The San Diego Padres return to Petco Park facing elimination in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The Padres have blown two consecutive early leads, falling behind 0-2 in the series after back-to-back one-run losses.
Milwaukee, led by Jackson Chourio, who has been a key offensive force, is now one win away from advancing to the National League Championship Series. The Brewers enter Game 3 as underdogs, with the Padres listed as moneyline favorites.
Dustin May is slated to start Game 3 for the Brewers. Pitching on the road has been a challenge for May this season, with a 2-4 record and a 5.88 earned run average away from home. In his last start in San Diego in August, however, May allowed only one run over seven innings.
Manny Machado, the Padres' third baseman, is expected to be a key player in Game 3. Despite a challenging start to the series, Machado leads the team in total bases through the first four playoff games and has hit one home run. He has a career .238 average against May, with two home runs and five runs batted in over 42 plate appearances.
The Padres are looking for a strong performance from their lineup, particularly Machado, to keep their season alive and force a Game 4.