Brewers' ace Freddy Peralta blamed for NLDS Game 4 loss to Cubs

When Freddy Peralta, starting pitcher for Milwaukee Brewers took the mound at Wrigley Field on October 9, 2025, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. The NLDS Game 4 showdown with the Chicago Cubs turned into a nightmare after Cubs left‑fielder Ian Happ, who had a career‑average of just .086 against Peralta, launched a three‑run homer in the first inning. The blast put Milwaukee behind 3‑0, forcing a winner‑takes‑all Game 5 in Milwaukee.

• Game date: 2025‑10‑09, NLDS Game 4
• Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
• Final score: Cubs 3, Brewers 0
• Peralta’s line: 84 pitches, 3 runs, 2 hits, 2 walks, 4 K
• Series batting average for Brewers: .187 (second‑lowest in franchise postseason history)

Game Overview and Early Blast

From the first pitch, the crowd of 41,424 was a living, breathing entity. Fans chanted “FREDDY! FREDDY!” every time Peralta delivered, a pressure cooker that seemed to tighten with each beat‑up fastball. After a 2‑0 count walk to right‑fielder Seiya Suzuki, Peralta fought back, striking Suzuki out on a seven‑pitch duel. But the moment that mattered came when Cubs catcher Carson Kelly called for a high fastball. Peralta obliged, and Happ smashed a 94‑mph rocket into the right‑field bleachers for a three‑run homer.

Pitching Duel and Tactical Moves

Chicago manager Craig Counsell entered the game with a simple game plan: attack Peralta’s rare weakness to elevated fastballs. The plan paid off instantly, and the Cubs never looked back. Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s veteran skipper Pat Murphy had thrust Peralta into the ace role after Corbin Burnes was traded and Brandon Woodruff continued his shoulder rehab. The pressure was palpable; a loss would thrust the Brewers into an elimination‑only Game 5.

On the other side of the mound, Cubs starter Justin Steele peppered Milwaukee hitters with 96‑mph heat. The Brewers managed only two hits through five innings, a continuation of the .187 series average that MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy called “the second‑lowest in franchise postseason history.”

Post‑Game Reactions

In the immediate aftermath, Peralta was somber. “I made one mistake to Happ, and he didn’t miss it. That’s playoff baseball—you have to be perfect, and I wasn’t tonight,” he told reporters. Shortstop Willy Adames tried to lift spirits: “We’ve got a fresh mindset for Game 5 in Milwaukee. One game at a time—that’s how we got here.”

General manager Matt Arnold reminded everyone of the long‑term picture, noting that Peralta’s four‑year, $50.5 million extension signed in February 2024 makes his postseason performance a critical yardstick for the franchise’s future.

Series Implications and Next Steps

The loss shoved the Brewers into a win‑or‑go‑home scenario for Game 5, scheduled for October 11, 2025, at 8:07 PM Central Time at American Family Field in Milwaukee. If Peralta can bounce back, Milwaukee’s ace status could be secured; if not, the Cubs will advance to the NLCS with a 3‑1 series edge.

Pitching coach Chris Hook was quick to defend his protégé, pointing out that Peralta’s changeup generated only one swing‑and‑miss in the entire game, according to Statcast data. The key question now is whether the Brewers can adjust their approach and generate offense against Steele’s fastball before the bullpen is called upon.

Historical Context and Player Matchups

Happ’s three‑run blast was especially surprising given his career numbers against Peralta: a .086 average (3‑for‑35) and just one prior home run in the series, which occurred in Game 1. Yet the baseball adage “any given day” proved true. The Cubs, meanwhile, have won three of the last four NLDS series they’ve entered, a trend that adds psychological weight to the matchup.

For Milwaukee, this series continues a trend of offensive struggles in the postseason. The 2023 postseason saw a .199 team batting average, and the 2025 NLDS has been even lower. If the Brewers want to break the pattern, they’ll need an early spark from hitters like Jackson Chourio, who struck out three times in Game 4, raising his postseason total to eight strikeouts in 14 at‑bats.