Game: Arizona Diamondbacks @ Milwaukee Brewers
Time: 7:08 p.m.
Odds: Diamondbacks +159, Brewers -174
Total: 7.5
Milwaukee moved Freddy Peralta up a day in the rotation and he will try to extend the Milwaukee Brewers’ season tonight. The Brewers right-hander will start in place of injured ace Brandon Woodruff, who is out with a shoulder injury. The Brewers attempt to avoid elimination against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks in Game 2 of their best-of-three National League wild-card series.
Arizona won the series opener last night 6-3 as the DBacks tagged Milwaukee starter Corbin Burnes for three home runs. The three dingers helped Arizona overcome a 3-0 deficit. This is the DBacks’ first trip to the postseason since 2017.
The Brewers clinched the NL Central Division early which allowed them the luxury of setting up their Big 3 pitchers for this series. Unfortunately, with Woodruff hurt, the advantage now shifts to the Diamondbacks. Peralta went 12-10 with a 3.86 ERA in the regular season. Peralta hasn’t pitched since Sept. 24, as he was scratched from his final scheduled outing to give him extra rest ahead of the postseason.
Right-hander Zac Gallen (17-9, 3.47 ERA), will start for Arizona. Right-hander Merrill Kelly (12-8, 3.29) is waiting in the wings should he be needed for Game 3 on Thursday.
In Game 1 last night, Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte hit back-to-back homers off Burnes in the third inning. As a result, Arizona was able to tie the score at 3-3. Gabriel Moreno gave Arizona a 4-3 lead with a leadoff homer in the fourth inning. Burnes was pulled after walking the first two hitters in the fifth.
Arizona added two insurance runs in the ninth inning off Milwaukee closer Devin Williams. Williams threw 31 pitches, walked three batters, and recorded just two outs.
Milwaukee squandered several opportunities, leaving 11 men on base and going 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. The Brewers loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth but didn’t score. Brice Turang struck out before Arizona third baseman Evan Longoria made a leaping grab of Tyrone Taylor’s scorching line drive. Longoria completed the double play, nailing the runner at second to end the inning.
Over his final 15 starts of the season, Peralta went 7-3 with a 3.09 ERA. But, he did lose his last two starts when he allowed five runs on 13 hits over a total of nine innings. Peralta has been outstanding against the Diamondbacks in his career – 3-0 with a 0.55 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) – but he has not faced them since 2021. He also has been very good in the postseason. In three appearances (one start), he hasn’t had a decision, but he’s pitched to a 1.13 ERA.
In six starts in September, Gallen went 3-3 with a 4.17 ERA. He gave up just two runs in 12.1 innings over his last two starts of the regular season. Like Peralta, Gallen has had a lot of success against his opponent tonight. He is 3-3 with a 1.75 ERA in six career starts versus Milwaukee. He won both of his starts against Milwaukee this season, allowing just one run in 14 innings.
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