As Brewers’ closer or not, Trevor Megill is all-in on winning regardless of postseason role

Megill is focused on helping Brewers however he can

Finally feeling right, he declared last week that he would take the mound by Sunday. He got his wish in the fourth inning as the Brewers cycled through a bevy of pitchers to get everyone some work. Megill needed only 12 pitches to set the Reds down in order, pouring in called third strikes to the last two hitters.

“That was just huge, being in a game, just feeling what it feels like to be out there,” he said of getting some reps in before the playoffs. The Brewers will host the winner of Padres-Cubs in the Wild Card Round to kick off the NLDS on October 4.

“I’m ready to go. Wherever they want to plug-and-play me throughout the postseason, I’m ready for. Just see how they want to run it.”

Megill’s role wasn’t supposed to be a question, but his longer-than-expected layoff and Uribe’s dazzling job in his absence have made it one. With Megill sidelined, Uribe allowed just two earned runs in 13 innings, converting all five of his save chances. He struck out 13, walked 3, and gave up just 8 hits.

Uribe finished the year with a 1.67 ERA in 75.1 IP, with a whiff rate of 10.8 per nine and a .539 OPS against. He was without much contest the Brewers’ most dominant reliever this season.

Megill, of course, was none too shabby himself, pitching to a 2.49 ERA and 11.5 K/9 rate. He saved 30 games and was on pace to challenge John Axford’s franchise-record 46 before Megill injured his elbow.

The main question now is whether one outing was enough for Megill to get back up to closer-ready speed. “Don’t really matter to me,” he said of his role moving forward. “Just trying to win some freaking games and get to the World Series and win it. Whatever I can do to help there.”