NL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES: DODGERS VS BREWERS

October 14, 2025

Pat Murphy

American Family Field

Milwaukee Brewers

Pregame 2 Press Conference

Q. What would you like to see out of Freddy tonight that you didn't see in that first inning in Chicago?

PAT MURPHY: Ahead in the count, attacking, his three top pitches clicking from punch one because all these games are critical. There's no like, well, we'll give him a chance. Let's go.

I think Freddy is experienced. He understands the lineup he's facing. They know him. And it will be a good test.

Q. Jake Bauers got another hit yesterday. Seems since the start of September he's really been on a tear. Is it just getting a little healthier? What's the difference for him the last six weeks?

PAT MURPHY: He's a sneaky, experienced player, you know? And he cares a lot about the team. He cares a lot about his opportunities. He's never really ever been a full-time player for very long. He kind of found a home here last year and did great for us in the postseason on his limited at-bats.

He's done the same thing this year. Like you said, he's been as good as anybody swinging the bat in September. We're going to sacrifice a little bit and put him in the outfield. And we're going to go with it because he's swinging it so good. If you look at his at-bats, they're just, wow, he's on it.

Q. For many years, Freddy was part of that kind of trio with Woodruff and Burnes. What did you need from him after those two, in Burnes' case, gone and Woodruff out? And what have you seen?

PAT MURPHY: I remember just sitting with him in Spring Training, like, you're the guy. You're coming into the year the ace. And the ace has to post. And that's what Freddy does best. He posts. He didn't miss a start, I don't believe this year. And he's been sensational at just competing.

I think unquestionably this is his best year. He's thrown a lot of innings, a bunch of punch. And what an example he's been to everybody the way he's taken the ball each time out.

Q. When you guys faced Yamamoto earlier in the season, knocked him out in the first inning, is there anything you can take from that game in preparation for this one?

PAT MURPHY: It's hard. It's hard. He was getting his feet wet, you know what I mean? And that happens to every pitcher. He's going to make the adjustment, you know what I mean? He's been really, really good. He's been one of the best five pitchers in baseball. You look at his numbers, they're incredible.

But we've studied him, studied him, studied him, and there's days like Snell was last night, lights out. But you have to combat it.

You can't beat number ones like that if you don't have a strategy going in that kind of, even if he's really good, here's some ways we can knock him off course and maybe get him out of the game sooner.

Q. It's not uncommon for players to play better at home than on the road, typically. Freddy's numbers are ridiculous here. What do you think is behind that? They're so much better at home than on the road.

PAT MURPHY: I think that's probably the case a lot throughout the league. I think that's the case. Look at Matt Boyd in Chicago. Those numbers are eye-popping, you know what I mean? I think certain guys feel better with their routines at home and that type of thing. And that leads to better preparation.

Those are numbers that you can't put a lot of stock in when you're making overall decisions, you know what I mean? You can't, they got to be able to pitch -- if they can only pitch at home, they're not going to be helpful for you. I think it's more normal than you think.

Q. Jake Bauers talked just a bit ago about how the team doesn't hang their heads after a loss. They may talk about the game but they are ready for the next day. What have you noticed about your team and your clubhouse and how they've responded from losses throughout the season?

PAT MURPHY: I look at it. We haven't had more than a four-game losing streak this year. And last year we didn't have more than a three-game losing streak. What does that tell you?

But at this time of year, you can't have either, you know what I mean? It's got to click in very quickly. But I think the practice of responding, the practice of washing it off is really helpful with such a young team.

Q. On that front, was there a message that you had for your guys last night after the kind of pitching they faced? Or do you just kind of wipe that slate clean and just start fresh?

PAT MURPHY: I think this time of year, the more you say to them -- there's guys in all different spots. You're after the game last night. There's guys in tremendously different spots. Maybe meet with a position-player group and talk to them a little bit, not after the game, though, maybe today.

You gather them up hey, look, bap ba bap bap. You don't have to refer to yesterday, but remind them this is what we do, this is what happens in these situations. Little reminders. They don't need to hear my voice too much. They've heard it for seven months. I'm tired of it. I can just imagine that they're tired of it.

Q. Is it safe to say Quintana will factor into Game 3 in some capacity?

PAT MURPHY: I would think so. Maybe tonight.

Q. If they're tired of your voice, whose voice are they not tired of hearing from?

PAT MURPHY: I'm not sure. But I'm sure they're tired of my voice. But we've got a great coaching staff. We've got a number of guys around that have been through it.

And we've got guys on our team, Rhys Hoskins, a guy like Quintana, who has been on it at different points in his career. I think they really embrace the team. They love the guys. And I think it's effective to have a message through one of those guys maybe more effective.

Q. The comeback fell a little short last night. Is there any way to take that energy from that ninth inning and carry it over into today?

PAT MURPHY: I think so. I think the guys know that that's who we are. We're in this position because we've had that trait of being able to be resilient and never stop. Yeah, I think it does. I think it adds to the game today.

Q. Do you think in a seven-game series against an experienced team -- I know you talk about the youth on your club -- the idea of stealing a game before you have to head out to LA -- in that environment, you talked about the environment, like the Chicago environment -- do you buy into that sometimes against an experienced team, you might have to steal a game from them?

PAT MURPHY: Exactly. It's critical. It's critical. It's tough to win the game period. The advantage of being at home, you've got to take advantage. Like last night's game, you've got to win that game, you know what I mean?

They outplayed us in every way. They left 11 guys on base. We had zero before the ninth inning. If you're still in that game and then you get bases loaded and then you lose, whoa, that's a dagger in the heart, even though we would have stole that game.

In terms of overall play, we probably didn't deserve to win, but we did -- let's say we did. That's stealing a game.

And that changes their whole perspective. So that little turning point there, we have to reverse that now. Very difficult to do, but it's all nine innings, 27 outs for each team, so we've got to be the ones to take advantage of that.