The Milwaukee Brewers are set to host the San Francisco Giants for a three-game series this weekend at American Family Field. The Brewers, fresh off a 14-game winning streak, have lost four of their last five entering Thursday’s series finale with the Cubs. Even so, they lead the NL Central by six games and own the best record in baseball at 79-48, four games up on the Detroit Tigers at 76-53.
On the other side, the Giants have struggled lately, losing series to the Nationals, Padres, and Rays before
dropping two of the first three to the Padres this week, as they’ll look to salvage a series split on Thursday. On the season, they’re 61-66, 11 games back in the NL West and 6.5 games out of the final NL Wild Card spot.
Milwaukee’s injured list includes Jackson Chourio, Rhys Hoskins, Jake Bauers, Robert Gasser, Logan Henderson, DL Hall, and Rob Zastryzny, among others. Bauers and Hoskins are both currently on rehab assignments, with Chourio expected to join them soon. Gasser and Zastryzny could both return in the next few weeks, while Hall is aiming a mid-September return and Henderson could be done for the season.
San Francisco is without lefty Erik Miller (elbow), third baseman Matt Chapman (hand), outfielder Jerar Encarnacion (hamstring), and catcher Tom Murphy (back). Starter Landen Roupp also sprained his knee in his start on Wednesday, and he’s expected to hit the IL before the weekend.
The Brewers’ offense is led by Christian Yelich’s 26 homers, with William Contreras, Brice Turang, Sal Frelick, and Andrew Vaughn also contributing regularly in recent weeks. Isaac Collins is in contention for NL Rookie of the Year, while Caleb Durbin and Joey Ortiz round out the regulars offensively. Anthony Seigler, Andruw Monasterio, Danny Jansen, Brandon Lockridge, and Blake Perkins are also in the mix. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .258/.332/.405 (.737 OPS ranks 11th) with 135 homers (18th), 653 runs (third), and 137 steals (second).
The Giants’ offense is led by Willy Adames, who is having a down year in his first season by the Bay, as he’s hitting just .221/.307/.390 with 19 homers and 62 RBIs. The injured Matt Chapman is also having a down year, while Heliot Ramos, Wilmer Flores, addition Rafael Devers, Casey Schmitt, Tyler Fitzgerald, Patrick Bailey, and Jung Hoo Lee are also offensive regulars. Rookie Drew Gilbert, who came over from the Mets at the deadline, joins that group. As a team, the Giants are hitting .232/.308/.374 (.682 OPS ranks 26th) with 121 homers (tied for 25th), 511 runs (25th), and 56 steals (last).
Nick Mears, Abner Uribe, Jared Koenig, and Trevor Megill have been the high-leverage arms for Pat Murphy this season, with Grant Anderson, Aaron Ashby, and Shelby Miller joining the bullpen. Carlos Rodriguez is the latest in a series of arms to circle through the bullpen, joining Tobias Myers, Easton McGee, Craig Yoho, and more. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.58 team ERA (fourth), including a 3.43 starter ERA (second) and a 3.78 reliever ERA (ninth). They’ve struck out 1,104 batters (eighth) over 1,130 2/3 innings.
After trading away Tyler Rogers and Camilo Doval at the deadline, Ryan Walker leads the bullpen with 53 appearances this season, picking up 10 saves. Walker is joined by Randy Rodríguez (who has picked up three saves for San Francisco since the deadline), Spencer Bivens, Joey Lucchesi, Matt Gage, Tristan Beck, José Buttó, Carson Seymour, and newly recalled flamethrowing prospect Joel Peguero. As a staff, the Giants have a 3.72 team ERA (fifth), including a 4.02 starter ERA (14th) and a 3.32 reliever ERA (second). They’ve struck out 1,070 batters (13th) over 1,124 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, August 22 @ 7:10 p.m.: Jose Quintana (3.32 ERA, 4.59 FIP) vs. TBD
Quintana has made 19 starts with the Brewers this season, providing 1.5 bWAR as he has a 3.32 ERA, 4.59 FIP, and 73 strikeouts across 105 2/3 innings. While he certainly isn’t the flashiest pitcher, he’s been solid all year. He’s allowed three earned runs or fewer in each of his last five starts, including one run allowed on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts across 6 1/3 innings against the Reds on Sunday. In eight career appearances (seven starts) against San Francisco, Quintana is 2-4 with a 4.46 ERA and 34 strikeouts across 40 1/3 innings. He allowed one run and struck out three across six innings against the Giants in a victory back in April.
