The Milwaukee Brewers, fresh off their first sweep of the season, are headed back on the road for six games as they’ll play three games in Philadelphia and three games in Cincinnati. First up are the Phillies, who sit at 35-19 this year, good for the best record in the NL. Milwaukee is back over .500 after four straight wins, as they’re 29-28 this season.

The Phillies have lost just one series this month and they’re 10-1 in their last 11 games entering a doubleheader with the Braves on Thursday.

Milwaukee’s injured list has continued to shrink in recent weeks, even with very few off days in May. José Quintana is the next guy expected to return, as he’s slated to start in Sunday’s series finale. Brandon Woodruff, Tyler Black, Blake Perkins, and Garrett Mitchell could also be back in the next few weeks, which is crucial given Milwaukee’s depleted outfield depth.

The only player currently on Philadelphia’s injured list is right-hander Aaron Nola, who’s having a down season at age 31 as he’s just 1-7 with a 6.16 ERA and 52 strikeouts through 49 2⁄3 innings. He’s expected to return in mid-June from an ankle sprain. Beyond that, Bryce Harper is currently considered day-to-day after being hit by a pitch on the elbow Wednesday.

The Brewers’ offense is led by Rhys Hoskins (.282/.384/.459 with seven homers and 29 RBIs), Jackson Chourio (.241/.270/.415 with eight homers, 29 RBIs, 31 runs, and nine steals), and Christian Yelich (.211/.299/.382 with 10 homers, 34 RBIs, 28 runs, and 10 steals). Brice Turang, Sal Frelick, and William Contreras are also getting on at high clips, at or around .350 each. As a team, Milwaukee is hitting .232/.311/.353 (.664 OPS ranks 25th) with 48 homers (25th), 246 runs (11th), and 74 steals (second).

The Phillies’ offense is led by slugger Kyle Schwarber, who sports a 2.53/.393/.576 line with 19 homers, 41 RBIs, and 42 runs this season. Bryce Harper is hitting .267/.375/.450 with eight homers, while Trea Turner is also hitting over .300. Nick Castellanos is having a solid year with a .289/.330/.408 line and four homers, while J.T. Realmuto, Max Kepler, Alec Bohm, and Bryson Stott have also made key contributions. As a team, Philadelphia is hitting .260/.338/.410 (.748 OPS ranks fifth) with 60 homers (10th), 267 runs (eighth), and 53 steals (tied for seventh).

Despite some missteps in recent weeks, the Brewers’ bullpen is still solid at the top behind closer Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, Grant Anderson, and Nick Mears, all of whom have ERAs at 2.86 or better. Uribe’s 1.65 ERA and 37 strikeouts lead the bullpen, as he’s accumulated 27 1⁄3 innings through 28 appearances. As a staff, the Brewers have a 4.00 ERA (19th), including a 3.54 starter ERA (eighth) and a 4.55 reliever ERA (23rd). They rank 14th with 467 strikeouts over 504 1⁄3 innings.

After plenty of early season struggles and a suspension to power reliever Jose Alvarado, the Phillies’ bullpen has turned things around in a big way, with Matt Strahm, Orion Kerkering, and Jordan Romano all looking much better of late. Romano has gotten the bulk of the saves without Alvarado, going 7-for-9 this year and his 7.40 ERA looks worse on paper when you realize he has a 2.79 ERA in May. Former Brewer Joe Ross is an innings eater out of the bullpen, and Tanner Banks, Carlos Hernández, and José Ruiz also get plenty of chances in relief. As a staff, the Phillies have a 3.68 ERA (11th), including a 3.18 starter ERA (fourth) and a 4.53 reliever ERA (22nd). They lead the league with 537 strikeouts over 494 innings.

Probable Pitchers

Friday, May 30 @ 5:45 p.m.: Quinn Priester (4.23 ERA, 4.64 FIP) vs. Taijuan Walker (2.97 ERA, 3.76 FIP)

Priester, while not fantastic, has been nothing short of serviceable with the Brewers. He’s allowed three or fewer runs in all but two of his nine appearances, including three runs or fewer in each of his last four outings. He went six frames against the Pirates last time out, allowing one run on six hits and a walk with a season-high seven strikeouts. In two career appearances (one start) against Philadelphia, Priester has allowed five runs and struck out eight over six frames.

Walker, 32, is with his fifth team and third season in Philadelphia. After a pair of below-average seasons in 2023 and 2024, Walker has looked like a completely different pitcher this year. Through nine appearances (seven starts), he has a 2.97 ERA, 3.76 FIP, and 33 strikeouts over 39 1⁄3 innings. His last start was a winning effort, as he allowed three runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts in a win over the Rockies. He’s made two career starts against Milwaukee, losing both as he allowed eight runs and struck out nine in 12 innings of work.

Saturday, May 31 @ 3:05 p.m.: Chad Patrick (2.97 ERA, 3.29 FIP) vs. Jesús Luzardo (2.15 ERA, 2.25 FIP)

Patrick, 26, continues to impress, even if he isn’t eating innings as much as some would hope. His stretch of three earned runs or less has spanned 11 starts, and his 2.97 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 57 2⁄3 innings look good as well. He’s gone just 4 2⁄3 innings in each of his last two starts, but he’s allowed just one run while striking out 13 on 168 pitches in those two games. This is his first career appearance against Philadelphia.

Luzardo is in his first season with the Phillies after spending his first seven seasons between Oakland and Miami. Through 11 starts this year, he’s already compiled a league-best 3.0 bWAR, as he has a 2.15 ERA, 2.25 FIP, and 77 strikeouts in 67 innings, all of which put him on pace for a career-best season. He went seven innings in his last start against the A’s, allowing three runs and strikeout 10 in a no-decision. In three career starts against Milwaukee, Luzardo is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 18 innings.

Sunday, June 1 @ 12:35 p.m.: José Quintana (2.65 ERA, 4.54 FIP) vs. Ranger Suarez (2.97 ERA, 2.44 FIP)

While neither the Brewers nor the Phillies have announced a starter for Sunday’s series finale, this is looking like a lefty-on-lefty matchup with Quintana returning from injury and Suarez pitching in his usual spot in the rotation. Quintana has been solid in the month-plus he’s been active this season, making six starts with a 2.65 ERA, 4.54 FIP, and 24 strikeouts over 34 innings of work. This is his first start since early May against the Rays, and he went four innings on 71 pitches in his lone rehab start with High-A Wisconsin, allowing three runs and striking out three. He’s made 12 career starts against the Phillies, with a 3.53 ERA and 75 strikeouts over 66 1⁄3 innings.

Another game, another strong starter. While Milwaukee will miss Zack Wheeler this weekend, they’ll still have to face off against Suarez, who sports a 2.97 ERA, 2.44 FIP, and 31 strikeouts. An All-Star last season, Suarez has already spanned 30 1⁄3 innings despite only making five starts. He’s earned the win in each of his last four appearances, allowing just three total runs over 26 2⁄3 innings with 25 strikeouts, including six-plus scoreless frames each of his last two games. He’s made four career starts against Milwaukee, with a 3.48 ERA and 19 strikeouts over 20 2⁄3 innings.

How to Watch

Friday, May 30: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin, MLB Network (out-of-market viewers), and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network

Saturday, May 31: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin, MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers), and nationally televised on FS1; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network

Sunday, June 1: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network

Prediction

This is a tough, tough road matchup for the Brewers. The Phillies have done just about everything right this season, and playing at Citizens Bank Park is easily one of the toughest road tests in the majors. I’ll take the Phillies to win two of three this weekend as we flip the calendar to June.