The Milwaukee Brewers host the Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game weekend-and-holiday week series, a meeting of two division leaders as they continue their charge at the top of their respective leagues. Milwaukee sits 85-53 entering September, 6.5 games ahead of the Cubs in the NL Central, while Philadelphia is 79-57 and comfortably holding the No. 2 seed in the NL, with the NL East still in clear reach.
Injuries and lineup notes
Milwaukee will be patterning its lineup around a healthy core that includes Jackson Chourio back on the field. The Brewers’ bullpen remains a strength, led by Abner Uribe (1.65 ERA, 79 strikeouts in 65 1/3 innings) who has moved into the closer role with Trevor Megill sidelined. Other key relievers include Shelby Miller, Jared Koenig, Nick Mears, Grant Anderson, Aaron Ashby, and Rob Zastryzny bridging to the closer. On offense, Christian Yelich (27 homers) and Chourio (18) pace the power, with William Contreras at 17 homers and Brice Turang delivering a .287/.352/.435 line with 16 homers. The Brewers rank .259/.332/.409 as a team, with 149 homers, 703 runs, and 141 steals.
Milwaukee also faces a few injuries on the depth chart: Trevor Megill, Logan Henderson, Grant Anderson, and DL Hall are on the injured list, with Rhys Hoskins and Joey Ortiz the other position players sidelined. Ortiz is expected to return during this series, while Henderson is the outlier in terms of return timing, expected to miss the remainder of the season.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, has a thinner IL ledger, with Zack Wheeler and closer Jordan Romano sidelined. Romano’s return is still to be determined after a finger injury, and Wheeler’s battle with a right-arm blood clotting will keep him out through the offseason.
Offense and overall team notes for the Phillies show a balanced attack. Kyle Schwarber leads the way with 49 homers and 119 RBIs, while Bryce Harper has 22 homers and 63 RBIs. The lineup also features Nick Castellanos, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, Alec Bohm, and Bryson Stott, with Harrison Bader in the mix after his deadline addition. Philadelphia sits at .257/.327/.423 (.750 OPS), with 169 homers, 649 runs, and 112 steals.
Starter matchups and series outlook
Monday, September 1 at 3:10 p.m. CT
– Milwaukee: Jacob Misiorowski (4.33 ERA, 3.14 FIP) makes his first-ever start against Philadelphia
– Philadelphia: Taijuan Walker (3.63 ERA, 4.66 FIP)
Misiorowski, who was briefly an NL All-Star earlier this season as a young fireballer, has cooled a bit since returning from injury but shows high strikeout potential. Through 10 career starts, he’s at 4.33 ERA with 65 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings. Walker is in his 13th MLB season and has rebounded to a 3.63 ERA this year, though his last few starts haven’t been perfect. Against Milwaukee in three career appearances, he’s 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA.
Wednesday, September 3 at 6:40 p.m. CT
– Milwaukee: Jose Quintana (3.69 ERA, 4.85 FIP)
– Philadelphia: Aaron Nola (6.47 ERA, 5.03 FIP)
Quintana has been a solid contributor for the Brewers, posting a 3.69 ERA across 21 starts this season. He’s logged 13 career starts against Philadelphia with a 3.53 ERA. Nola, a multi-time Cy Young vote recipient, has endured perhaps his toughest season, sitting with a 6.47 ERA. He’s had success against Milwaukee in the past (7-2, 2.64 ERA in 14 starts), which Brewers hitters will have to contend with again.
Thursday, September 4 at 3:10 p.m. CT
– Milwaukee: Freddy Peralta (2.58 ERA, 3.60 FIP)
– Philadelphia: Ranger Suárez (3.02 ERA, 3.04 FIP)
Peralta has been a standout, posting a 2.58 ERA and 168 strikeouts over 153 2/3 innings, highlighted by a late-season stretch of dominance. Suárez, perhaps the most consistently strong arm in Philadelphia’s rotation, boasts a 3.02 ERA and 124 strikeouts over 131 innings this season. In five career starts against Milwaukee, Suárez owns a 0-1 record but a solid 3.04 ERA.
How to watch and listen
– Monday, September 1: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin, MLB Network (out-of-market), and MLB.TV (out-of-market); Brewers Radio Network
– Wednesday, September 3: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market); Brewers Radio Network
– Thursday, September 4: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin, MLB Network (out-of-market), and MLB.TV (out-of-market); Brewers Radio Network
What this series means
This three-game set features two teams in the upper echelon of their leagues, each aiming to press its advantage into September. Milwaukee’s home-field edge and stronger pace atop the NL Central could be a meaningful momentum factor as the Brewers chase a deeper playoff push. Philadelphia brings a high-powered lineup capable of turning the game with one swing, and the series will test their ability to slow Milwaukee’s dynamic hitters and late-inning bullpen options.
Potential storylines to watch
– How Misiorowski handles a veteran Phillies lineup that includes legitimate power and speed up and down the order.
– Nola’s ability to stabilize against a Milwaukee lineup that has balanced its approach and made use of its depth in the rotation.
– Peralta’s late-season form and whether he can sustain the excellence he showed in August to anchor the Brewers’ rotation down the stretch.
– The role of the bullpens and how Uribe, along with Milwaukee’s high-leverage group, handles late-inning pressure against Philadelphia’s lineup, particularly with closers in flux.
Summary note
Two division-contending clubs meet in a key early-September test, with Milwaukee looking to extend its lead at the top of the NL Central and Philadelphia aiming to keep pace in the NL East and secure a strong seed for the playoffs. The three-game series features high-profile arms, a mix of power and speed in both lineups, and multiple late-season storylines that could influence the remainder of the season.
Optional positive angle
With injuries to the Phillies’ bullpen in flux and the Brewers clicking on offense and bullpen efficiency, this series could serve as a showcase for depth and resilience as both teams chase meaningful goals down the stretch. If Milwaukee’s plan comes together, they’ll leverage home-field and a robust supporting cast to reinforce their playoff ambitions; if Philadelphia staggers, it could be a turning point in their late-season push.