The Brewers are on the doorstep of a number they’ve never hit before. With 99 wins already in the bank, Milwaukee gets its first regular-season shot at reaching 100, and it comes in the final road game of the year against the Phillies.
On paper, this one has the feel of an offensive night. Both starters come in with ERAs north of 4.00, and both lineups have been swinging it well lately.
Philadelphia will send Andrew Painter to the mound, and his rookie year has been a mixed bag. In September, he’s carrying a 4.03 ERA, has gone past five innings only twice, and has allowed four home runs during that stretch.
That gives Milwaukee a chance to lean on its power one more time away from home.
The Brewers, meanwhile, waited until a few hours before first pitch to announce their starter. That job goes to Shane Drohan, who hasn’t started since September 12 and has spent his last two outings in relief.
In those 2.1 bullpen innings, he didn’t allow a run, which has at least kept him in the conversation as a left-handed option if Milwaukee needs one later. His last two starts were a different story, though, as he gave up 11 runs, 10 hits, and four home runs.
Milwaukee’s lineup will also look a little different. Jackson Chourio, Christian Yelich, and Andrew Vaughn are out, while Gary Sánchez starts behind the plate and Sal Frelick slides into left field.
Garrett Mitchell is set to lead off, followed by Brice Turang and William Contreras. Joey Ortiz is in the bottom spot at third base, with David Hamilton sitting out of the lineup.
In Other News...
Pat Murphy Sent A Clear Brewers Message During A Historic Win
The Brewers reached a milestone no one in franchise history had seen before, claiming their 100th win while locking up the No. 1 seed in the National League playoffs. In a season built on consistency and accountability, the moment was as much about the teams identity as the record itself, with Milwaukee continuing to show that the standard does not change just because the wins keep piling up.
Pat Murphy reinforced that point during the game by benching William Contreras in the eighth inning after he did not run out a ground ball, a move that fit the way the Brewers have operated all season. Contreras has been swinging the bat well lately, but Milwaukee has made it clear that every player is held to the same expectations, and on a night meant for celebration, Murphy still found a way to send a message about how the team plans to keep handling business. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Farm System Depth Is Suddenly Hard To Ignore
The Brewers are using their end-of-season minor league awards to shine a light on just how much talent has bubbled up through the system at once. The organization recently unveiled finalists for its Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Year honors, a new wrinkle for the club, and the list tells a clear story about the strength of the farm. Ten prospects made the cut, with seven position players and four pitchers represented across multiple levels.
Among the names drawing attention are Andrew Fischer and Blake Burke, part of a group that reflects the kind of depth Milwaukee has spent years trying to build. It is the sort of list that suggests the system is not leaning on just one or two headline prospects, but has real volume and balance throughout the pipeline, which is exactly the kind of development buzz a big-league club wants heading into the offseason. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Are Trusting A Rookie Arm In A Spot That Matters
Shane Drohan has quietly worked his way into a meaningful place on the Brewers postseason plans, with Pat Murphy confirming the rookie will be on the clubs National League Division Series roster starting Oct. 3. Acquired from the Red Sox in the offseason, Drohan has spent his first year in Milwaukee moving between the rotation and the bullpen, a kind of flexibility that tends to matter more in October than it does in the grind of the regular season.
The Brewers have seen enough of that versatility to trust him in a spot where every inning can swing the tone of a series. Drohan has made 32 appearances and posted a 4.24 ERA, numbers that show both the learning curve and the value of having a young arm who can cover different roles when the matchup board starts getting thin. For a team building around flexibility, his inclusion is another sign that Milwaukee is willing to lean on a rookie if the situation calls for it. [Read more 🡒]