Questionable decision to pull Peralta proves costly for Brewers in Game 1

Managers' decisions on when they pull starters from playoff games are very often dissected to death. Some simply long for 1980's baseball when starters went seven innings no matter how bad they were while others take issue with the constant bullpen maneuvering that can turn games into a slog and the consequences of doing so. In the case of the Milwaukee Brewers and manager Pat Murphy, one such decision involving Freddy Peralta against the Mets on Tuesday is very much in the spotlight.

The first game of the playoffs was a mess early on for the Brewers. Milwaukee put some runs on the board in the first only for Peralta to immediately give up three runs in the second mostly thanks to a triple from former Brewer Jesse Winker who also got into it with Willy Adames during and after the play. It certainly wasn't ideal, but Peralta settled down after that and looked like he had locked back in over the next two innings and the offense got the lead back in the bottom of the fourth.

Unfortunately, Murphy saw SOMETHING he didn't like and opted to pull Peralta after just four innings and 68 pitches in favor of reliever Joel Payamps. That decision immediately bit the Brewers as the Mets would score five runs in the fifth inning and account for the final margin in the Brewers loss in Game One of the Wild Card round.

Pat Murphy's decision to pull Peralta after four inning backfired spectacularly in Brewers' playoff loss

After the game, Murphy provided a meandering explanation as to his decision-making regarding Peralta. Some of it made at least some sense as he said he had faith in the Brewers' bullpen and specifically Payamps (who has been very good) to go the rest of the way. He also said that he treats playoff games much differently when it comes to game management and playing matchups against opposing hitters which isn't a crazy notion. Murphy also seemed to not be super aware that Peralta had looked quite good after his second inning hiccup which was far more concerning and difficult to understand.

Unfortunately, Payamps wasn't nearly as good as Murphy and the Brewers hoped he would be. He got bailed out by a spectacular catch by Jackson Chourio at the left field wall, but Chourio then misplayed a line drive to the next hitter. Payamps then failed to cover first base in time on a grounder that would have been the third out and the wheels completely fell off after that.

Look, any decision can be picked apart with the benefit of hindsight. Other than the fifth inning, Milwaukee's bullpen did pitch well the rest of the way and it isn't like the offense did anything to help in the second half of the game. However, one wonders how Game One would have gone if Murphy would have at least given Peralta the chance to go out for the fifth.

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