The red-hot Milwaukee Brewers are set to enter a stretch of 19 games in 18 days beginning this weekend, as they’ll take on the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Winners of 12 straight, the Brewers are now 76-44 on the season, 7.5 games ahead of the Cubs atop the NL Central and 13 games better than the Reds, who, at 64-58, are now just one game behind the Mets for the final NL Wild Card spot.

Milwaukee’s injuries include Jacob Misiorowski, who will potentially return to start Friday’s series opener (more on him below), Logan Henderson (out until late September/early October), Robert Gasser (late August), Jackson Chourio (late August/early September), Rob Zastryzny (mid- to late-August), Rhys Hoskins (September), and Jake Bauers (mid-August). Looking at that list, it looks like the Brewers could be mostly healthy down the stretch, barring any other injuries. *Knock on wood*

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For Cincy, the IL is filled with pitchers. Nick Lodolo (finger blister), Ian Gibaut (shoulder impingement), Brandon Williamson (torn UCL), Julian Aguiar (torn UCL), former friend Wade Miley (flexor strain), top prospect Rhett Lowder (forearm & oblique strain), and Carson Spiers (shoulder impingement & Tommy John surgery) are all out, with Williamson, Aguiar, Lowder, and Spiers all out for the year. Miley and Gibaut both have returns listed as TBD, while Lodolo will require a minimum IL stint and is expected to return next week.

Christian Yelich’s 23 homers lead Milwaukee’s suddenly powerful lineup, with William Contreras (12 HRs), Brice Turang (12 HRs), Sal Frelick, Isaac Collins, Andrew Vaughn, Joey Ortiz, Caleb Durbin, and Blake Perkins filling the rest of the regular spots for a balanced attack. Andruw Monasterio, Danny Jansen, Brandon Lockridge, and Anthony Seigler provide further depth from the bench. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .259/.332/.405 (.737 OPS ranks 10th) with 127 homers (19th), 620 runs (second), and 133 steals (second).

Elly De La Cruz leads the Reds in most stats, as he’s hitting .277/.350/.462 with 19 homers, 74 RBIs, 84 runs, and 31 steals this season. Spencer Steer has added 14 homers, with Matt McLain, TJ Friedl, and Austin Hays also in double digits. Will Benson, Tyler Stephenson, Noelvi Marte, Gavin Lux, and deadline acquisitions Miguel Andujar and Ke’Bryan Hayes round out the offense. As a team, the Reds are hitting .247/.318/.391 (.709 OPS ranks 18th) with 122 homers (22nd), 554 runs (10th), and 87 steals (15th).

Abner Uribe, Jared Koenig, Grant Anderson, Nick Mears, and Trevor Megill make up the backend of Milwaukee’s bullpen, with Shelby Miller joining the group after being acquired at the deadline. Aaron Ashby and DL Hall, who would be starters on most other teams, take the bulk innings from the ‘pen. As a staff, the Crew has a 3.59 team ERA (third), including a 3.36 starter ERA (second) and a 3.88 reliever ERA (14th). They’ve struck out 1,036 batters (tied for ninth) over 1,068 1/3 innings.

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Tony Santillan, Scott Barlow, and closer Emilio Pagán lead Cincinatti’s bullpen, with starter-turned-reliever Graham Ashcraft also heavily featured. Former Brewer fan-favorite Brent Suter, Sam Moll, and Luis Mey round out the bullpen. As a staff, the Reds have a 3.82 team ERA (11th), including a 3.73 starter ERA (sixth) and a 3.97 reliever ERA (15th). They’ve struck out 1,009 batters (15th) over 1,077 2/3 innings.

Probable Pitchers

Friday, August 15 @ 5:40 p.m.: TBD vs. Nick Martinez (4.49 ERA, 4.12 FIP)

The Brewers won’t officially announce a starter for this one until Friday, but after Tobias Myers pitched in relief in Wednesday’s series finale against Pittsburgh, it seems fairly likely that Jacob Misiorowski will get the start in his return from injury. Given that he’s already on a innings limit and that he hasn’t pitched since July 28, it would certainly be a short start, with Ashby and Hall likely to eat the bulk innings from the bullpen. For the season, Miz has a 2.70 ERA, 3.11 FIP, and 47 strikeouts across 33 1/3 innings through seven starts. This would be his first appearance against the Reds.

