NL Wild Card Series Game Thread #2: Milwaukee Brewers vs. New York Mets

Brewers try to stave off elimination with Montas on the hill

Coming off a disappointing loss to the Mets in game one of the NL Wild Card Series, the Brewers are now facing elimination at home as they’ll need to win back-to-back games today and tomorrow to move on to the NL Division Series.

To get that first win, the Brewers will send Frankie Montas to the hill. Montas had a solid second half after joining the Brewers at the trade deadline, pitching to a 4.55 ERA over 11 starts in a Milwaukee uniform, a number that is partially inflated due to an eight-run (seven earned run) outing against the Diamondbacks on Sept. 22. He hasn’t had much postseason success, allowing seven runs over 6 ²⁄₃ innings in three appearances (one start) with the A’s in 2020 and the Yankees in 2022.

Montas will oppose Sean Manaea, who had a career year in New York with a 3.47 ERA across 32 starts. Like Montas, Manaea hasn’t had much postseason success, with a 15.26 ERA and three losses in three appearances, spanning 7 ²⁄₃ innings.

With the lefty on the bump for the Mets, the Brewers have swapped Gary Sánchez and Blake Perkins in for Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell. Jackson Chourio moves into the leadoff spot, followed by Perkins, William Contreras, and Willy Adames. Sánchez is the DH batting fifth, followed by Rhys Hoskins, Sal Frelick, Joey Ortiz, and Brice Turang to round things out.

First pitch is at 6:38 p.m. on ESPN and the Brewers Radio Network.