“I think we had a really good approach going into this game,” Brewers third baseman Caleb Durbin said. “I think everybody was feeling really good. We obviously wanted to shut the door today, but we have a couple more shots at it to close the door. You want to do it tomorrow and not leave it to a Game 5, but it’s one pitch at a time.”
Cubs: The Cubs have not revealed their Game 4 starter, but veteran Matthew Boyd (14-8, 3.21 ERA) was at his locker after Wednesday’s win and said he hoped to have the ball in his hand at some point. If Boyd does pitch in Game 4, it would be on four days of rest, putting him on more of a regular schedule. The lefty took the ball in Game 1 of the NLDS on just three days of rest after starting Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Padres. Boyd was solid against San Diego (4 1/3 innings with one run allowed), but recorded just two outs and was charged with six runs (two earned) in the Cubs’ 9-3 loss to the Brewers to begin this series. Boyd could have an advantage pitching at home, where he went 12-1 with a 2.51 ERA in 15 starts this season. He was an All-Star this year thanks to a strong start, which included a 2.20 ERA in his first 20 turns. If not Boyd, the Cubs could potentially go with an opener and have the lefty cover bulk innings out of the bullpen.
Brewers: The Brewers opted to keep their Game 4 pitching plans to themselves on Wednesday evening, but the most obvious candidate is their ace, Freddy Peralta, who tied the Brewers’ franchise record for a postseason game by striking out nine in 5 2/3 high-quality innings in Game 1 of this series. He would be starting on four days of rest, or what used to qualify as “regular” rest. But now, with the plethora of technology reading spin rates and break, teams more often use five days as the standard of “regular” rest, leaving open the possibility of cobbling together another bullpen game with some of their many multi-inning relievers. Aaron Ashby, who started Game 2 as an opener, warmed up several times in Game 3 but didn’t pitch, so he’s one option. Rookie left-hander Robert Gasser can also provide length if needed at some point of Game 4.
Cubs: With a righty on the mound, the Cubs have gone with the same lineup for Game 1 and Game 3. That formula would have Michael Busch in the leadoff spot, where he has already launched two first-inning homers in this series. In Game 2, when Milwaukee went with a lefty opener, Cubs manager Craig Counsell had veteran Justin Turner lead off, but brought Busch into the game soon after.
Cubs: The Cubs’ bullpen is in great shape thanks to the off-day on Tuesday before Game 3 and no one in the bullpen throwing more than 19 pitches in the win over Milwaukee on Wednesday. In an ideal world, Counsell would get at least 12 outs from his starter, which would allow him to line things up for his main late-inning arms (righties Daniel Palencia, Andrew Kittredge and Brad Keller, and lefties Caleb Thielbar and Drew Pomeranz). Michael Soroka is also available, as well as long men Ben Brown, Aaron Civale and Colin Rea.
Brewers: After a bullpen game in Game 2, the Brewers had to cover 7 1/3 innings in relief of Quinn Priester in Game 3, but they are still in good shape thanks to the off-days between Games 1, 2 and 3 of this series. It also helped that Jose Quintana delivered three-plus innings in Game 3. His outing allowed the Brewers to stay away from Ashby, Trevor Megill and Abner Uribe among others on Wednesday.
Cubs: Tucker missed three-plus weeks in September due to a left calf strain and has remained in the DH role since returning in the final homestand of the regular season. While Counsell has not ruled out having Tucker play the outfield, there is no real urgency on that front right now. Suzuki has played well in right field during the playoffs and Tucker is continuing to get back to full strength with his running. … Righty Cade Horton (15-day injured list, right rib fracture) threw off a mound on Tuesday and might be cleared for a heavier bullpen session later this week. He was technically eligible to be activated for a Game 5 scenario, but Counsell has ruled that out as an option. Unless there is a change in plans, the Cubs would need to move on to the NL Championship Series before considering activating Horton.
Cubs: Busch has hit .300 with three homers and a 1.114 OPS so far this postseason. He is the first player in MLB history to have two leadoff homers in the same series (two in this NLDS). … Hoerner has hit at a .391 (9-for-23) clip in the playoffs after having a .333 average in September. … Happ (2-for-21) and Shaw (0-for-12) have been cold at the plate so far in the postseason.
Brewers: Contreras has hit safely in seven of his last eight postseason games with a .343 on-base percentage after going 1-for-3 with a walk in Game 3. That goes back to the Brewers-Diamondbacks NL Wild Card Series in 2023. Contreras is 5-for-12 so far in this series. … Turang and Frelick are a combined 4-for-23 so far in this series. Frelick has yet to strike out but Turang has struck out six times in his first 12 at-bats of the NLDS.