The under-the-radar-lineup decision that Pat Murphy faces in the postseason

The 2025 NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers are officially bound for another trip to the playoffs, their seventh in the last eight years. Manager Pat Murphy has a few things to sort out yet before the NLDS begins, which is when Milwaukee will first appear in the 2025 playoffs, as they will bypass the Wild Cards series.

Who is in the starting rotation is one topic of hot debate right now, especially who will start games three and four, if needed, as Brandon Woodruff's availability is in serious question. However, from a lineup perspective, there is one decision that is not getting as much attention, but it generates a fascinating discussion.

The under-the-radar-lineup decision that Pat Murphy has to make in the postseason

Early on in the season, the Brewers were forced to place Jackson Chourio in center field, after Garrett Mitchell went out with a season-ending shoulder injury and Blake Perkins wasn't available until mid-July following a right leg fracture sustained in Spring Training that took longer to heal than expected.

Initially, there were some growing pains, but Chourio has shown he can handle center field while continuing to be a major asset at the plate and on the basepaths. That said, left field appears to be a more natural fit for him and better aligns with Milwaukee’s optimal outfield alignment. Perkins is undoubtedly the superior defender in center, which is not a knock on Chourio, but rather a reflection of how elite Perkins is defensively.

The complication arises from the fact that Rookie of the Year, and potential Gold Glove candidate, Isaac Collins has been holding down left field while Chourio patrolled center. Not only has Collins been strong defensively, but he's also a consistent offensive threat, arguably a much bigger bat than Perkins. That dynamic makes Murphy’s decision on how to align center and left field this postseason all the more intriguing.

What are the Brewers' postseason outfield alignment options?

There are several factors that could influence how the Brewers approach their outfield alignment this postseason, and if Milwaukee makes a deep enough run in October, we might see all of them come into play.

One scenario is if Murphy opts to prioritize defense: in that case, Perkins would start in center, Chourio would go over to left, and Collins would begin the game on the bench. This setup would still leave room for Collins to be used as a late-game pinch hitter, with Chourio able to shift back to center once Perkins is subbed out.

Another option is for Murphy to roll with his best offensive lineup, which would mean Chourio starts in center field and Collins in left. In this scenario, Perkins could still be used as a late-game defensive replacement, entering for Collins and sliding into center field, with Chourio shifting to left. This keeps Chourio’s bat in the game, something the Brewers would be wise not to sacrifice, while still tightening up the outfield defense in the later innings.

Lastly, since both Collins and Perkins are switch hitters, their platoon splits could play a key role in deciding who starts in the postseason. This year, Collins has been more effective batting from the left side, slashing .276/.381/.407 in such matchups, making him the preferred choice against right-handed pitchers. Conversely, Perkins has seen better results as a right-handed hitter, hitting .273/.360/.455, positioning him as the stronger option against left-handed pitchers.

One thing we almost certainly won’t see this postseason is Collins playing the infield. Though he played second base in college and began getting reps at third base during the season, appearing in a couple of games there in September, there simply isn’t enough time left for him to establish the trust needed to factor into the infield mix this October. Instead, that role is expected to continue to go to Caleb Durbin, who has emerged as not only a reliable defender but a threat at the plate as well.

Overall, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Brewers' approach change from game to game, depending on matchups and situational needs. Even factors like who’s on the mound could influence the decision, like starting Perkins in center field behind a fly-ball pitcher like Freddy Peralta, or keeping Chourio in center when a ground-ball specialist like Quinn Priester is pitching. It’s a subtle storyline, but one that could quietly play a pivotal role in Milwaukee’s postseason success.