Cubs Rookie Matt Shaw Shines in Game 4 Victory Over Brewers

CHICAGO, IL — Matt Shaw, the rookie third baseman for the Chicago Cubs, stepped up in a critical moment during Game 4 of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers on October 9, 2025. Shaw, who had struggled in the series so far with no hits in five at-bats and four walks, broke through with two hits, including a key RBI single, leading the Cubs to a 4-0 victory.

Shaw went 2-for-3 with one walk and one RBI in the game, bringing his postseason totals to 2-for-15 with five walks. “You want to help the team any way you can, especially in October,” Shaw said post-game. “Being able to go out there and have a better game was really nice.” His pivotal hit came in the sixth inning, with the Cubs already leading 3-0. With runners on first and second and one out, Shaw hit a low curveball from reliever Aaron Ashby deep into center for the single.

“I was just trying to stay aggressive in the two-strike count, not get too passive and catch something out in front,” he said. Cubs Manager Craig Counsell praised Shaw’s consistent contributions: “That’s just to put the ball in play and see what happens. But he’s stayed in the lineup because his defense has been so darned good. In low-scoring run environments, that’s important.”

The Cubs called upon reliever Daniel Palencia with two outs in the fifth inning to keep the Brewers at bay. Palencia delivered strong relief, allowing only one hit across 1 1/3 scoreless innings and earning the win after starter Matthew Boyd, who pitched 4 2/3 innings without allowing a run. Palencia shared his respect for Boyd, stating, “He’s been great all year. He’s always giving me advice.”

In the eighth inning, Michael Busch added excitment with a solo home run, making him the first Cubs player since Kyle Schwarber in 2015 to hit four home runs in a single postseason. Busch commented on the team’s performance, saying, “Just trying to have a good at-bat each and every time I go up there. It’s really good, really deep, the guys on the bench — we’ve done a really good job over the last couple of days.”

Despite some challenges earlier in the game, including an overturned home run call for catcher Carson Kelly, who joked about the unusually high number of replays in one at-bat, the Cubs stayed focused. Kelly remarked, “There’s got to be a record for that, right? Two replays in one at-bat. But we got the win and you live to fight another day.” With this victory, the Cubs forced a decisive Game 5 in the series, set for Saturday in Milwaukee.