In case you missed it, one of the only unfortunate outcomes of the first game of the Division Series was Jackson Courio re-aggravating a nagging hamstring injury while beating out an infield hit, ending a three-hit performance on a sour note. Chourio’s right hamstring is quickly becoming the biggest bugaboo for a young player who otherwise seems destined for stardom, and soon. After he departed, an in-game interview with Pat Murphy cast real doubt over the availability of Chourio for the balance of this series—and, therefore, for the next one.

Since Chourio was playing left field, he was replaced by Isaac Collins and later Brandon Lockridge. That wasn’t a big deal in a game that ended in a 9-3 victory for Milwaukee, but the biggest concern is how available Chourio will be moving forward and at what percentage. He worked out Sunday in an effort to demonstrate readiness for Monday, but if he does have to sit out for a few games, it will be a big loss for the team. Luckily, the blow is softened by having a reliable second option in Blake Perkins.

Perkins has been around long enough for people to know what he’s about. He’s an outstanding defensive center fielder with one of the fastest pairs of legs in baseball, and a plus arm to boot. He doesn’t hit the ball very hard, but he’ll draw a few walks and do his best to compensate for a lack of other offensive production.

Because of his weaknesses as a hitter, he has spent much of his time serving as an understudy to the likes of Joey Wiemer, Garrett Mitchell, and (more recently) Chourio. However, his services have always been invaluable, and although he may not get much playing time, he typically has a positive impact on the team when he does get the chance to take the field. His great attitude and flexibility are exactly why this postseason could be a turning point for the 29-year-old, and why he could be vital for the team, too.

Due to the smaller sample of games and the elevated importance of each plate appearance in the playoffs, the strengths and weaknesses of each player are thrown into sharper relief. For Perkins, that means that the few additional outs he gets with his excellent fielding range make him an integral piece of the Brewers’ run prevention unit. He made some excellent plays with his glove this season, and absolutely has the ability to make big catches in crucial moments.

Even if he isn’t able to get to the ball to make the initial out, he’s often able to get to batted balls quickly and when coupled with his top-quartile arm strength, that can result in some exhilarating plays at the plate. 

One would assume that his lackluster career OPS+ of just 81 would carry over into his playoff results as well, but that’s where the nuance of his approach comes in. For one reason or another, Perkins has always been the most successful at the beginning of the season, before cooling off later. He has a career .716 OPS in the first month of the season and a .569 OPS in the final month. Yet, he’s actually been very successful in the 12 postseason plate appearances he has had so far, slashing a respectable .500/.500/.600 with two RBI, a walk, and a stolen base. 

And boy does he know how to work a grueling at-bat. That particular trait was on full display in Game 1 against the Cubs, when after 11 pitches from Matthew Boyd, Perkins finally got a changeup he liked and came up with a huge RBI single. He had to work back from a 1-2 count, and fouled off multiple pitches before getting the one he could handle.

The fact that he doesn’t hit for power doesn’t seem like it will be a problem for this Milwaukee lineup, which didn’t hit a ball out of the park but still managed to plate nine runners against Chicago. History hasn’t been kind to teams with limited power in the playoffs, but if there were ever a team that could make it work, it’s this one.

Perkins may not be a household name. He doesn’t sell as many jerseys as faces of the franchise like Christian Yelich, Robin Yount, and Chi Chi González. However, on a team of Average Joes, anyone can be a superhero on any given night. The loss of Chourio may seem like the beginning of the end for the Brewers, but with Perkins to fill the gap, Milwaukee is still as formidable as they come.