MILWAUKEE -- If the Brewers are going to fight their way back into the postseason, they will need their starting rotation to turn it back up to that top-tier level. Freddy Peralta’s dominance on Friday not only displayed his All-Star form again, but also how important he can be for Milwaukee’s playoff push down the stretch.

But Peralta's gem of six hitless innings on Friday evening wasn’t enough in the Brewers’ 4-3, 10-inning loss against the Cubs at American Family Field. The right-hander left after just 82 pitches.

“It's really just from talking to Freddy, reading Freddy,” manager Craig Counsell said about taking out Peralta. "Obviously he pitched beautifully, but he thought he was at the end of the line and, going through the order again, we thought that was enough."

In just his fifth start since returning from a strained right lat that caused him to miss 2 1/2 months, Peralta looked sharper than ever on the mound. He mowed down the Cubs’ lineup and held them hitless for six innings, while allowing just one walk with five strikeouts.

“The curveball was really good tonight,” Counsell said. “He got a bunch of strikeouts on that and kept them off balance with the curveball. Both his fastball and curveball were excellent tonight.”

But after those six innings, he was pulled from the game. As Peralta went deeper into the night, his body continued to exhaust. He felt great and fatigue wasn’t a factor in his exit. It was rather the long flight from Los Angeles the Brewers experienced after their four-game set with the Dodgers.

“I was really just a little tired,” Peralta said. “I think maybe because of the L.A. flight that we just took. We got here yesterday early in the morning, like 6 a.m. Yesterday, I wasn’t feeling that bad, but today my body was tired.”

With six innings on Friday, Peralta cruised through Chicago’s lineup and turned in his second quality start in as many outings. That’s what the Brewers are hoping to see more of from their rotation down the stretch as they sit 2 1/2 games back of the final National League Wild Card spot and six spots from the Cardinals in the NL Central.

Even with six no-hit innings and Milwaukee in the thick of a postseason chase, Peralta and Counsell both thought it was the right move to go to the bullpen.

“I think we just [made] the decision because I’m coming from the IL,” Peralta said. “This is only my fifth game and we are just trying to keep everything right and I think it was the right decision. I didn’t want to come out. But at the end of day, this is the best for me and the team.”

Counsell added: “Our goal is for Freddy to make eight more starts. So we're not going to push him at a time when it's a little questionable whether he should be out there again.”

The rotation has been Milwaukee’s recipe for success over the past few seasons: when it shows up, so do wins. That’s something that’s been lacking in 2022 and over this recent skid.

Since July 31, the Brewers’ rotation owns a 4.19 ERA and is averaging 3.89 walks and 1.53 home runs per nine innings. Mix in an offense that is batting just .204 with a 24.9 percent strikeout rate during this stretch and it’s been a tough month overall. They are 8-15 during that span.

During that same span last year -- from July 31-Aug. 26 -- the Brewers were 16-7 and playing great baseball. They were led by their rotation's combined 3.13 ERA, which ranked third in the Majors during that stretch.

Despite the loss on Friday, Peralta’s outing was a great sign that Milwaukee is starting to get its rotation back to full strength, which can be a scary sight for opposing teams. Corbin Burnes owns a 2.84 ERA this season and Brandon Woodruff has a 2.59 ERA in 10 starts since coming off the IL.

With an important stretch of games coming up for the Brewers, Burnes, Peralta and Woodruff have to set the tone on the mound to help the team get out of this rut.

“These games and the next probably 14-15 games are really important for us,” Peralta said. “We are just trying to do our best. I know the guys are doing the best [to] get out there and win games. But you know sometimes it’s hard. This game is hard.”