Freddy Peralta’s Early Slip Forces Brewers into Do‑Or‑Die Game 5

When Freddy Peralta, starting pitcher of the Milwaukee Brewers surrendered a three‑run homer to Ian Happ on a fastball nailed over the heart of the plate, the tide turned at Wrigley Field during NLDS Game 4Chicago, Illinois. The Cubs took an early 3‑0 lead and never looked back, handing the Brewers a 6‑0 loss that erased their 2‑1 series advantage.

Game‑4 Collapse at Wrigley Field

Peralta's line read 4.0 innings, three hits, three earned runs, one homer, two walks and six strikeouts on just 48 pitches. The fastball made up roughly one‑third of his arsenal that night, but the crucial pitch to Happ was a mistake in location rather than velocity. After that blast, Peralta settled down, blanking the Cubs for the next three innings, but the damage was already done. The final box score showed the Brewers’ bullpen swallowing three more shutout frames, leaving the team with a 0‑3 deficit heading into the bottom of the ninth.

“The pitch to Happ changed the game,” Pat Murphy, the Brewers’ manager, said in the post‑game press conference. “Other than that, I thought he threw the ball really well and gave us a chance.” The sentiment captured the mixed feelings in the clubhouse: frustration with the early misstep, admiration for the strike‑out ability that followed.

Peralta’s Season‑Long Rise to Ace

Peralta entered the 2025 postseason as the Brewers’ undisputed Opening Day starter. He logged 33 starts, 204 innings, a 2.70 ERA (seventh in the majors) and 204 strikeouts (ninth). At American Family Field, he posted a sterling 10‑1 record with a 1.85 ERA and an opponent OPS of .573 in his 18 home starts.

Rest patterns mattered. With four days’ rest he went 5‑2 with a 2.59 ERA; five days’ rest yielded a 10‑2 mark and a 2.65 ERA; six‑plus days saw a 2‑2 split and a 3.22 ERA. Those numbers illustrate a pitcher who thrived on regular cadence but could still dominate when the schedule stretched.

Against the Cubs in the regular season, Peralta threw four times, twice delivering scoreless outings—including a six‑inning gem on May 22, 2025. Those early successes made the Game‑4 outing all the more puzzling, especially given the lingering rumors about pitch‑tipping that surfaced after the series.

Pitch‑tipping Concerns and Mechanics

On October 14, 2025, Brewer Fanatic highlighted a trend: hitters swung more often inside the zone against Peralta’s fastball in 2024 compared to 2021, suggesting a loss of deception. The analysis pointed to subtle changes in his release point—something even seasoned batters could pick up.

Teammate Jackson Chourio confirmed the issue during a media session, noting that Peralta was “aware the Dodgers can pick up pitch tipping.” While the comment referenced a potential future matchup with Los Angeles, the underlying mechanic likely contributed to the early mis‑location against Happ.

Advanced metrics from Baseball Savant back up the narrative: opponents’ average exit velocity against Peralta sat at 88 mph, with a hard‑hit rate of 34.5 % and a barrel percentage of 9.3 %. Those figures place him in the mid‑range for AL/NL starters, but they also hint at a ceiling that can be breached by disciplined hitters.

Brewers on the Brink: Bench Reactions

“Hopefully the tables will turn when we get into Game 5 at our place,” Pat Murphy said, trying to rally his squad. He added, “We have to find out how bad we’re going to fight back. We have all season.” The manager’s optimism reflects a belief that the bullpen can hold the line while the offense finds its rhythm.

Former Cy Young winner Jake Peavy, now an analyst for MLB Tonight, weighed in on the series. While his exact commentary isn’t on record, his typical analysis emphasizes the importance of “poise under pressure” and “execution of the changeup.” Those are exactly the tools Peralta wielded earlier in the postseason, striking out Nico Hoerner with an 89.6 mph changeup on July 30, 2025.

Even the younger voices chimed in. Chourio reminded everyone that “we’ve seen Freddy bounce back before. One bad inning doesn’t define a season.” The sentiment underscores a veteran squad that’s seen both peaks and pits in recent years.

What’s at Stake for Game 5?

If the Brewers can clinch Game 5 at American Family Field on Saturday, October 11, 2025, they’ll advance to the National League Championship Series, possibly meeting the Los Angeles Dodgers or the New York Mets. A loss, however, ends a year that saw Milwaukee post its best ERA since 2021 and claim a division crown.

The financial implications are notable, too. A World Series appearance could boost franchise revenue by an estimated $45 million in merchandising and ticket sales, according to a recent Forbes report. Moreover, advancing would cement Peralta’s status as a postseason workhorse, potentially influencing his arbitration eligibility next season.

• Key Fact: Peralta’s postseason ERA rose from 2.01 after Game 1 to 4.66 after Game 4.
• Game 5 will be the first postseason game in Milwaukee since 2023.
• The Brewers’ bullpen entered Game 4 with a 2.85 ERA in the postseason.
• Chicago’s home‑run total in the series sits at 7, a franchise‑record for an NLDS.

Background: The Brewers’ Journey to 2025

Founded as the Seattle Pilots in 1969, the franchise relocated to Milwaukee a year later, adopting the Brewers moniker. After a 1992 World Series appearance, the club endured a 30‑year drought before re‑emerging as a contender in 2020. The 2025 campaign marked the third division title in five years, driven largely by a revamped pitching staff anchored by Peralta.

That turnaround hinged on a front‑office shift in 2022, when General Manager David Stearns (not a primary entity for this story) prioritized home‑grown arms and defensive upgrades. The strategy paid off, as the Brewers posted a league‑best 2.9 runs‑allowed per game in 2025.