Cease strikes out eight and wins ninth game

Chourio won a thrilling six-pitch at-bat with two outs and the bases loaded, fouling off a 104-mph fastball with two strikes that would have retired most batters and then laying off a low slider before crushing a liner on a 101-mph fastball to end it. It was the Brewers’ first hit against Miller after Christian Yelich, Sal Frelick and Gary Sánchez all worked walks. Chourio also homered Saturday, and he has driven in four of the Brewers’ seven runs in the series. Before the incredible ending, it was an oddly sloppy game, with the teams combining for five errors that led to three unearned runs, Dustin May and Nick Pivetta are expected to start Tuesday when the series resumes in San Diego.

Henderson allowed a run on a two-out walk, a wild pitch and a single in the first and then one more in the fifth after a Brice Turang error. He walked three, which is unusual, but he definitely gave the Brewers what they were looking for in his postseason debut. He should be available behind Jacob Misiorowski in a potential Game 5.

Oddly enough, both King and Logan Henderson were pulled after hitting the leadoff batter in the bottom of the sixth today. King had a 2-1 lead at that point, and Yuki Matsui came in and retired three in a row to strand the runner. King has allowed one run and four hits through 12 innings so far this postseason. He’ll almost certainly get the nod again in Game 5 if the NLDS goes the distance.

The Padres were asking for the second two-inning save of Miller’s career; the other came in Aug. 2024 while he was with the A’s. He retired the first four batters he faced, but he then walked the bases loaded in the ninth before giving up Jackson Chourio’s game-winning hit. The runs were the first he’s allowed in four career postseason appearances. It’s his fourth blown save in 43 chances this year. He also ended up throwing 40 pitches, which could mean he’ll be limited to one inning and perhaps not be at his best when play resumes Tuesday.

France was nearly the hero of Game 1, hitting the roof-scraping non-homer against Trevor Megill in the ninth. He did nothing quite so dramatic today, but he came through with the team’s only hits in nine at-bats with runners in scoring position. It seemed like that would be enough until the Brewers’ stunning rally off Mason Miller.

Even without the relief appearance on Thursday, Sale would have been starting on four days’ rest had he pitched in Game 2, and he hadn’t done that since way back on Apr. 6, when he allowed six runs in four innings against the Angels. Sale starting in Game 3 and potentially coming out of the pen in Game 5 might always have been the best plan for Atlanta.

Thomas missed the final three weeks of the regular season and the Wild Card series with an intercostal strain, making this his first start since Sept. 7. Ha-Seong Kim sits to make room. The lineup: C Drake Baldwin, RF Ronald Acuña Jr., 1B Matt Olson, 2B Ozzie Albies, CF Michael Harris II, SS Mauricio Dubón, DH Sean Murphy, 3B Austin Riley, LF Thomas.

This is a little surprising, since Muncy would probably face Kerr just the once, but they’ll go with Miguel Rojas initially. That’s the lone change from Saturday, which was also against a lefty opener in Dylan Dodd. The lineup: SS Mookie Betts, DH Shohei Ohtani, C Will Smith, 1B Freddie Freeman, LF Teoscar Hernández, RF Kyle Tucker, CF Andy Pages, 3B Rojas, 2B Tommy Edman.

There’s nothing wrong with Salas, Padres’ skipper Craig Stammen simply had a change of heart and wanted to use Sheets instead. Sheets will step right into Salas’ spot in the lineup, batting sixth and serving as the club’s designated hitter.

Kerr did an exceptional job in that role in a must-win situation in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Phillies, allowing just one hit and one walk over 3 1/3 scoreless innings. The expectation is that once again Grant Holmes will follow him in a bulk role, though that has not been confirmed yet.