2026 NLDS Series Preview: Milwaukee Brewers vs. San Diego Padres

The Brewers face the surging Padres in the 2026 NLDS after San Diego swept the Cubs in the wild-card round with dominant performances. Since August 1, both teams won 35 games, but the Padres finished with a better record due to fewer losses, and they swept Milwaukee in a three-game series in August despite the Brewers holding late leads in two of those games. San Diego's offense has been particularly hot down the stretch, with Fernando Tatis Jr. hitting 25 home runs since May 30 and posting a 1.012 OPS in September, while Ty France had a career-best 139 OPS+ season. The Padres' strength lies in their dominant bullpen led by Mason Miller, who finished the season with historic strikeout rates, making early offensive production crucial for Milwaukee's chances.

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