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Martinez, in his eighth MLB season wrapped around four years in Japan, is in his second year with the Reds, though he’s struggled quite a bit in year two. Across 26 appearances (23 starts), Martinez has a 4.49 ERA, 4.12 FIP, and 97 strikeouts over 136 1/3 innings, which would mark his lowest ERA since 2017 when he was with Texas. He’s looked solid recently, though, with wins for the Reds in each of his last six outings. He went seven innings with one run allowed and four strikeouts against the Pirates in his last outing. He’s made nine career appearances (five starts) against the Brewers, with a 4.00 ERA and 28 strikeouts across 36 innings. That includes a start back in April, when he went 4 2/3 innings with three runs allowed and two strikeouts in a loss.

Saturday, August 16 @ 5:40 p.m.: Quinn Priester (3.49 ERA, 4.21 FIP) vs. Zack Littell (3.60 ERA, 4.73 FIP)

Priester, who has been fantastic for the Brewers for roughly three months now, had a hiccup Sunday against the Mets, allowing six runs over 4 1/3 innings. Lucky for him, the Brewers’ offense picked him up late to stretch their win streak in games in which he pitches to 13 games, a stretch that dates back to late May. For the year, Priester has a 3.49 ERA, 4.21 FIP, and 95 strikeouts over 118 2/3 innings across 22 outings (17 starts). He’s made two career appearances against the Reds, totaling 11 innings with eight strikeouts and a 2.45 ERA. That includes a strong relief appearance back on June 4, when he went five innings and allowed one run with four strikeouts to earn the win.

Littell, a deadline acquisition from the Rays, has made two starts for the Reds, allowing five runs and striking out 11 across 11 2/3 innings (3.86 ERA) against the Cubs and Pirates. For the season, he’s made 24 starts with a 3.60 ERA, 4.73 FIP, and 100 strikeouts across 133 1/3 innings. He’s made 10 career appearances (one start) against Milwaukee, with a 1.80 ERA and 12 strikeouts over 15 innings. That includes two runs allowed and five strikeouts across six innings while with the Rays back in May.

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Sunday, August 17 @ 12:40 p.m.: Jose Quintana (3.44 ERA, 4.73 FIP) vs. Andrew Abbott (2.41 ERA, 3.66 FIP)

Quintana has done exactly what most fans would expect him to do this season, limiting hard contact despite allowing 93 hits and 36 walks in 99 1/3 innings (1.299 WHIP). Overall, he has a 3.44 ERA, 4.73 FIP, and 69 strikeouts across 99 1/3 innings. His last start came on Monday, when he went six strong innings with just one run allowed (a solo homer) with three strikeouts against the Cubs. In 16 career appearances (15 starts) against the Reds, Quintana is 6-4 with a 2.71 ERA and 68 strikeouts across 89 2/3 innings.

Abbott, 26, has improved each season in the majors, as he’s turned in an All-Star season with a 2.41 ERA, 3.66 FIP, and 105 strikeouts across 123 innings (21 starts) this year, totaling a career-high 4.6 bWAR. He’s had some struggles in recent weeks, however, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) with 10 strikeouts across 19 2/3 innings (4.12 ERA) over his last three starts. Across six career starts against Milwaukee, he has a 2-4 record with a 4.32 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 33 1/3 innings. He went six innings with five runs allowed and six strikeouts against Milwaukee back in June, taking the loss.

How to Watch

Friday, August 15: Exclusively televised on Apple TV+; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network

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Saturday, August 16: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network

Sunday, August 17: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network

Prediction

The Brewers need to lost some day, right? I’ll take the Crew to win two of three as the win streak comes to an end before they head to Chicago for five games in four days against the Cubs.