This is where the series began to turn in earnest. Milwaukee needed a split of two games at home to repeat as champions, but manager Fred Haney acted liked his team had its back to the wall. Rather than start Spahn on three days' rest per his normal routine, the 37-year-old warhorse returned one day early. That also meant that Burdette would do the same if the series went to a seventh game. In the process, Haney bypassed veteran Bob Rush, who had an impressive 4-2 record and 1.81 earned run average in the final two months of the regular season and was effective again in Game 3 albeit in a loss. By now, it was obvious that the manager had little faith in any pitcher other than Spahn and Burdette on the staff.