The Chicago Cubs managed to keep their postseason hopes alive on Wednesday, Oct. 8 with a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the National League Division Series.
It’s the second home win for the Cubs these playoffs after facing elimination.
The Brewers did take an early lead with a run scored by Christian Yelich in the first inning, but the Cubs responded with a four-run first inning against the Brewers that proved to be the difference in the overall outcome.
Milwaukee attempted to rally with runs scored in the fourth and seventh innings, but it wasn’t enough to swing the game in its favor; the Brewers left several runners on base in the later innings.
Pitcher Drew Pomeranz earned the win after striking out two in one inning of work. Brad Keller was credited with the save after striking out two in 1.1 innings pitched. Starter Jameson Taillon handled a bulk of the workload on the mound with four innings pitched. He allowed five hits and two earned runs, while striking out three.
With the victory, the Cubs force the series to a Game 4 back in Chicago on Thursday.
USA TODAY Sports provided updates and highlights of NLDS Game 3 between the Brewers and Cubs:
Brewers vs. Cubs highlights
Final: Cubs 4, Brewers 3
Pitcher Brad Keller and the Brewers record three straight outs to put the game away and force a Game 4 on Thursday.
Brewers have tying run on base
Jackson Chourio hit a lead-off double to left field and served as the tying run for the Brewers. Andrew Kittredge is removed by the Cubs and replaced by Caleb Thielbar.
Thielbar struck out Turang before walking William Contreras. Sal Frelick grounded to second, where Contreras was out. Chourio moves to third and still represents the tying run.
Brad Keller comes in to replace Thielbar. Caleb Durbin walked. Frelick moved to second base.
Bauers strikes out swinging on a pitch from Keller. The Brewers leave the bases loaded as the game moves to the bottom of the eighth.
Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 3.
Cubs looking to add insurance runs late
The Cubs have runners on first and second base with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Nico Hoerner and Kyle Tucker both singled to right field before the Brewers removed Jared Koenig from the mound in place of Chad Patrick.
Patrick would strike out Ian Happ for the third out of the inning, leaving the two runners on base stranded.
Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 3.
Jake Bauers, Brewers cut into Cubs’ lead
Jake Bauers with a solo home run in the top of the seventh. The Brewers continue to cut into the Cubs’ lead and it’s a one-run game.
Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 3.
Anderson back on mound for Brewers
Brewers pitcher Grant Anderson returns to the mound for the bottom of the sixth.
Dansby Swanson singled to left field for the Cubs’ only hit of the inning, but was eventually left stranded by Anderson and the Brewers.
Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 2.
Cubs put a new arm on the mound
Right-handed pitcher Daniel Palencia comes in to replace Drew Pomeranz at the start of the sixth inning.
William Contreras and Sal Frelick both grounded out for the Brewers before Caleb Durbin lined out to right field to send the game to the bottom of the sixth inning.
Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 2.
Brewers make another pitching change
José Quintana’s night is done after the Brewers got the first out in the bottom of the fifth. Grant Anderson comes in as relief.
Quintana allowed two hits while striking out two in three innings of work.
Kyle Tucker singled to center field off Quintana during the inning. It was the only hit for the Cubs in the inning. Seiya Suzuki struck out swinging against Anderson for the first out. Anderson picked off Tucker, who was caught trying to steal second base. Anderson struck out Ian Happ to end the inning.
Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 2.
Drew Pomeranz started fifth for Cubs
Drew Pomeranz took the mound at the start of the fifth inning, replacing Jameson Taillon.
Pomeranz started to warm up in the fourth inning. After Christian Yelich was grounded out early in the frame, Pomeranz put away Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang at the plate to send the game to the bottom of the fifth inning.
Taillon allowed five hits and two earned run while striking out three in four innings of work.
Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 2.
Brewers’ defense records three out to end fourth
José Quintana and the Brewers make quick work of the Cubs in the bottom of the fourth. Milwaukee managed to get the first three batters out. Nico Hoerner and Matt Shaw both grounded out at second. Michael Busch flied out in left field.
Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 2.
Brewers get runners on base quickly
The Brewers quickly get runners on first and second base early in the fourth inning.
Jake Bauers helps take advantage of the situation, hitting an RBI single off Jameson Taillon, allowing the Brewers to cut into the Cubs’ lead. The Brewers trail the Chicago at the top of the inning.
Drew Pomeranz is throwing in the Cubs’ bullpen. Taillon made it through the inning, but it remains unknown if he will return to the mound for the 5th inning.
Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 2.
Jose Quintana strands two Cubs runners in third inning
After Seiya Suzuki led off the bottom half of the inning with a double, Brewers pitcher Jose Quintana walked Ian Happ. Despite the early trouble, Quintana managed to get out of the inning without further damage on the scoreboard.
After getting Carson Kelly to fly out to right fielder Sal Frelick, Pete Crow-Armstrong struck out on a questionable checked-swing call. Dansby Swanson grounded out to shortstop Joey Ortiz to end the inning. Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 1.
Brewers go down 1-2-3 again in third inning
Cubs starter Jameson Taillon has settled down considerably after an adventurous first inning. He completed a second consecutive 1-2-3 inning in the top of the third inning. This time, it came against the top of the Brewers’ order, getting Christian Yelich, Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang out. Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 1.
