Brewers Eye Dustin May for NLCS Game 4 Start vs. Dodgers

Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy is weighing a bold rotation maneuver that could define the National League Championship Series: shifting trade-deadline acquisition Dustin May from the bullpen back into the starting role for Game 4 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Brewers carry a 2-0 series lead into American Family Field’s absence, with Games 3, 4, and a potential 5 scheduled in Los Angeles beginning Wednesday night. Left-hander Robert Gasser will take the mound for Game 3, mirroring his elimination-clinching start against the San Diego Padres in the National League Division Series. Jacob Misiorowski and Logan Henderson handled the first two victories over the Dodgers, maintaining the same top-of-the-rotation order Milwaukee deployed throughout the NLDS.

May’s usage has become the central tactical question for the remainder of the series. Acquired before the July trade deadline to fortify a rotation stretched thin by injuries, the right-hander started Game 3 of the NLDS but lasted only three innings. He navigated the first two frames effectively before surrendering control and two runs in the third, handing Milwaukee its lone defeat of that round.

Murphy repurposed him as a high-leverage reliever in Game 2 of the current NLCS. May delivered a scoreless fifth inning, contributing to five consecutive perfect frames by Milwaukee’s relief corps — an MLB postseason record. That dominant stretch underscored the depth of a bullpen that has carried the team through October, but it also complicated May’s immediate future. Pitching out of the pen requires different preparation routines and pitch counts than starting, making a quick transition back to the rotation physically demanding.

If Murphy hands May the Game 4 ball, expectations point toward a heavily managed outing. May’s recent track record suggests his effectiveness diminishes the deeper he pushes into a game. A two-inning ceiling would force Milwaukee to rely on multi-inning bridge arms earlier than usual in a playoff environment where every matchup carries amplified weight.

The available options behind a shortened May start present varying degrees of risk. Aaron Ashby has proven reliable in extended relief, throwing three shutout innings during the NLDS clincher in San Diego and adding two more scoreless frames in Game 2 against Los Angeles. Chad Patrick offers similar length capabilities, having been stretched out as a starter during the regular season before transitioning to a bulk-relief role in October.

Kyle Harrison remains on the active NLCS roster but has yet to appear in a postseason game. The left-hander struggled with consistency down the stretch in September, leaving his readiness for high-pressure playoff innings an open question. Unlike Ashby or Patrick, Harrison lacks recent competitive reps this October, which typically complicates a manager’s trust in critical moments.

Historically, teams holding a 2-0 lead in a best-of-seven baseball series advance roughly 85 percent of the time. However, the shift to Dodger Stadium introduces new variables. Los Angeles possesses one of the deepest lineups in the majors, capable of exploiting a fatigued starter or an untested reliever if Milwaukee’s pitching strategy fractures early.

The Dodgers will counter with their own rotation adjustments after dropping the first two games in Wisconsin, likely leaning on their veteran starters to stabilize the series at home. For Milwaukee, avoiding a prolonged stay in Southern California remains the priority, placing immediate pressure on Gasser to secure a sweep-clinching position on Wednesday.

Game 3 is scheduled for Wednesday evening at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch set for 8:08 p.m. ET.