Venue: American Family Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
First Pitch: 8:30 p.m. ET (7:30 p.m. CT / 5:30 p.m. PT)
Broadcast: FS1 / FOX Deportes / FOX One
This is Game 1 of the National League Division Series (best-of-five). The Brewers earned the top seed and a first-round bye after a franchise-record 103-win regular season and NL Central title. The Padres advanced by sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the Wild Card Series and enter as one of the hottest teams in baseball after a strong late-season surge.
Projected Lineups / Current Rosters
San Diego Padres key contributors:
Core lineup expected to feature Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Manny Machado (3B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Jake Cronenworth (2B), Ty France or similar at 1B, and options at catcher (including young talent like Ethan Salas) and DH (Austin Hays or others). Supporting outfield/infield pieces round out the order. Pitching: Starter TBD (candidates include Walker Buehler, Robbie Ray, or others from the rotation that handled the Wild Card; Michael King was used recently). Elite bullpen anchored by Mason Miller and supporting arms.
Milwaukee Brewers key contributors:
Projected core includes players such as Garrett Mitchell or Jackson Chourio in the outfield, Brice Turang (2B), Christian Yelich (DH/OF), Jake Bauers or similar at 1B, William Contreras or Gary Sánchez at catcher, and middle-infield options. Pitching: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (announced for Game 1; dominant season with elite ERA, WHIP, and strikeout totals). Strong supporting rotation and bullpen depth.
Current Weather Forecast
Milwaukee forecast for Saturday: Sunny conditions with a high near 61°F, light southeast winds (5–10 mph), and low chance of precipitation. Evening temperatures will cool into the mid-to-upper 40s. Playable fall weather with minimal impact expected on the game.
Injury Reports
San Diego Padres:
Casey Mize (SP, ankle) – 15-day IL
Lucas Giolito (SP, elbow) – 60-day IL
Miguel Andujar (DH/OF, wrist) – 10-day IL
Jeremiah Estrada (RP, shoulder) – 15-day IL
Additional longer-term absences (e.g., Rodolfo Duran, Ramon Laureano, Luis Rengifo, Bryan Hoeing)
Milwaukee Brewers:
Andrew Vaughn (1B, illness) – 10-day IL (status approaching availability)
Joey Ortiz (SS, knee/ankle) – Day-to-day / questionable
Grant Anderson (RP, biceps) – 15-day IL
Brandon Woodruff (SP, shoulder) – 60-day IL
Quinn Priester (SP, shoulder) and other longer-term arms out
Both clubs manage several pitching absences but field competitive active postseason rosters.
Key Player vs. Player Matchups
Jacob Misiorowski vs. Padres stars (Tatis Jr., Machado, Merrill, Bogaerts): Misiorowski’s elite stuff and season-long dominance against a high-powered San Diego lineup that thrives on power and contact.
Padres bullpen (Mason Miller and high-leverage arms) vs. Brewers late-inning hitters: San Diego’s relief corps ranks among the best and will be critical if the starter is limited.
Jackson Chourio / Brice Turang / Christian Yelich vs. Padres starters and middle relief: Milwaukee’s speed, contact, and on-base skills testing San Diego’s defense and pitching depth.
Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado power vs. Brewers pitching staff: Postseason home-run threats that can change a game quickly.
Defensive matchups and baserunning will matter in a potential low-scoring series opener at American Family Field.
Recent Team Forms
San Diego Padres: Extremely hot entering the NLDS after sweeping the Cubs in the Wild Card and winning the vast majority of their final regular-season games (strong September/October surge). Offensive and bullpen excellence on display.
Milwaukee Brewers: Best regular-season record in MLB (103-59), dominant at home, and well-rested after the bye. Consistent excellence all year with strong pitching and opportunistic offense. The Padres bring momentum; the Brewers bring rest, home-field advantage, and regular-season superiority.
Series History
The Padres won the 2026 regular-season series (approximately 4-2), including a three-game sweep of the Brewers at Petco Park in August. The teams have limited recent postseason history against each other. Milwaukee’s home dominance and overall season strength contrast with San Diego’s recent head-to-head success.
Betting Trends
Home favorites with elite starters often perform well in Division Series openers. Misiorowski has strong home and favorite trends. Padres’ recent road form and momentum create some underdog interest. Totals can lean under in early postseason games with strong pitching. covers.com
Game Odds
San Diego Padres 7
Milwaukee Brewers – 207
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, October 2, 2026