Jose Quintana cools off Cubs in second inning
After a chaotic first inning, the Brewers called on 14-year veteran left-hander Jose Quintana to settle things down and quiet the boisterous Wrigley Field crowd.
The move worked in the second inning, as Quintana put the Cubs down 1-2-3 to keep the Brewers within reasonable striking distance on the scoreboard. Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 1.
Brewers go quickly in second
How would the Brewers respond to the Cubs’ big first inning? By going down 1-2-3 against Jameson Taillon.
The highlight was a 13-pitch at bat for Brandon Lockridge, who fouled off seven pitches before striking out. Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 1.
Cubs answer big time in bottom of first inning
Just as he had in Game 1, Michael Busch hit a leadoff home run. This is Busch’s third home run this postseason.
It turned into a brutal first inning for Chicagoland native Quinn Priester. After allowing Busch’s leadoff home run, Nico Hoerner singled, then Kyle Tucker walked. Priester finally got the first out, but it took a spectacular sliding catch by right fielder Sal Frelick on a hard hit ball by Seiya Suzuki. Ian Happ walked to load the bases. Priester got Carson Kelly to strike out, but Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a two-out single to score Tucker and Hoerner.
After all that, Priester was pulled from the game and Nick Mears came in. The Cubs weren’t done. As Crow-Armstrong took off for second, Mears uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Happ to score. And, after batting around in the bottom of the first inning, the Cubs grabbed a commanding three-run lead. Score: Cubs 4, Brewers 1.
Brewers plate one in first inning
Christian Yelich opened the game with a leadoff double. After a ground out by Jackson Chourio and a walk to Brice Turang, things got wild at Wrigley Field.
William Contreras hit an infield pop fly that got lost in the late afternoon shadows as first baseman Michael Busch could not see the ball. Contreras’ pop fly landed in front of Busch, Contreras was safe at first and Turang hustled to second base, which wasn’t covered as Cubs infielders were chasing after the lost pop fly. Cubs manager Craig Counsell probed the umpires about why an infield fly rule was not in effect, but no Chicago fielder had a bead on the ball.
Sal Frelick hit a sacrifice fly to left field and Yelich scored the game’s opening run. Score: Brewers 1, Cubs 0.
What time is Cubs vs Brewers game today?
First pitch in Game 3 is scheduled for 5:08 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field.
Where to watch Brewers vs Cubs today: TV channel, stream
Game 3 will air on TBS and can be streamed on HBO Max or with Sling TV.
Watch Cubs vs Brewers on Sling TV
Cubs vs Brewers prediction, odds
Brewers lineup for NLDS Game 3 vs. Cubs
- Christian Yelich (L), DH
- Jackson Chourio (R), LF
- Brice Turang (L), 2B
- William Contreras (R), C
- Sal Frelick (L), RF
- Caleb Durbin (R), 3B
- Jake Bauers (L), 1B
- Brandon Lockridge (R), CF
- Joey Ortiz (R), SS
Starting pitcher: Quinn Priester (R)
Cubs lineup for NLDS Game 3 vs. Brewers
- Michael Busch (L), 1B
- Nico Hoerner (R), 2B
- Kyle Tucker (L), DH
- Seiya Suzuki (R), RF
- Ian Happ (S), LF
- Carson Kelly (R), C
- Pete Crow-Armstrong (L), CF
- Dansby Swanson (R), SS
- Matt Shaw (R), 3B
Starting pitcher: Jameson Taillon (R)
Brewers make changes to starting lineup for Game 3
The Milwaukee Brewers will have a different look to their Game 3 lineup against the Cubs on Oct. 8, with Jake Bauers playing first base against right-handed Chicago starter Jameson Taillon and center fielder Brandon Lockridge taking the place of Blake Perkins.
Quinn Priester, Cubs fan as a youth, is Game 3 starter for Brewers
This is Quinn Priester’s game. And is there anyone better for the job?
The right-handed starter takes the mound looking to send the Brewers to the NL Championship Series and his boyhood team to the offseason. The Brewers have won 19 of the last 20 games in which Priester has pitched.
Priester, a native of Glendale Heights in suburban Chicago who cheered for the Cubs growing up, gets the playoff assignment at Wrigley Field for the Brewers in a close-out situation with Milwaukee up 2-0. On the other side, it’s veteran Jameson Taillon getting the ball for the Cubs for the second time this postseason in a must-win situation. — Christopher Kuhagen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Where’s Rhys Hoskins? Not on Brewers’ NLDS roster, but still a presence
If you watch the reaction from the home dugout on William Contreras’ go-ahead home run in Game 2 of the NLDS against the Cubs, the most excited member of the Brewers might have been someone who’s not even on the roster.
Toward the back of the celebratory line of high fives for Contreras was Rhys Hoskins, hat twirling in his right hand as he jumped up and down while the Brewers catcher approached him.
This – relegated to a spot on the dugout railing rather than the infield dirt – is not where Hoskins envisioned himself being this postseason. — Curt Hogg, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel