Jacob Misiorowski will be on the NLDS roster, plus other takeaways from the Brewers’ workout day
Milwaukee Brewers players look ahead to 2025 MLB playoffs
Milwaukee Brewers stars Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio and Freddy Peralta look ahead to the 2025 NLDS playoffs with Game 1 of their series against the Chicago Cubs set for Oct. 4.
Jacob Misiorowski is on the roster.
The Milwaukee Brewers have not yet announced which 26 players they will carry into Game 1 of the National League Division Series on Oct. 4 against the Chicago Cubs, but general manager Matt Arnold confirmed his flamethrowing right-hander will be “part of that” despite his volatile finish to the regular season.
“In terms of the roster, we put in a lot of hours talking about it and I think in some cases we can justify a lot of different permutations of that roster,” Arnold said Oct. 3. “I think with ‘Miz’ in particular, look, I think what we’re looking at is Game 1 Freddy (Peralta), and then beyond that it’s just pretty much all hands on deck. I think Miz will certainly be part of that.”
A little more than a month ago, there would have been no question about Misiorowski’s postseason roster status, yet the rookie pitched to a 6.06 ERA from Aug. 15 onward, walking 17 in 32⅔ innings and allowing 33 hits. The Brewers bumped Misiorowski from a rotation spot in the final week of the season in hopes of getting him acclimated to a bullpen role for the playoffs and his one outing didn’t go well on Sept. 27 against the Cincinnati Reds.
“Obviously he’s going to have to go out there and perform just like everybody else, and I think his role is still to be determined,” Arnold said. “I think a lot of that has to do with the matchup and the situation and all those things involved. But that’s been a great part of our team is that we just have so many guys that are just willing to say, ‘hey, just give me the ball. Whatever it takes and I’m going to get the job done.’
“I think he’s certainly going to get that opportunity.”
Brewers haven’t announced Game 2 pitching plans yet
Manager Pat Murphy kept his cards close to the vest when asked if Quinn Priester will pitch Game 2 for the Brewers and José Quintana will get Game 3.
“Both of them will be ready for Game 2, but we haven’t decided what we’re doing Game 2,” Murphy said.
Quintana is a full go, Murphy added, after doing three innings during the Brewers’ scrimmage at American Family Field on Oct. 1.
It’s unlikely either pitcher would go too long considering the Brewers have an off-day before both games and a loaded bullpen coming off a bye week.
Freddy Peralta hopes to build on previous experiences
Peralta will get the ball in Game 1 for the second straight postseason series, with hopes of this time going better than his last outing, when he threw four innings of two-run ball against the New York Mets last season.
“I think that I’ve been learning from the past,” Peralta said. “And I remember back in 2018 it was the first time (in the playofs), and I was nervous, I can’t lie. But then when I get to that point again, when you have the opportunity to be in postseason games, I was just trying to control myself and be myself without thinking too much. Just do what I need to do, do my work outside.
“That’s what I’ve been doing. I learned, too, that even if you are in a tough situation, you have to control yourself and breathe around, think about how special is the game and compete outside, because even if you are doing great, everything can change that quick.
“It’s just control your emotion and stay focused all the time until your job is done.”
Defense on defense
The greatest strength for both sides in this series, arguably, are their defenses.
The Cubs ranked second in Major League Baseball with 34 outs above average, while the Brewers weren’t far behind in fifth place with 29.
Because of the lack of mistakes that the series will possess, Murphy compared it to a prize fight.
“We play good defense, too. They play really good defense,” Murphy said. “It comes down to playing those pitches, being in the moment. It’s like a heavyweight matchup. Everybody has styles, and you combat that style the way you do, but you’ve got to figure out a way to win the game.
“You do it minute by minute, second by second in the ring, and I think that’s what it’ll come down to.”
Brewers owner comments on Craig Counsell
Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio kept his comments curt when asked about how he feels now about Cubs manager Craig Counsell, whose infamous departure of the Brewers for a five-year, $40 million deal with the Cubs following the 2023 season drew remarks from Attanasio that he had ‘lost us and lost our community’.
“I don’t think I said I felt burned. I think I said that — look, we lost the manager that still has the most wins in our history and may forever. He did an unbelievable job here for nine seasons. I talked about losing the community, and I think this community is really special in so many ways. So I think that was more the comment than (anything). Everybody has to do what they have to do for themselves and their family.”
