That short postseason start makes the available relief options part of Tuesday's matchup. San Diego's late-inning options changed before first pitch: closer Mason Miller was placed on the paternity list, and Wandy Peralta took his place on the NLDS roster. Walker Buehler returned from paternity leave Monday and is available, MLB reported. Stammen said ahead of Game 3 that he would use the pitchers needed to keep the series going.
May is making his first postseason start. Milwaukee acquired him from St. Louis at the trade deadline, and his ten starts for the Brewers produced a 5.65 ERA. His last eight outings were especially difficult, with a 7.61 ERA.
His season against San Diego tells a different story: a 1.23 ERA in three starts. That includes a June 15 complete-game shutout for St. Louis, when he allowed one hit and struck out nine. Tuesday tests whether that matchup history travels into October.
Milwaukee's bullpen has supplied nine scoreless innings through the first two games. The Brewers also have bulk options Robert Gasser, Shane Drohan and Kyle Harrison available behind May.
A win would end an 11-game road postseason losing streak for Milwaukee, whose last such victory came in the 2018 NLCS at Dodger Stadium. For San Diego, the immediate goal is smaller: win Tuesday and bring the series back for Game 4.
October 6 lineup update: Sheets scratched
Gavin Sheets was scratched from San Diego’s Game 3 lineup because of a stiff neck, MLB reported in its updated pregame preview. Samad Taylor takes his place at designated hitter and bats eighth. The change concerns the lineup for Tuesday’s game; the report does not give a longer recovery timetable.
Milwaukee starts Joey Ortiz at third base and moves Jake Bauers to the second spot. San Diego has Jackson Merrill batting second and rookie catcher Ethan Salas fifth. The confirmed batting orders are:
| Order | Milwaukee | San Diego |
|---|
| 1 | Jackson Chourio, LF | Fernando Tatis Jr., RF |
| 2 | Jake Bauers, 1B | Jackson Merrill, CF |
| 3 | William Contreras, C | Manny Machado, 3B |
| 4 | Brice Turang, 2B | Ty France, 1B |
| 5 | Christian Yelich, DH | Ethan Salas, C |
| 6 | Garrett Mitchell, CF | Xander Bogaerts, SS |
| 7 | Cooper Pratt, SS | Dustin Harris, LF |
| 8 | Sal Frelick, RF | Samad Taylor, DH |
| 9 | Joey Ortiz, 3B | Jake Cronenworth, 2B |
October 6 bullpen update: Miller unavailable
The Padres placed Mason Miller on the postseason paternity list before Game 3, with left-hander Wandy Peralta replacing him on the roster, MLB reported. The roster move makes Miller unavailable for Tuesday’s game.
The paternity-list rules allow an absence of one to three days. San Diego did not announce a specific return time; a Game 4 absence remains possible if the Padres extend the series. Peralta must be the player removed when Miller returns to this NLDS roster. Walker Buehler, who returned from his own paternity leave before Game 3, is available in relief.
