Brewers’ Game 3 battery is all thanks to … J.J. Hardy?

Milwaukee's NLCS Game 3 starting battery of pitcher Robert Gasser and catcher William Contreras traces back to former Brewers shortstop J.J. Hardy through a series of trades. Hardy, who was drafted by Milwaukee in 2001, expressed surprise and delight upon learning how his initial departure in 2009 indirectly helped assemble the team's current postseason lineup.

The roster connection began when Milwaukee traded Hardy to the Minnesota Twins for Carlos Gómez in 2009. Gómez was later traded to the Houston Astros in 2015 for a package including Josh Hader, who was subsequently dealt to the San Diego Padres in 2022 for Gasser and Esteury Ruiz. Ruiz was then flipped in a three-team trade to land Contreras from the Atlanta Braves.