Originally expected to be a weekend series with Logan Webb, Robbie Ray, and Kai-Wei Teng for the Giants, Teng was optioned ahead of San Francisco’s series finale Thursday with the Padres, pushing both Webb and Ray’s spots back and leaving Friday’s series opener without an announced starter. Prospect Joel Peguero was selected from Triple-A Sacramento, but he’s pitched exclusively as a reliever since 2022. So, I guess we’ll see who we get here.
Saturday, August 23 @ 6:10 p.m.: Freddy Peralta (2.78 ERA, 3.70 FIP) vs. Logan Webb (3.19 ERA, 2.56 FIP)
Peralta leads the majors with 15 wins this season, totaling 4.1 bWAR across 26 starts with a 2.78 ERA, 3.70 FIP, and 154 strikeouts over 142 2/3 innings. He’s worked six shutout frames in each of his last two starts, allowing four hits and four walks while striking out 13 in wins over the Pirates and Cubs. He’s made five career appearances (four starts) against the Giants, with a 1-2 record, 3.86 ERA, and 21 strikeouts over 16 1/3 innings. He worked five innings with three runs allowed and three strikeouts in a loss to them in April.
Webb, who has earned Cy Young votes each of the last three seasons, figures to be in the conversation once again in 2025, as he leads the league with 26 starts and 160 2/3 innings pitched. Over that time, he has a 3.19 ERA, 2.56 FIP, and 175 strikeouts. He tossed seven shutout innings against the Rays in his last start, allowing just three hits and no walks with seven strikeouts in a 7-1 victory. In six career starts against Milwaukee, Webb is 3-0 with a 2.17 ERA and 45 strikeouts across 37 1/3 innings. That includes 6 1/3 shutout innings with six strikeouts back in April.
Sunday, August 24 @ 1:10 p.m.: TBD vs. Robbie Ray (2.85 ERA, 3.75 FIP)
The Brewers haven’t yet announced a Sunday starter, but this would be Brandon Woodruff’s spot in the rotation. Big Woo continues to impress in his return from injury, though he did hit a little bump in the road while dealing with some gastrointestinal issues against the Cubs on Tuesday. Over 43 2/3 innings this year, he has a 2.47 ERA, 3.63 FIP, and 55 strikeouts. His last start against Chicago was a short one, as he went 4 1/3 innings with three runs allowed on five hits and three walks while striking out six in his first loss of the season. In four career appearances (three starts) against San Francisco, Woodruff is 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA and 21 strikeouts across 18 innings.
Ray, an AL Cy Young winner with Toronto in 2021, had a few down seasons before turning in what has been a solid 2025 season, including an All-Star selection. Across 26 starts, Ray has a 2.85 ERA, 3.75 FIP, and 158 strikeouts across 154 2/3 innings. He went 6 2/3 innings against the Padres in his last outing, allowing three runs (all unearned) on three hits and a walk with six strikeouts. In five career starts against Milwaukee, Ray is 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA and 42 strikeouts over 29 1/3 innings. That includes a five-inning start back in April, when he allowed two runs and struck out four in a no-decision.
How to Watch
Friday, August 22: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network
Saturday, August 23: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network
Sunday, August 24: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin, Telemundo Wisconsin, and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network
Prediction
This should be a fun series, with a few good pitching matchups, the return of Willy Adames to Milwaukee, and a celebration for Bob Uecker. I’ll take the Brewers to win two of three against the struggling Giants.
