After the Brewers' vaunted bullpen stumbled in the first two games of the NLCS, the team needed a big performance from starter Jhoulys Chacin in Game 3.
Mission accomplished. Chacin, a 30-year-old journeyman pitching for his sixth MLB team, went 5 1/3 scoreless innings to get Milwaukee going en route to a 4-0 victory. Milwaukee now leads the series, 2-1. Game 4 is Tuesday at 9:09 p.m. (ET) at Dodger Stadium.
After watching Game 2 slip away late, the Brewers needed this win in Dodger Stadium to turn the series' momentum back in their favor. Here are three takeaways from the Brewers' key win.
Jhoulys Chacin continues outstanding work by Brewers starters
Coming into the NLCS, the Brewers' bullpen dominated talk about the team's pitching. Yet Milwaukee's starters have arguably made the difference in this series.
In Game 3, the Brewers' unexpected ace, Jhoulys Chacin, stepped up with an unexpectedly good performance.
The well-traveled veteran pitched 5 1/3 scoreless innings, yielding only three hits (with two walks) while striking out six. The right-hander doesn't have a commanding fastball, instead relying on a slider and changeup. Everything worked Monday against the Dodgers' powerful lineup.
"How did Jhoulys Chacin perform so well?"
— Pitcher List (@PitcherList) October 16, 2018
Showcasing perfect command like this slider to Max Muncy.
Right. On. The. Corner. pic.twitter.com/Yk5AZbNzzH
It was an especially notable performance, given Chacin entered the game with a 4.96 ERA in 11 career starts at Dodger Stadium.
So through three games, the Brewers starters — or "initial out-getters" as manager Craig Counsell calls them — have allowed only one earned run and six hits in 13 innings. The bullpen, which labored in the first couple of games, pitched 3 2/3 scoreless innings, although closer Jeremy Jeffress walked a tightrope in the ninth, loading the bases before retiring LA.
Christian Yelich has unexpectedly gone cold … but Orlando Arcia has stepped up
Christian Yelich, the presumed 2018 NL MVP, had a hit in three at-bats and scored the Brewers' first run, but he has struggled otherwise in the series, with two hits and no RBIs in 12 at-bats. Several of the Brewers' big bats have been stymied by the Dodgers, including Ryan Braun (.167), Mike Moustakas (.182) and Jesus Aguilar (.222).
Luckily, Orlando Arcia has been doing his best Christian Yelich impression this postseason. The light-hitting shortstop (.236 batting average, three home runs during the regular season), gave the Brewers some breathing room and a 4-0 lead with a two-run homer in the seventh.
Orlando Arcia regular season home runs: 3
— Sporting News MLB (@sn_mlb) October 16, 2018
Orlando Arcia playoff home runs: 3pic.twitter.com/z5zEUAT3Mq
It's Arcia's second homer of the NLCS, and third of the postseason. No one figured he'd be a postseason hero, not with guys like Yelich, Braun, Moustakas, etc., around. But baseball's a funny game.
Dodgers face virtual must-win situation next two games
Technically, Game 4 is not a must-win for the Dodgers. They only trail 2-1 in the series. But lose either Game 4 or Game 5 at home, and they head to Milwaukee needing to sweep two games. Not an easy task.
So what's the blueprint for beating the Brewers? The Dodgers need to get to the Brewers early, and try to wear down their bullpen. Their big bats need to step up. The Dodgers were second in the majors with 235 home runs this season. They have two in this series. Game 4 would be a good time to get things rolling.