SAN DIEGO — Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres earned a 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 3 of the National League Division Series at Petco Park on Tuesday, Oct. 6.
Tatis said before the game that his team knew what was at stake in a must-win situation but Padres would have to take it a step further and prove it on the field in order to help keep their season alive.
San Diego delivered, extending the series to a fourth game after dropping the first two.
Jake Cronenworth went 2-for-2 with a home run he sent 368 feet to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning.
The teams played to a 2-2 tie halfway through the fifth inning after the Padres built up a 2-0 lead in the third inning. Brewers catcher William Contreras cut into
the lead with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning then Milwaukee evened the score on a sacrifice fly in the top of the fifth inning but were unable to go ahead.
The Padres season continues with another game at home against the Brewers on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Milwaukee has a 2-1 lead in the series.
Where to watch Padres vs Brewers: TV channel, Game 3 streaming
- Time: 9:30 p.m. ET
- TV channel: FS1
- Live stream: Fubo and Fox One
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Padres vs Brewers live updates:
Michael King slams the door
01:06 AM ET, October 7 2026, Jesse YomtovXander Bogaerts turns the double play, Michael King locks down the save, and the @Padres live to see Game 4! pic.twitter.com/vYXcWkxjJ3
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2026
Michael King in to pitch for Padres
12:38 AM ET, October 7 2026, Jesse YomtovSan Diego's Michael King is coming into the game to protect a 4-3 lead in the top of the eight, just two days after pitching five innings in his Game 2 start. King only through 82 pitches in the outing but the Padres are short in the bullpen with Mason Miller on the paternity list.
7th-inning stretch: Padres 4, Brewers 3
12:21 AM ET, October 7 2026, Jesse YomtovThe Padres and Brewers traded runs in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh with San Diego scoring on an error by Milwaukee shortstop Cooper Pratt. Then Christian Yelich hit an RBI single in the top of the seventh but Bradgley Rodriguez struck out Garrett Mitchell to stand runners on first and second.
Christian Yelich brings the Brewers within a run! pic.twitter.com/fsP8ulMIoG
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2026
Padres escape 6th-inning jam
11:54 PM ET, October 6 2026, Jesse YomtovWith Brewers on second and third and two outs, Bradgley Rodriguez came on for the Padres to replace Yuki Matsui and got Joey Ortiz to fly out down the right field line and end the inning.
Jake Cronenworth home run restores lead
11:25 PM ET, October 6 2026, Jesse YomtovImmediately after coughing up the lead, Jake Cronenworth led off the bottom of the fifth inning with a homer off Brewers reliever Jojo Romero to put the Padres back in front 3-2.
Brewers tie it but strand bases loaded
11:24 PM ET, October 6 2026, Jesse YomtovIn the top of the fifth, Jackson Chourio hit a sacrifice fly that scored Cooper Pratt – on an aggressive tag-up play – to tie the game 2-2. Jason Adam had come on for Nick Pivetta earlier in the inning but he loaded the bases and was relieved by Yuki Matsui, who retired Brice Turang to strand the bases loaded.
William Contreras home run for Brewers
10:54 PM ET, October 6 2026, Jesse YomtovAfter the Padres score two runs in the bottom of the third, William Contreras hit a solo home run off Nick Pivetta in the top of the fourth to make it a 2-1 game.
William Contreras gets a run right back for the Brewers! pic.twitter.com/AozYKwNKC9
— MLB (@MLB) October 7, 2026
NLDS schedule
10:02 PM ET, October 6 2026, Jesse Yomtov- Game 1 (Saturday, Oct. 3): At Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m. ET
- Game 2 (Sunday, Oct. 4): At Milwaukee, 4 p.m. ET
- Game 3 (Tuesday, Oct. 6): At San Diego, 9:30 p.m. ET
- Game 4 (Wednesday, Oct. 7)*: At San Diego, 10 p.m. ET
- Game 5 (Friday, Oct. 9)*: At Milwaukee, 4:30 p.m. ET
Scoreless first in San Diego
10:01 PM ET, October 6 2026, Jesse YomtovInto the second inning at Petco Park, this Game 3 is scoreless with Nick Pivetta and Dustin May each tossing a scoreless frame in front of a frenzied crowd.
Mason Miller ruled out for Game 3
08:52 PM ET, October 6 2026, James H. WilliamsSan Diego Padres announced that closer Mason Miller has been placed on the Postseason Paternity List ahead of Game 3 against the Milwaukee Brewers tonight.
Left-handed pitcher Wandy Peralta was added to San Diego's active NLDS roster as Miller's replacement.
San Diego pitcher Walker Buehler was previously placed on the Postseason Paternity List in recent days but has since returned.
