José Quintana Trending Now: 5 Must-Know Updates on the Mets’ Left-Handed Ace

Veteran left-hander José Quintana will climb the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers tonight in a season-saving Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, a pivotal start that could extend—or end—the Brewers’ 2025 postseason run. Manager Pat Murphy confirmed Quintana’s assignment less than 24 hours after the club’s bullpen plan fell short in Game 3, leaving Milwaukee down 2-1 in the best-of-seven set. The 36-year-old southpaw, signed last March to a one-year, $4.25 million deal with incentives, is no stranger to elimination pressure; he earned a reputation as a big-game arm during last year’s NLDS with the Mets and again in this postseason’s Division Series clincher against the Cubs, when he tossed three scoreless innings on just 49 pitches while returning from a September calf strain. Quintana’s matchup is daunting. The Dodgers will counter with two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani, setting up a marquee duel that headlines Thursday’s playoff slate and is already driving heavy search interest among baseball fans. Quintana faced Los Angeles twice during the regular season, limiting the lineup to a .216 batting average across 12 innings while leaning on his signature curveball and a revamped changeup that has produced a career-best 27 percent whiff rate. His ability to tunnel those pitches away from left-handed threats Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy will be critical. The Brewers are counting on length after a taxing stretch for their relief corps; closer Devin Williams and setup man Abner Uribe each threw 25-plus pitches on Wednesday. Quintana averaged 5.9 innings per start in 2025 and posted a 3.58 ERA after the All-Star break, stabilizing a rotation that lost Brandon Woodruff to shoulder surgery in August. “It’s a privilege to get the ball in games like this,” Quintana said earlier this week. “I’ve waited my whole career for these moments, and I feel fresh”. Beyond the win-or-go-home stakes, tonight could shape Quintana’s future market. The Colombian native hits free agency again this winter, and another clutch October outing would strengthen his case in a class light on proven starters. For Milwaukee, a victory flips home-field advantage back to American Family Field for Saturday’s Game 5, where right-hander Freddy Peralta is lined up on full rest. First pitch from Dodger Stadium is set for 8:07 p.m. ET, with national coverage on FOX and streaming options via MLB.tv. Search interest in “José Quintana Game 4,” “Quintana vs Ohtani,” and “Brewers Dodgers NLCS lineup” has spiked in the last 12 hours, and ticket prices on secondary markets have surged 35 percent since the pitching matchup became official. Fans looking to stream or follow live stats should bookmark MLB.com’s GameDay hub and the Brewers’ team app for real-time updates as Quintana attempts to keep Milwaukee’s World Series hopes alive.