Sheets Scratched From NLDS Game 3 Lineup With Neck Stiffness as Padres Face Elimination

The San Diego Padres shuffled their lineup hours before the biggest game of their season, announcing Tuesday that first baseman Gavin Sheets would sit out Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers because of neck stiffness. The scratch added to a day of roster drama for the Padres, who entered the night trailing 2-0 in the best-of-five series and facing elimination at Petco Park. The club had already placed All-Star closer Mason Miller on the postseason paternity list earlier Tuesday, swapping him for left-hander Wandy Peralta on the active roster. San Diego nevertheless survived the night, edging Milwaukee 4-3 behind Jake Cronenworth's tie-breaking home run and a wacky sixth-inning go-ahead run, forcing a Game 4 back at Petco Park on Wednesday night with the Brewers still leading the series 2-1. Sheets' absence went largely unnoticed in the euphoria of the win, but his status will be closely watched ahead of Game 4. The Padres can ill afford to lose another bat with their season still on the line, and neck stiffness can be an unpredictable ailment. How he progresses overnight will be one of the first questions when the club takes the field for batting practice Wednesday.