Brewers look to snap playoff road losing streak tonight
08:31 PM ET, October 6 2026, James H. WilliamsThe Brewers are looking to snap a postseason losing streak with a victory against the Padres on Tuesday.
Milwaukee enters NLDS Game 3, having lost 11 straight postseason road games.
A Brewers' victory tonight would not only erase the streak, but send Milwaukee to the National League Championship Series for a second consecutive year.
“There’s just a different feeling, man," Brewers pitcher Aaron Ashby said about the Brewers overcoming that streak. "I don’t know how to explain it. There’s a calm confidence around the team.”
The Brewers have not won a playoff road game since 2018, when the team earned a 4-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in NLCS Game 3. Milwaukee's current streak is the second-longest in MLB postseason history, trailing the 12-game skid by the Twins' franchise from 1925 to 1987.
Jackson Chourio's mindset for Game 3
07:52 PM ET, October 6 2026, James H. WilliamsJackson Chourio of the Brewers shares his thoughts ahead of NLDS Game 3 against the Padres in San Diego.
"We have to keep playing our game," Chourio said.
“We have to keep playing our game. We have to continue to do the little things.”
— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) October 6, 2026
Ahead of Game 3, Jackson Chourio joins @SophiaMinnaert to discuss the confidence he has in both himself and his teammates pic.twitter.com/NIbiwrigBm
Gavin Sheets scratched from Padres' lineup
07:18 PM ET, October 6 2026, James H. WilliamsThe Padres announced that Gavin Sheets has been removed from the lineup tonight. Sheets is suffering from a stiff neck but will be available to come off the bench.
Samad Taylor will serve as the team's designated hitter in place of Sheets.
Padres vs Brewers starting pitchers
07:10 PM ET, October 6 2026, James H. WilliamsThe Padres named Nick Pivetta as the starting pitcher for Game 3 tonight.
Pivetta is 1-3 with an 8.76 ERA and 24 strikeouts in five career appearances against Milwaukee. He allowed four hits and three earned runs while striking out five in 5.2 innings pitched against the Brewers in September 2025.
Dustin May is the starting pitcher for the Brewers.
May is 3-5 in his career against the Padres, with a 3.14 ERA and 75 strikeouts across 16 appearances. He started three games against San Diego this season and posted a 1.23 ERA over 22 innings with 22 strikeouts. May started the season with the St. Louis Cardinals. The pitcher also has a level of familiarity with San Diego from his time with the Dodgers.
Padres not ready to commit to Game 4 starter
06:30 PM ET, October 6 2026, James H. WilliamsPadres manager Craig Stammen wasn't ready to name a starter for Game 4.
"We will see how today's game goes and what pitchers we use and then decide what our best course of action is for tomorrow," Stammen said before Game 3 on Tuesday.
The Padres find themselves in a must-win situation on Tuesday night against the Brewers.
A victory would keep the team's season alive. A loss will conclude their season.
Nick Pivetta has been named as San Diego's Game 3 starter.
Fernando Tatis Jr.: 'We have to win'
06:21 PM ET, October 6 2026, James H. WilliamsFernando Tatis Jr. and the Padres acknowledge the need to play with a sense of urgency on Tuesday night.
The Padres are down 0-2 in the NLDS against the Brewers and another loss tonight would eliminate San Diego from the postseason.
"We have to win… I'm ready; we are ready for the situation," Tatis said. "We have been through this a lot. … It's up to us if we really want it, and we want it, but we have to perform like it."
Brewers lineup today
06:07 PM ET, October 6 2026, Jesse Yomtov- Jackson Chourio (R) LF
- Jake Bauers (L) 1B
- William Contreras (R) C
- Brice Turang (L) 2B
- Christian Yelich (L) DH
- Garrett Mitchell (L) CF
- Cooper Pratt (R) SS
- Sal Frelick (L) RF
- Joey Ortiz (R) 3B
Padres lineup today
05:35 PM ET, October 6 2026, Jesse YomtovWith their backs against the wall in the National League Division Series, the San Diego Padres made one substitution in their lineup for Tuesday's Game 3 at Petco Park against the Milwaukee Brewers.
- Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF
- Jackson Merrill (L) CF
- Manny Machado (R) 3B
- Ty France (R) 1B
- Ethan Salas (L) C
- Gavin Sheets (L) DH
- Xander Bogaerts (R) SS
- Dustin Harris (L) LF
- Jake Cronenworth (L) 2B
Brewers vs Padres tickets
04:57 PM ET, October 6 2026, Jesse YomtovGet Brewers vs Padres tickets
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Padres won't quit and force another game vs Brewers: MLB playoffs highlights
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