Game Thread #115: Milwaukee Brewers (65-49) vs. Cincinnati Reds (56-59)

Brewers offense looks to keep it rolling in series with Reds

After a three-game road sweep of the Atlanta Braves in which the Milwaukee Brewers’ struggling offense broke out in a major way, they’ll look to keep it going tonight as they welcome the Cincinnati Reds into Milwaukee for a three-game series.

The Brewers were perhaps under a bit of pressure as they headed to Atlanta after losing two of three in Washington over the weekend, but their 34-run outburst in three games calmed many fears about the team’s offense. At the front of that charge were the team’s big stars, William Contreras and Willy Adames, along with the kid, Jackson Chourio, who had maybe his best game as a pro when he had three hits, two of them homers, on Thursday afternoon. It will be interesting to see if Milwaukee can keep things going, as they’d been struggling offensively for weeks before that series.

On the mound for Milwaukee tonight will be Aaron Civale, who has yet to find a groove with the Brewers (or, really, this season). The 29-year-old right-hander was tagged for five runs in four innings in his last start, which came Saturday against the Nationals. He’ll face off with Cincinnati’s Carson Spiers, nephew of one-time Brewer third baseman Bill Spiers. Spiers is 26 and in his second season (he threw only 13 innings in 2023), a righty who relies on guile and a five-pitch mix to overcome his below-average fastball velocity. He’s had a nice season: in twelve games (seven starts) he’s got a 3.59 ERA and 3.70 FIP in just under 60 innings pitched, and he’s hardly walked anyone (just 1.7 BB/9).

Take note that tonight’s game is NOT on Bally Sports Wisconsin, and is being broadcast exclusively on Apple TV+. You can, of course, hear it on the Brewers Radio Network. First pitch at 7:10 p.m.