Abner Uribe has been in uniform for every October turn Milwaukee has taken, and the Brewers have kept handing him the ball. Six postseason games, six relief appearances, and after Monday’s 7-4 win over the Dodgers in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series, the hard-throwing right-hander made it plain that he intends to stay available as long as the season lasts.
Uribe answers the call again
Milwaukee’s bullpen took over Game 2 at American Family Field and did not allow a Dodger to reach base over its final five innings. Dustin May, JoJo Romero, Uribe and Aaron Ashby combined for 15 consecutive outs, matching the postseason record for a relief corps.
Uribe was assigned four outs. He struck out Mookie Betts in the eighth inning before Ashby finished the game with a five-out save. Trevor Megill was also getting loose, giving manager Pat Murphy another option if the finish turned.
- Uribe has pitched six innings across his six postseason outings.
- He has surrendered one unearned run and struck out five hitters.
- Ashby has appeared in five of Milwaukee’s six playoff games.
- Brewers relievers have yielded three runs, only one earned, in 28 2/3 innings this postseason.
- That bullpen group carries a 0.31 ERA into Game 3.
Uribe said he has used the off days to recover and prepare. With help from coach Nestor Corredor when needed during an interview in Spanish and English, Uribe said his approach is simple: he expects to be ready every day.
His emotion showed after the Betts strikeout, when he smacked his glove against the dugout bench. Uribe said it was not frustration; he was simply caught up in the moment.
Megill sees that edge as part of Uribe’s makeup. The closer called him a terrific teammate and a good person with a wild streak, adding that Uribe’s competitiveness and desire to win make him easy for the club to rally around.
A workload with historical company
Uribe is the only Milwaukee pitcher to take the mound in every game of this postseason. Cleveland relievers Hunter Gaddis and Cade Smith had also appeared in all six of their club’s games entering Tuesday night’s Game 2 of the ALCS.
The longest streak of appearances in consecutive team games at the start of one postseason is eight. Five relievers have done it:
- Clay Holmes for the 2024 Yankees
- Tyler Matzek for the 2021 Braves
- Wade Davis for the 2014 Royals
- Greg Holland for the 2014 Royals
- Jesse Orosco for the 1996 Orioles
If Milwaukee extends its run deep enough, Uribe could also enter the conversation for the highest share of team games worked in a postseason of at least 10 games.
| Pitcher | Club and postseason | Games appeared | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brandon Morrow | 2017 Dodgers | 14 of 15 | 93.3% |
| Clay Holmes | 2024 Yankees | 13 of 14 | 92.9% |
| Brian Fuentes | 2007 Rockies | 10 of 11 | 90.9% |
| Corey Knebel | 2018 Brewers | 9 of 10 | 90.0% |
| Cade Smith | 2024 Guardians | 9 of 10 | 90.0% |
| Tim Herrin | 2024 Guardians | 9 of 10 | 90.0% |
There is a warning in that kind of volume, too. Morrow worked all seven games of the 2017 World Series for Los Angeles. By Game 5, he faced four Houston hitters without recording an out; all four reached and scored in a blown save. He later threw a scoreless inning in Game 6 and retired one batter in Game 7, but finished the Series with an 8.44 ERA.
Milwaukee keeps reading the moment
Murphy and his staff have been balancing the immediate matchup with availability and the risk of letting the Dodgers see the same relievers too often in a seven-game series. On Monday, Ashby’s effectiveness and Uribe’s matchup with Betts helped shape the inning-by-inning decisions.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts credited Milwaukee’s arms for executing individual pitches more effectively. He also noted that the Brewers’ offense found grass with several softly struck balls, calling that a part of hitting and a part of how Milwaukee has created wins.
There is no shortage of volunteers in the Brewers’ bullpen. Ashby joked that he would not physically challenge Uribe for the chance to enter a game, calling that a poor business choice, though he said he would try to talk Uribe into letting him take the assignment.
Three Milwaukee pitchers remain unused this postseason: Chad Patrick, Shane Drohan and Kyle Harrison. Patrick said watching the current group has been enjoyable because the club feels secure when those relievers get the call.
Uribe’s version of the club’s formula is more direct. Whatever the score, inning or matchup, he said, the job is to compete one pitch at a time.
Game 3 awaits
The NLCS moves on Wednesday with Game 3 scheduled for 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT and 5 p.m. PT. It will air on FS1, FOX Deportes and FOX One.
For Uribe, the question is not whether he wants another turn. He has not missed one yet.
