaks and playing deep into October. Now, with everything happening around him in Milwaukeeâ€s uncertain starting rotation, heâ€s even more important.
Peralta reached the 200th strikeout plateau for the third straight season.
The back-and-forth final innings showed how fun a Brewers-Padres NLDS could be. But the early innings were indicative of the way the teams went into Monday with slightly different priorities, the Brewers beginning to taper Peraltaâ€s pitch count to freshen him for October and the Padres pushing their vaunted bullpen to the limit in order to formally clinch a postseason berth with Mondayâ€s win.
Before the end of his 76-pitch allotment, Peralta became the third pitcher in Brewers history with at least three seasons of 200-plus strikeouts, joining Yovani Gallardo (four in a row from 2009-12) and former teammate Corbin Burnes (three in a row from 2021-23).
“That comes from being able to pitch all the time and stay consistent in the work that I have to put in every five days,†Peralta said.
Did knowing he might meet the Padres again in less than two weeks alter his approach?
“No,†he said. “I just went out there to compete.â€
Peralta left the game with the Brewers leading, 3-2, before it turned into the sort of loss that highlights the little things. Brewers reliever Nick Mears lamented walking a pair of batters before surrendering the tying run in the seventh inning. Jackson Chourio made a regrettable swing decision on a 2-0 pitch in the 11th that wound up altering his at-bat on the way to a double play and a scoreless inning that positioned the Padres to walk it off.
But there were plenty of good things, like Brice Turangâ€s dash home for the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, and highlight-worthy defense from both teams. The Brewers nearly won in the 10th when Andruw Monasterio had a chance for what would have been an incredible game-ending double play, but it wasnâ€t to be.
“Iâ€m proud of our guys for not just showing up and saying, ‘Well, weâ€ve clinched a bye, we won the division,†and showing up and playing as hard as they did,†Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “That touched me. That was special. Guys were disappointed we didnâ€t win. I am, too.â€
Peralta allowed the two runs on four hits with one walk and six strikeouts, ending his night with a scare when Padres star Manny Machado hit a flyout to the warning track in center field to finish the fifth. Through 32 starts, Peralta has a 2.68 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 174 2/3 innings. He is scheduled for one more shortened start before the end of the regular season.
Heâ€s the easy choice to start Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 4, no matter which team winds up being the opponent. And getting Peralta to that game in good health is a top priority for the Brewers, who wonâ€t have Woodruff or veteran left-hander Jose Quintana (left calf strain) for the remainder of the season and have ruled out using Misiorowski as a starter in the NLDS.
“Itâ€s very sad,†Peralta said of the Woodruff news. “I donâ€t know yet how bad it is. Iâ€m giving him time because I donâ€t want to make him think more about what his situation is right now. But itâ€s really sad because we are very close, we are friends and I know how hard he worked to come back. … For the team, itâ€s a huge loss because we know how great he is and what he was doing for us. But we have to move forward.â€
Peralta will lead the way forward.
“Heâ€s been our ace from Day 1. Very few blips on the screen for a guy who is 32 [starts] in,†Murphy said.
Murphy and the Brewers are trying to figure out ways to navigate this series against the Padres knowing the teams might square off again with even higher stakes in the NLDS. They are also trying to play hard over the final six games of the regular season, knowing that the No. 1 seed in the NL and overall in MLB is still in play, while also keeping their players rested and ready for the postseason.
“You have to thread the needle a little bit,†Murphy said. “You canâ€t be ridiculous about how you go about it because youâ€re not in desperation mode, but youâ€re in ‘win tonight†mode — thatâ€s all there is to it. If youâ€re undermanned or you’re injured or your guys are not available, so what? Every team goes through it.
“Itâ€s our journey to 162. Weâ€re grateful, weâ€re fortunate, weâ€re thankful. But at the same time, youâ€ve got to keep your foot to the pedal.â€
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