Jackson Merrill hitting second in must-win Game 3

Buehler posted a 4.63 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, and 131/57 K/BB ratio in 153 2/3 innings for the Padres this season. He was better in the second half, registering a 3.62 ERA across 64 2/3 innings, and he has a good track record of postseason success with a 3.04 ERA and nearly 30 percent strikeout rate in 94 2/3 innings. The Padres will hope for another postseason gem from the 32-year-old.

Contreras got the Brewers on the board with a shot off Nick Pivetta in the fourth inning. The 28-year-old also drew a walk in the ninth inning, but the Brew Crew were unable to score and picked up their first postseason loss. Contreras has homered twice in this series with a slash of .364/.462/.909 over the first three games.

Cronenworth went deep off left-hander JoJo Romero to give San Diego a 3-2 lead in the must-win game. The 32-year-old also singled and is now hitting .200/.250/.400 in the postseason. He’ll have a chance to help San Diego stave off elimination again in Game 4 against the Brewers on Wednesday.

With no Mason Miller and still no Adrian Morejon, the Padres were limited in options for the final few frames, and they turned to their Game 1 starter. The right-hander issued a pair of walks in the bottom of the ninth with one out, but a terrific play by Xander Bogaerts turned into a double play, and the Padres stay alive for at least one more game. Game 4 will take place in San Diego on Wednesday, and while King won’t be available for that game — one would think, anyway — he should be a multi-inning option for Game 5, should it come.

Pivetta allowed five hits, and one of them was a homer from William Contreras. The veteran right-hander was able to strike out five four without issuing a walk in a solid — if unspectacular — start that helps the Padres stay alive for at least one more day. Pivetta won’t be available for Game 4 come Wednesday, but likely could give San Diego an inning or two in Game 5 come Friday, if necessary.

May struggled to locate in his three innings, and while he was able to keep the Padres off the board in the first two frames, he gave up a pair in the third in a less-than-spectacular outing for the 29-year-old. He walked a pair while allowing three hits, and threw just 27-of-52 pitches for strikes. May would likely be available to pitch in Game 5 if necessary.

Nightengale attributes the info to a high-ranking Phillies executive. Cora is still getting paid by the Red Sox for one more year, so another season with the fam sounds like a good idea. It was reported that Cora previously turned down the Phillies in late April after he was fired by Boston, causing the Phillies to go with Don Mattingly as Rob Thomson’s replacement this year. Cora and Phillies president Dave Dombrowski previously worked together in Boston and won a World Series in 2018.

Acuña left the ballpark without talking to the media after going 0-for-3 with a walk as a DH in Game 3. If he can’t play Wednesday, the Braves will probably start Ha-Seong Kim at shortstop and Mauricio Dubón in the outfield against Tyler Glasnow.

After having a potential go-ahead homer robbed by Braves left fielder Mauricio Dubón earlier in the contest, Freeman ensured that his next fly ball wouldn’t be caught, tattooing a 399-foot moonshot to right-center field off Atlanta ace Chris Sale to give Los Angeles a three-run advantage in the fourth inning. It was his second round-tripper of the playoffs and 18th career postseason big fly since 2012. The 37-year-old ageless wonder recorded three batted balls with exit velocities over 101 mph against his former team in this one, but only came away with one hit to show for it. The Dodgers have an opportunity to punch their ticket back to the NLCS with a win in Game 4 of the best-of-five series at Truist Park on Wednesday evening.

Baldwin supplied Atlanta’s lone run against Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto when he delivered a bases-loaded ground out in the fifth inning. He struck out twice and finished hitless in four at-bats. The Braves will attempt to even the best-of-five series when they host Game 4 on Wednesday night.