“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.”
Of the 34 previous teams to lose Games 1-2 on the road in a Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format (through 2024), only 14 forced a Game 4. Of those 14, five (37.1%) also forced a winner-take-all Game 5, and three (21.4%) finished off the comeback in Game 5.
“We’ve got more ball to play, for sure,” Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said.
A rematch of the NLDS opener is in store for Game 4: Both clubs announced their starters early Thursday, with right-hander Freddy Peralta going for Milwaukee and lefty Matthew Boyd starting for the Cubs. Both pitchers will be working on normal rest.
Here’s everything you need to know about Game 4:
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Game 4 between the Brewers and Cubs will be at 8:08 p.m. CT at Wrigley Field. The I-94 Rivalry will air on TBS, truTV and HBO Max.
All series are available in the US on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every Postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL Postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL Postseason in French.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Cubs: The Cubs announced on Thursday morning that lefty Matthew Boyd (14-8, 3.21 ERA) would start Game 4. The veteran was at his locker after Wednesday’s win and said he hoped to have the ball in his hand. Boyd will be on four days of rest, putting him on more of a regular schedule than last time out. 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.
What might the starting lineups look like?
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.
How will the bullpens line up after the starter?
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.
Who is hot and who is not?
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.
Anything else fans might want to know?
• Of the 34 previous teams to lose Games 1-2 on the road in a Division Series with the current 2-2-1 format (through 2024), only 14 forced a Game 4. Of those 14, five (37.1%) also forced a winner-take-all Game 5, and three (21.4%) finished the comeback in Game 5.
• The Cubs have gone 3-1 so far at Wrigley Field in this postseason against the Padres and Brewers. This follows Chicago boasting a 50-29 mark at the Friendly Confines in the regular season.
