Game Thread #157: Milwaukee Brewers (95-61) @ San Diego Padres (85-71)

The Brewers clinched the NL Central yesterday, though it came as a result of a Cubs’ loss instead of a Brewers’ win. With the division wrapped up and a top-two seed in the National League guaranteed, the Brewers can begin preparing for the postseason this week. However, there’s still work to do, and that starts this evening against the Padres.

There are two potential milestones that the Brewers can hit this week. With two wins, they’ll officially set the franchise record for most wins in a single season. Five wins would also give the Brewers their first 100-win season in franchise history. There’s also a magic number of three in play for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Phillies are 92-64, and the Brewers hold the tiebreaker over them. Any combination of three Brewers’ wins and Phillies’ losses this week would guarantee home-field advantage.

The Brewers will open the week with Freddy Peralta. He is on track to start tonight and Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Reds. This would also put him on track to start game one of the NLDS. Peralta bounced back in his last start against the Angels, allowing just a solo home run in six innings of work. He struck out 10 and walked just two. Peralta pitched against the Padres back on June 8. He pitched six scoreless innings that day, but did not receive any run support as the Brewers lost 1-0. This is Peralta’s fourth career start and seventh overall appearance against the Padres. He has a 2.86 ERA in 22 innings.

It will be a battle of aces as Nick Pivetta gets the start for the Padres. He has developed into the ace of the Padres’ staff this season, leading them with a 2.81 ERA and 3.49 FIP. His last start against the Mets on Wednesday was a shorter one, where he allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings. The Brewers did not face Pivetta in June, but have faced him a few times in the past. He has made four career starts against the Brewers — one with the Phillies in 2017 and then three with the Red Sox between 2022 and 2024. The Brewers have had success against him, with Pivetta sporting a 9.95 ERA over 19 innings across those four starts.

Before tonight’s game, the Brewers announced that Joel Payamps has been claimed off waivers by the Braves. This brings Payamps’ time with the Brewers to a close. In five September appearances — 5 1/3 innings pitched — he had a 3.38 ERA and 3.71 FIP. Overall, this season, he had a 7.23 ERA and a 4.43 FIP.

Leading off for the Brewers tonight will be Christian Yelich. He was regularly the leadoff hitter for the Brewers in 2022 and 2023, but hasn’t batted there since the end of the 2023 season. Also, William Contreras is back in the lineup tonight, catching and batting fourth. Contreras had the day off yesterday after getting hit on the wrist and leaving Saturday’s game against the Cardinals. The rest of the lineup is fairly standard, with Andrew Vaughn getting the start at first base.

With only three games on the schedule tonight — all in the National League — there’s not much else to watch on the scoreboard. The Cardinals and Giants play tonight, though either team would need to sweep to have a small chance at the last Wild Card spot. The Nationals and Braves play in the only other game of the night, and both have already been eliminated from playoff contention.

First pitch is set for 8:40 p.m. CT. It will be on FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and the Brewers Radio Network.