Brewers' Jackson Chourio continuing to perform his best in clutch moments

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio explains his success in clutch situations by saying that sometimes he feels he was born for those moments.

The 22-year-old keeps providing more evidence to back that up.

Chourio hit a tying, two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning of Milwaukee's 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday to move the team a step closer to a fourth straight NL Central title. The Brewers lead the second-place Cubs by nine games and have a magic number of seven for clinching the division.

“Like I said before, I like to play with that pressure,” Chourio said through interpreter Daniel de Mondesert. “I think the adrenaline takes my game to another level. Thanks to God for getting solid contact there on that swing.”

Milwaukee’s division lead keeps growing in part because Chourio keeps delivering in critical moments.

The Brewers also beat the Cubs 4-3 on Monday afternoon, with Chourio’s two-run single in the eighth inning putting them ahead for good. Chourio was asked after the game about his ability to produce when a game is on the line.

“Sometimes I feel like I was born for those moments,” Chourio said then. “Other times, I like the pressure that those moments bring. I don’t know why, but I know I enjoy them.”

No wonder the Brewers feel so confident whenever he steps to the plate in those situations.

The Brewers trailed 3-1 with two outs in the ninth when pinch-hitter Christian Yelich singled to right. That brought Chourio to the plate.

“There’s not another person I’d probably want in that situation,” center fielder Garrett Mitchell said. “We were talking about this last night, but just his ability to come up clutch in moments you feel like a lot of people may or may not be prepared for, and he just like does less and absolutely demolishes baseballs.”

That flair for the dramatic has helped Chourio live up to all the expectations that accompanied his arrival after the Brewers signed him to an eight-year, $82 million contract before he had any major league experience.

“He knows he’s a great player,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said. “He knows what he’s about. Yeah, he loves it. He loves it and stays after it, believes in himself. He knows how capable he is, and when he’s got that dial on the right speed, be careful. We’ve seen it all too much his first three years.”

Chourio’s ability to deliver in the clutch is most evident from his postseason performances. He has batted .341 with a 1.044 OPS, four homers and 11 RBIs in 12 career playoff games.

His big swing Tuesday put the Brewers on the verge of clinching their eighth postseason berth in nine years.

Chourio connected on an 0-1 pitch from Jacob Webb and delivered a 394-foot shot over the left-field wall to cap his 4-for-5 performance at the plate. Luis Lara ended the game with a bases-loaded single in the 10th.

“I think he’s kind of just built different like that,” Mitchell said. “It’s just like what he’s made for. It’s been year after year, since he’s been a rookie. He just always has that clutch gene.”

The homer also helped Chourio make up for his inability to help the Brewers break a 1-all tie in the fifth. Chourio was trying to score from second on William Contreras’ two-out single to right, but he got thrown out by Seiya Suzuki while trying to slide home feet first.

“You hope he dives there and he’s safe,” Murphy said. “He’s got a lane to slide in. You hope he’s safe there. Feet first at the plate, I just don’t like it.”

Chourio’s homer gave him a career-high 22 this year after he hit 21 each of his first two seasons. He’s reached that new high despite opening the season with a fractured bone in his hand that delayed his season debut until May 4.

He also is on pace for career highs in batting average (.286), on-base percentage (.343) and slugging percentage (.484).

Considering how well Chourio has performed in clutch situations this season, it should come as no surprise that he’s also thrived amid the pressure of the Brewers-Cubs rivalry.

Chourio has hit .345 in 12 games against the Cubs this season. He batted .389 with a homer and six RBIs in the Brewers’ five-game NL Division Series victory over the Cubs last season.

“We need to win every single game, whether it’s the Cubs on the other side or any other team,” Chourio said. “Maybe it is that some of my better games have come against them, but regardless, it’s going out there trying to give the best version of myself every single time I’m out there on the field.”

He’s often at his best when it matters most.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio smiles as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio hits a two-run home during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio gestures as he rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud was taken off the court in a wheelchair Saturday night after going down with a right knee injury suffered when he set a screen on Stephen Curry late in the first half of a 111-106 preseason loss to the Golden State Warriors.

Raynaud, a second-year pro who starred at Stanford, was on his back and clearly in pain as medical staff examined him on the floor at Chase Center. He eventually was helped up and moved into a wheelchair to exit the court for the locker room.

Kings general manager Scott Perry escorted the 7-foot-1 Raynaud off the court, and Sacramento owner Vivek Ranadive later came by to check on Raynaud outside the locker room.

Raynaud later received a goodbye hug from Perry and left the locker room on crutches, an ice bag wrapped around the knee. He was in good spirits and smiling walking out of Chase Center.

He had no immediate updates.

“I don't even know, I'm going to get an MRI right now,” he shared while walking out of the arena.

Raynaud set a screen on Curry — who also went down after the collision — for teammate Darius Acuff Jr. when the big man immediately screamed and grabbed at his right knee and fell hard to the floor with 2:32 before halftime. Raynaud had made all three of his field-goal attempts, including a 3-pointer, and three free throws for 10 points to go with five rebounds, an assist and one blocked shot in just less than nine minutes of action.

Veteran forward Ben Simmons offered some encouraging words to Raynaud. Simmons made his preseason debut for the Kings, playing for the first time in more than a year after missing last season because of a chronic back injury and other health concerns.

“That's my teammate. For a guy to go down it sucks ” Simmons said. “I've been there before, I've experienced injuries so I know that feeling. It feels like the end of the world in that moment. Just let him know we're here to support him, whether it's something serious or major or not.”

The Kings selected Raynaud 42nd overall in the second round of last year’s draft and the 23-year-old from France averaged 12.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists over 74 games last season as a rookie.

He came in averaging 12.5 points, 9.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists this preseason.

“It’s tough to always see a teammate go down,” Acuff said.

Coach Doug Christie didn't want to speculate on Raynaud's status without further information, but told his player how much he is loved.

“Love him," Christie said. "He’s part of everything that we do."

See AP’s full NBA coverage here

Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud (42) shoots against Golden State Warriors center Al Horford (20) during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game in San Francisco, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud (42) grabs his knee during the first half of an NBA preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Los Angeles Lakers guard Quentin Grimes, right, passes past Sacramento Kings center Maxime Raynaud during the first half of a preseason NBA basketball game Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)