Brewers prioritize late-game matchups with starting lineup for Game 1 of NLDS

The Milwaukee Brewers announced their Game 1 National League Division Series lineup against the San Diego Padres, opting to start Christian Yelich at designated hitter and bench Andrew Vaughn against left-hander Robbie Ray. Rookie Luis Lara gets the start in right field while Jake Bauers plays first base due to lingering shin splints. Jacob Misiorowski is scheduled to take the mound for Milwaukee.

Owen Jonas of Reviewing the Brew analyzes that manager Pat Murphy is strategically saving Vaughn for a critical late-game pinch-hitting opportunity. With Ray unlikely to pitch deep into the game, Jonas argues the Brewers are holding Vaughn to counter San Diego's left-handed bullpen arms, Yuki Matsui and Adrian Morejon, in high-leverage late innings.