Game Thread #140: Milwaukee Brewers (81-58) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (70-69)

Brewers and Cardinals face off in rubber match

The Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals meet tonight to determine a winner in this late-season three-game series. The Brewers took the opener comfortably on Monday, but they were unable to complete a comeback victory on Tuesday night when they lost in a now-rare 12-inning contest.

The thing that both games had in common was the offensive prowess of Jackson Chourio, who has quickly inserted himself firmly in the NL Rookie of the Year conversation alongside Jackson Merrill and Paul Skenes. After he walked three times, hit a grand slam, and scalded a line drive right at Nolan Arenado for his only out on Monday, Chourio came back with a solo homer and an RBI double in last night’s losing effort. He’ll get a night off of his feet tonight, but they aren’t taking his bat out of the lineup right now: he’s batting second and making just his second appearance of the season as the designated hitter. Eric Haase is also out there for a rare start at catcher tonight, while Jake Bauers is in there at first for Rhys Hoskins.

On the mound, it’s Code Red versus the Red Birds tonight as Colin Rea takes the hill to try to clinch the series. He had some issues with the home run ball in August: he’s allowed eight homers across his last four starts. But he also pitched two gems in August (seven innings in shutout victories on both August 6 in Atlanta and at home versus the Guardians on August 18), so he’ll look to bring the goods tonight. He’ll face off with Sonny Gray, St. Louis’ marquee free agent signing this season. Gray was really good through the season’s first three months but has stepped back a bit: since the beginning of July, he has a 5.40 ERA (it was 2.98 at the end of June and sits at 3.96 now) and 4.53 FIP.

First pitch tonight is at 6:40 p.m. on Bally Sports Wisconsin and the Brewers Radio Network.