After their first day off in September on Thursday, the Brewers will continue their stretch of NL Central foes as they’ll host the Reds for three games in Milwaukee, the second time they’ll see Cincinnati in the last two weeks, as the Reds took two of three in Cincy last weekend. The Brewers are coming off of a sweep of the Cubs to balloon their NL Central lead to 10 games over the rest of the pack, sitting at 91-56 with 15 games left. The Reds, who sit in last place, are 69-77 after being swept by the Dodgers to begin the week.
Since the last time these teams met, the Reds have activated right-hander Graham Ashcraft and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes from the IL, with left-hander Sam Moll designated for assignment and utility man Edwin Arroyo optioned to Triple-A Louisville in the corresponding moves. The Brewers have only lost Grant Anderson, who was placed on the 15-day IL with biceps tendinitis. He was replaced on the active roster by Brandon Sproat, though Sproat was demoted once again on Thursday, with the corresponding move expected to be a recall of right-hander Garrett Stallings to shore up the bullpen. Jake Bauers is also continuing to deal with a variety of lower-body injuries, and the Brewers have opted to focus on managing the injuries rather than putting him on the IL.
Just to remind you of what these two teams bring to the table offensively and on the mound, here’s a quick rundown of both squads.
Milwaukee is hitting .257/.339/.400 (.739 OPS ranks fourth), with 137 homers (last), 742 runs scored (third), and 143 steals (fourth). The Reds are hitting .230/.308/.398 (.706 OPS ranks 23rd), with 196 homers (fourth), 611 runs scored (25th), and 102 steals (11th).
On the mound, Milwaukee ranks second in the majors with a 3.56 team ERA, including a 3.63 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.46 bullpen ERA (fifth). They’ve struck out 1,406 batters (second) over 1,312 2/3 innings. Cincinnati ranks 27th with a 4.73 team ERA, including a 4.78 starter ERA (27th) and a 4.68 bullpen ERA (25th). They’ve struck out 1,186 batters (20th) over 1,293 innings.
Friday, September 11 @ 6:45 p.m.: RHP Dustin May (6-9, 4.69 ERA, 3.51 FIP) vs. LHP Andrew Abbott (6-10, 4.43 ERA, 4.78 FIP)
May had two really solid starts to begin his Milwaukee tenure, but since that time, he went two innings and allowed seven runs against the Mariners, recorded just one out and exited after being struck by a liner against the Mets, and has had two so-so starts against the Rangers and Reds. Overall, he’s made six starts totaling 23 1/3 innings for the Crew, with a 6.17 ERA, 5.20 FIP, and 21 strikeouts. As mentioned above, his last outing came against these Reds, as he went 3 2/3 innings before a rain delay forced an early exit. He allowed two runs on five hits and no walks, striking out five on 56 pitches. Both of May’s starts against the Reds have come this season, as he’s totaled 9 2/3 innings with three runs allowed and 13 strikeouts.
Abbott has had a rough fourth season in 2026, as he has a career-worst 4.43 ERA and 4.78 FIP over 29 starts, which matches his current career-high from a year ago. He went four innings against Milwaukee last weekend, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits (one homer) and no walks, striking out five in Cincinnati’s eventual 5-3 win. Abbott is 3-4 with a 3.62 ERA and 52 strikeouts over 54 2/3 innings across 10 career starts against Milwaukee.
Saturday, September 12 @ 6:10 p.m.: TBD vs. RHP Brady Singer (6-13, 5.03 ERA, 5.16 FIP)
The Brewers haven’t announced a starter for either Saturday or Sunday, but these spots would fall to Shane Drohan and Kyle Harrison unless the rotation changes. Based on recent comments by Pat Murphy, it seems possible that Harrison will have a very short leash with a long reliever behind him. I’d bet that we will see both Drohan and Harrison in some shape or form on Saturday and/or Sunday. With that in mind, here’s a quick rundown on each.
Drohan is 7-5 with a 4.09 ERA, 3.61 FIP, and 115 strikeouts over 114 1/3 innings in his rookie season. He got hit hard by the Reds last weekend, allowing six runs on five hits (two homers) and two walks while striking out five over four frames, but his offense bailed him out to eventually win 10-7. Drohan has made three starts against the Reds this season, with worse results in each successive outing. Overall, he’s totaled 14 innings with eight runs allowed (5.14 ERA) and 17 strikeouts.
Harrison is 10-4 with a 3.66 ERA, 4.03 FIP, and 134 strikeouts over 110 2/3 innings this season, though he’s been roughed up by the Cubs and Reds in his last two outings, giving up 15 runs (13 earned) over just 7 1/3 innings, allowing 19 hits (six homers) and six walks to seven strikeouts. In four career starts against Cincinnati, Harrison is 0-1 with a 6.27 ERA and 24 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings.
Singer hasn’t had a great season, but he remains in the rotation despite his 6-13 record, 5.03 ERA, and 5.16 FIP over 28 starts. He picked up the win against Milwaukee last weekend, though it wasn’t pretty — he went five innings, allowing six runs on four hits (one homer) and six walks, striking out three in Cincinnati’s eventual 12-8 victory. Singer is 3-2 with a 4.70 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 30 2/3 innings in six career starts against Milwaukee.
Sunday, September 13 @ 1:10 p.m.: TBD vs. RHP Chase Burns (15-3, 2.73 ERA, 3.09 FIP)
See above for rundown on Milwaukee’s potential starters for Sunday.
Burns, 23, is a former No. 2 overall pick and the lone probable starter to not have pitched in last weekend’s series. He’s turned in a great sophomore season, with a 15-3 record, 2.73 ERA, 3.09 FIP, and 176 strikeouts over 148 1/3 innings, though he’s on a very strict innings limit as we near the end of the season. He worked three scoreless innings on just 44 pitches against the Dodgers his last time out, allowing no hits and a walk while striking out five, though the Reds would ultimately lose 6-3. Burns has a 2.35 ERA and eight strikeouts over 7 2/3 innings against Milwaukee for his career, including six innings of two-run ball in a victory back in early July.
Friday, September 11: Exclusively televised on Apple TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, September 12: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, September 13: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
The Brewers are rolling, and there’s a solid chance they can lock up a postseason spot this weekend, while the Reds have struggled after taking two of three over Milwaukee last weekend. Give me the Crew to win two of three.
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