MILWAUKEE — After failing to keep Cubs hitters in the ballpark during the first inning of each of the first four games of the National League Division Series, the Brewers will try something novel in the winner-take-all Game 5 on Saturday night.
Megill has started as an opener for the Brewers before, but that was prior to his breakthrough as fill-in closer last season while Devin Williams rehabbed a back injury and an equally successful run as Milwaukee’s full-time closer in 2025, when Megill compiled a 2.49 ERA and 30 saves during a regular season interrupted near the end by a strained right flexor. He was able to make it back for an inning of relief against the Reds in the regular-season finale, which set up Megill to be on the NLDS roster.
Abner Uribe assumed closer duties while Megill was down and is rested and ready for that role in Game 5 should he be needed.
Megill has already pitched twice in this NLDS, retiring both batters he faced in the eighth inning of the Brewers’ 7-3 win in Game 2 in Milwaukee and facing three batters while recording one out in the fifth inning of Game 4 on Thursday in Chicago. He threw 12 pitches in the latter outing.
One can understand the Brewers’ early urgency on Saturday. The Cubs are the first team in MLB history to homer in the first inning of four straight games of a single postseason series.
Megill will start opposite an opener for the Cubs, left-hander Drew Pomeranz, who pitched for the Brewers during the second half of 2019 following a trade from the Giants, and went six up, six down for Milwaukee during the 2019 NL Wild Card Game at the Nationals before the lead got away from Josh Hader in what was the first of five consecutive postseason one-and-dones for the Brewers.
After missing two chances at Wrigley Field, the Brewers will try to snap that streak back home on Saturday night.
