MLB Playoffs: How the Dodgers dominated the Phillies and advanced to the NLCS
After a Phillies pitcher error in Game 4, the Dodgers advance to the NLCS.
The National League Division Series is all about Saturday night’s winner-take-all Game 5 between the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs at American Family Field.
The Brewers won the first two games at home and appeared on track to win it all, but the Cubs rallied to win Games 3 and 4 at Wrigley Field, sending the series back to Milwaukee for the deciding game. The winner advances to the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which begins Monday in Milwaukee or Los Angeles.
Only 10 teams in baseball history have ever overcome a 2-0 deficit to win a best-of-five series, most recently the New York Yankees in 2017. Milwaukee had the best regular season record in MLB, but has lost the last six playoff series dating back to 2018, while the Cubs are looking to return to the NLCS for the first time since 2017.
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After an early power show, things calmed down at American Family Field.
The Brewers and Cubs remain tied 1-1 through three innings in Game 5 of the decisive NLDS.
The Cubs selected Collin Ray as the No. 2 bullpen relay, and he has had a near-perfect record, allowing one hit in two innings. Meanwhile, Brewers rookie Jacob Misiorowski calmed his heart rate after allowing a home run to Seiya Suzuki, the leadoff batter he faced in the second inning.
He allowed two more hits but no more runs. The intriguing question now is how long Brewers manager Pat Murphy will continue to protect his prized rookie.
The Milwaukee Brewers won the opening game battle, but the Chicago Cubs responded with a fast break against the Brew Crew’s rookie superstar.
William Contreras hit a two-out solo homer off Drew Pomerantz, giving the Brewers a 1-0 lead over 6-foot-8 rookie Jacob Misiorowski. However, not a single batter could last, and Seiya Suzuki hit Misiorowski’s pitch over the wall in right-center field.
This was a shock to the Brewers. In Game 2, the Brewers provided relief from the winning pitcher Misiorowski, pitching three scoreless innings.
However, The Miz calmly forced his team out, and the club entered the bottom of the second inning tied 1-1.
With two outs and a count of 3-2, Contreras put Drew Pomerantz in the yard, making it 1-0 for the home team after one inning.
It must be a good feeling for the Brewers, who lost Game 4 in a shutout.
Megill retired the Cubs’ first three batters in order, finishing with a strikeout of Kyle Tucker. After that, the Brewers’ starters were fired up, to say the least.
Incredibly, Game 5 was the first game in the series in which the Brewers went scoreless in the first inning.
What time is the Cubs vs. Brewers game?
The first pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m. ET at American Family Field in Milwaukee.
Where to watch Cubs vs. Brewers Game 5: TV channels, live streams
Saturday’s game will be broadcast on TBS and HBO Max, and can be streamed on Sling TV.
Watch Cubs vs. Brewers Game 5 on Sling TV
Cubs vs. Brewers odds
BetMGM: Brewers win
The staff writes: Based on recent trends, the model takes into account game simulation, recent player performance, starting pitching and injuries and predicts the Brewers will win Saturday’s MLB game with 55.8% confidence. ”
DraftKings: Brewers
Zach Thompson wrote, “The Brewers took the first two games of the series convincingly, 9-3 and 7-3. The Cubs definitely got a big boost from their play at Wrigley Field, but a return to Milwaukee should get the Brewers back in the win column. The Brewers are much more accustomed to playing out of the bullpen, and Misiorowski is a big part of their plan, giving them a huge advantage.”
Sports Illustrated: Brewers
Ryan Gilbert writes: “Home field advantage was strong in this series, with the Brewers and Cubs winning two games in their home stadium. We’re back in Milwaukee for Game 5, and it’s hard to imagine the Brewers losing at home. This season, the Brewers were 52-29 at home and the Cubs were just 42-39 on the road. Chicago had won two of three games in Milwaukee.” The Brewers have now won four of their past five games at home, including the playoffs. ”
Drew Pomerantz and Trevor Megill are the nominal starting pitchers for Game 5 of the National League Division Series, as the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers throw in the “openers” for a winner-take-all game at American Family Field.
That means the spotlight should quickly switch to Brewers rookie flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski.
The All-Star earned three shutout wins in Game 2, reaching 164 mph on the radar gun and eclipsing 100 mph 31 times in a relatively short stint. Misiorowski has had four full days of rest and should be ready to go.
How the Brewers get to The Miz remains a fluid equation in bailing out Megill.
“It’s like an equation: If we have to rescue so-and-so, this is the best reliever on this team,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said in a press conference before Game 5. “If he gets through that, we have the best player here to start the second game based on where we finished. And we’ll take it from there.”
For the Cubs, Shota Imanaga, a left-hander who scored four points in just 2/3 innings in Game 2, will be playing. As we saw in Game 5 of the AL District Series, both teams will be giving their all.
