The regular season is nearing the two month mark, but the Brewers and Cubs have not played yet this season. That changes tonight as the two teams open the first of four series, which could end up deciding the NL Central.
The season is just over a quarter of the way done, and the National League is starting to split a little. There’s a clear top six teams in the league right now holding on to the playoff spots. Five teams — Brewers, Cubs, Dodgers, Cardinals, and Padres — are within 1 1/2 games of each
other right now, and the Brewers are playing three of those teams in the next nine games. If you count the series against the Padres from last week, they are playing all four of the other teams in a 15-game stretch. It may be too early to win a division or secure a playoff spot, but positioning is still important, even this early in a season.
The young rotation will be tested in the next week and a half, and that starts with Brandon Sproat today. He has improved as the season has progressed, but is still young and has struggled as well. In his last start against the Padres, he allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed six hits and two walks while striking out six. This will be his first start against the Cubs.
The Brewers will also have a rested bullpen to work behind Sproat. Aaron Ashby, Shane Drohan, Trevor Megill, and Abner Uribe have all not pitched in the last two days. Drohan in particular could use some work in this series since he has not pitched in a week — he struck out two in 2/3 of an inning against the Padres last Tuesday.
For the Cubs, Shota Imanaga will open the series. He has bounced back from a questionable 2025, posting a 2.32 ERA over nine starts. His home run rate is significantly lower — just five allowed all season — and his strikeout rate is up to 9.8 K/9. In his last start against the Braves, he allowed two runs on five hits in seven innings, striking out six. Over his career against the Brewers, he has a 5.73 ERA in four starts over 22 innings.
The Brewers have loaded their lineup for tonight’s game, getting as many of their big hitters as they can into the lineup. Christian Yelich will DH and Andrew Vaughn will play first base, with Jake Bauers heading into left field so the Brewers can get all three of them in the lineup. Jackson Chourio will shift over to center field for just the third time this season, and first time this season when Bauers is playing in left field. Sal Frelick fills out the outfield alignment in right field. Brice Turang is at second as usual, with Joey Ortiz and Luis Rengifo manning shortstop and third base, respectively. William Contreras is behind the plate to round out the defense.
First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. It will be on Brewers.TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
