Padres Edge Brewers 4-3 in NLDS Game 3, Forcing Game 4

Q: How will a star closer's sudden paternity leave impact the Brewers' chances of snapping their historic 12-game playoff road losing streak?

Mason Miller’s paternity leave hurts Milwaukee’s chances, but it does not fundamentally change them unless he misses more than one game. The immediate impact is late-inning uncertainty. Miller was one of the National League’s top closers in the regular season, with 38 saves and a 1.67 ERA, and his absence in Game 3 clearly mattered in a one-run loss. Even after his blown save in Game 2, his presence normally shortens games and gives Milwaukee a cleaner path to finish a road win. Against a Padres team that is strong at home and now has momentum after avoiding elimination, losing that safety net makes ending the 12-game postseason road skid more difficult. That said, the effect should be limited if Miller returns quickly. The postseason paternity list allows a one-to-three-day absence, and he is eligible to come back for Game 4. Milwaukee still leads the series 2-1, needs only one road win, and has enough bullpen depth to survive without him for a night if the rest of the relief corps holds up. The Brewers also remain a strong road team overall this season despite the playoff streak. The larger issue may be psychological as much as tactical. Milwaukee has now failed again on the road in October, and the historic losing streak can grow heavier the longer it lasts. Without its elite closer, the margin for error shrinks. If Miller is back for Game 4, the Brewers’ odds of ending the skid remain strong; if not, the pressure rises sharply.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 7

San Diego stayed alive with a 4-3 home win in Game 3, trimming Milwaukee’s NLDS lead to 2-1 and avoiding a three-game sweep.
Nick Pivetta helped set the tone early, and the Padres built their lead through Fernando Tatis Jr.’s RBI grounder, Manny Machado’s run-scoring single, Jake Cronenworth’s solo homer and an insurance run on a Brewers error.
Milwaukee answered with William Contreras’ solo shot in the fourth, Jackson Chourio’s sacrifice fly in the fifth and another run in the eighth to pull within 4-3.
Michael King then covered the final 2 innings out of the bullpen, stranding the tying run in the ninth after closer Mason Miller was unavailable.
The result sends the series to a pivotal Game 4 at Petco Park, with Milwaukee still one win from advancing.