The Brewers have only scored four runs in the first two games of their three-game series in Cincinnati, yet they’ve managed to win both games: a 2-1 extra-innings victory on Monday and a 2-0 shutout on Tuesday. Brandon Woodruff and Brandon Sproat both turned in outstanding, nearly identical pitching performances against a struggling Reds offense; Shane Drohan’s name isn’t Brandon, but Drohan I guess sounds a little bit like Brandon, so we’ll see if he can keep the good vibes going.
Drohan is expected to be returned to relief duty, or at least swingman duty, after tonight’s start. He’s been an important part of the Brewers’ success this season, and has thrown important innings both out of the bullpen (where he has been excellent) and out of the rotation. Overall, Drohan is 3-2 with a 3.40 ERA and 3.17 FIP in five starts and ten relief appearances that have covered 47 2/3 innings. This will be Drohan’s fifth straight appearance as a starter.
The Reds will send the young right-hander Rhett Lowder to the mound. Lowder debuted in 2024 but is still just 24 years old, and he’ll be making his 12th appearance (all starts) of the season. Injuries kept him out of the 2025 season, but he was outstanding in six starts to finish 2024. This season hasn’t gone quite as well: in 52 1/3 innings, Lowder has a 4.82 ERA and 4.46 FIP. His struggles are apparent in his strikeout and walk numbers: he’s struck out just 42 batters this season (7.2 per nine) which has been exacerbated by sky-high walks numbers (4.8 per nine innings).
A roster note today: Abner Uribe, who has been “appealing” his suspension since the end of May, dropped that appeal today. Strategically timed, as Uribe pitched in each of the first two games of the series and surely would’ve been out tonight no matter what. It will be interesting to see what the Brewers do if this is another close game: with Uribe unavailable and both Aaron Ashby and Trevor Megill having pitched in each of the first two games of the series, things might get interesting.
The Brewers, then, will just go for a blowout to clinch the sweep. It’s a lefty-heavy lineup with Lowder on the mound, as the only right-handed bats in the lineup are Jackson Chourio, William Contreras, and Cooper Pratt. Garrett Mitchell and Sal Frelick join Chourio in the outfield, while David Hamilton plays third, Jake Bauers is at first, and Brice Turang plays second.
First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
Read the full article here