A surprising challenger and division favorite meet for the first time when Milwaukee Brewers to visit Cincinnati Reds In the first match of the four-match series on Friday evening
RedsThe 100-game losers in 2022 enter the four-game set after completing a 5-1 road trip through Wrigley Field and Fenway Park, ending a six-game sweep with an 8-2 loss at Boston on Thursday night. Missed.
third place Redswho ranks first Brewers Three games into the National League Central and 2 1/2 games by the Pittsburgh Pirates, timely hits and several two-out rallies came on a five-game winning streak that ended Thursday
“It’s all about the batsmen and the competition,” Reds manager David Bell said. “You’re not always going to hit in those conditions. It’s good when you do and obviously a lot of runs are scored. But when you don’t, it’s really important to look for that opportunity next time. Because hits are a big confidence thing with runners in a lot of scoring position, you have to be in that spot.
Reds Send left-hander Brandon Williamson (0-0, 5.02 ERA) to the mound in his fourth major league start. Williamson was tagged for four runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings last Saturday at Wrigley Field
Reds The Cubs were defeated 8–5 and won Williamson’s first three starts in the majors, averaging just under six runs of support in each start. Williamson will look to refine his control, scoring nine runs in only 14 1/3 innings
Brewers He countered with right-hander Corbin Burns (4-4, 3.68), making his 12th start of the season. Last Saturday against San Francisco, Burns made a tough-luck no-decision in a 3-1 loss to the Giants.
Burns limited the Giants to one run and four hits over seven innings, striking out eight and walking three in his sixth quality start of 2023.
Burns is 2-1 with a 2.53 ERA in 14 career appearances (four starts) against Reds, As a starter, Burns was dominant against Cincinnati, going 2–0 with a 2.36 ERA. Burns is 2-1 with a 0.95 ERA in seven career games (two starts) at Great American Ball Park.
BrewersThe defending NL Central champions again lead the division but have struggled to find consistency. They lost 3-1 at Toronto on Thursday afternoon, a fifth loss in seven games that dropped them to 29-27
Milwaukee starter Freddy Peralta gave up three runs in the first inning on a pair of home runs, but recovered for a good six-inning start.
“He burned out on middle pitches and pitches that good and strong hitters did damage to,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “So, that’s how the game goes. You have to try to stay out of those situations if you can. So you have to control good lineups. That’s what’s so difficult about good lineups and the guys who hit the park. Might as well leave.”
With Thursday’s loss, Milwaukee has dropped five consecutive series on the road and has won just four of its last 15 games away from home.
The series also marked the return of Milwaukee outfielder Jesse Winker to Cincinnati. He began his career in the organization before being traded to Seattle after the 2021 season.
Cincinnati rookie Matt McClain, fresh off earning National League Player of the Week honors, enters with a 10-game hitting streak. The shortstop extended Cincinnati’s longest hitting streak this season in his final at-bat on Thursday, tying the game 2–2 before Boston’s six-run explosion in the bottom of the eighth.
– Field Level Media