Padres vs. Brewers Game 2 preview: The San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers play NLDS Game 2 on Sunday at American Family Field. San Diego is 91-71 after winning 17 of its final 20 games and sweeping the Cubs in the Wild Card Series. The Brewers won 15 of their final 18 regular-season games and own the best home record in the majors. The Padres are riding their hottest stretch of the season: 43-18 since July 23, including a 2-0 playoff start. San Diego swept the Cubs 8-0 in Game 1 and won 4-1 in Game 2.
Padres vs Brewers game information
- Date: Sunday, Oct. 4
- Time: 4 p.m. ET
- Venue: American Family Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- TV/Streaming: FS1, ERADM
- Series: NLDS, Game 2
By the numbers
- Team ERA: Padres 0.50, Brewers 3.51
- Team batting average: Padres .328, Brewers .258
- Team OPS: Padres .925, Brewers .743
- Strikeouts per nine innings (pitching): Padres 9.5, Brewers 9.6
- WHIP: Padres 0.83, Brewers 1.18
- Home runs allowed per game: Padres 0, Brewers 1.1
- Record: Brewers 103-59, Padres 91-71
- Last five regular-season games: Brewers 5-0, Padres 4-1
Padres outlook
San Diego swept the Chicago Cubs 2-0 in the Wild Card Series, per The Associated Press. The Padres own a 2-0 playoff record with an 0.50 ERA and a .925 team OPS through two games, numbers that reflect a lineup and pitching staff both clicking at the right time. Manny Machado leads the team with 30 home runs and 91 RBIs on the season, while Fernando Tatis Jr. carries a .289 batting average into the series.
Michael King is expected to start Game 2 for San Diego. The right-hander is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in the postseason. San Diego’s injury list includes starters Lucas Giolito (right elbow inflammation) and Casey Mize (right ankle sprain), both out, along with Walker Buehler, who is away from the team on paternity leave with a return date of Oct. 6.
Those absences have pushed King into a featured role atop the rotation for this series.
Brewers outlook
Milwaukee closed the regular season by winning 15 of its final 18 games and carries a five-game winning streak into Sunday, according to CBS Sports. The Brewers posted a 3.51 team ERA and a .987 fielding percentage over 162 games, backed by 1,544 strikeouts from the pitching staff. Jackson Chourio leads Milwaukee with a .291 batting average, while Brice Turang paces the club with 100 RBIs.
Logan Henderson is expected to start Game 2 for Milwaukee. Henderson has pitched in the regular season but lacks extensive postseason experience entering this series. The Brewers’ injury report is thin on position players but deep on pitching, with Brandon Woodruff (right shoulder inflammation), Quinn Priester (right shoulder surgery) and relievers Angel Zerpa and Brian Fitzpatrick all unavailable for the series.
Key matchup
San Diego’s bullpen against Milwaukee’s bottom-of-order power will shape how much Henderson’s outing matters. Through two playoff games, San Diego’s pitchers have allowed four hits and no home runs. Milwaukee hit 154 home runs during the regular season.
Milwaukee’s lineup also drew 668 walks on the year, so King and San Diego’s relief corps need to limit free passes to keep innings short. On the other side, closer Mason Miller gives the Padres a weapon late if the game stays close. Milwaukee’s bullpen logged 55 saves and 87 holds over the regular season, a group that will be tested if the Padres’ staff keeps the game close late.
Players to watch
Fernando Tatis Jr., SS, Padres
Tatis has hit .313 with a .701 slugging percentage over 78 career postseason plate appearances, including seven home runs and 13 RBIs. He opened the Wild Card Series with a first-pitch home run against the Cubs and has been San Diego’s offensive catalyst since the All-Star break.
Jackson Chourio, OF, Brewers
Chourio leads Milwaukee with a .291 batting average in 2026, when the Brewers posted the best record in baseball. His production at the top of the lineup sets the tone for a Milwaukee offense that averaged 5.1 runs per game.
Michael King, SP, Padres
King is projected to start Game 2 after a dominant Wild Card round in which San Diego’s staff allowed just one earned run over 18 innings. His ability to limit Milwaukee’s power bats will go a long way toward determining whether the Padres leave Wisconsin with a split.
What to watch
The Padres won the regular-season series 4-2, including a three-game sweep at Petco Park in August. Milwaukee is trying to protect the best home record in baseball. The winner of Game 2 takes control of the best-of-five series before the next three games shift to San Diego.
Reporting from Yahoo Sports, The Associated Press, CBS Sports and FOX Sports contributed to this story. Official statistics: ESPN (official league data).
