Freddy Peralta to start Game 4 of 2025 NLDS for Brewers

Peralta, the Brewers†Opening Day starter who led the team in starts, innings, ERA and strikeouts, started — and won — Game 1 against the Cubs in Milwaukee. And he will be pitching on the standard four days†rest thanks to the extra off day between Games 1 and 2 in this series.

That made Peralta a relatively straightforward pick, although the Brewers†decision to delay an announcement with a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series left open the possibility of someone else trying to close out the Cubs in Game 4, while preserving Peralta for Game 1 of the NLCS in the best-case scenario, or for a Game 5 at home on Saturday in the worst.

“You think about everything this time of year,†Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “You just want to win. With our starting pitching the way it is right now — we’re limping in with the starting pitching. It hasn’t been our strong point.

“But we’re playing to win it all. We’re all in to win it all. In order to have Freddy for sure for two times in the next series, it was imperative — best available pitcher, let’s go.â€

Peralta and other Brewers pitchers have benefitted from extra rest in recent years, as doing that has become more the norm. More than half of Peraltaâ€s 33 starts came on five days†rest, and while the ERAs were similar, he benefited in other areas.

Four days’ rest
• 17 starts
• 5-2, 2.59 ERA
• .235/.317/.329
• .646 OPS

Five days†rest
• 17 starts
• 10-2, 2.65 ERA
• .170/.257/.339
• .597 OPS

Six-plus days†rest
• Four starts
• 2-2, 3.22 ERA
• .165/.239/.266
• .504 OPS

The present moment, however, made Peralta a clear pick — even if the game is in Chicago. Because Game 1 of the NLCS is not until Monday, he could still theoretically start Games 2 and 5 on four days†rest should the Brewers advance to the next round, and he would be available in relief for a potential Game 7 on two days†rest if the Brewers really want to push it.

“I think this time of year he understands what we’re doing,†Murphy said. “Best foot forward, and deal with tomorrow tomorrow. But best foot forward today. Can he go on four [days†rest]? The answer is yes. Does he want to pitch? Yes. Bam. Does he understand the big picture? Yes.â€

Injured Brewers right-hander Brandon Woodruff added after Game 1: “We need to win every game he starts, we really do. Then we can piece stuff together. But if he can drive the bus for us, itâ€s going to take us a long ways.â€

Of course, the Brewers have to get past this NLDS first. The Cubs and their Game 4 starter, Matthew Boyd, will have something to say about that.

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