The Milwaukee Brewers are returning home for the first time since the All-Star break, set to take on the Miami Marlins and the Chicago Cubs to finish out July. Coming off a remarkable 11-game winning streak, the Brewers delivered a compelling performance, winning five out of six on their recent road trip. They currently hold the best record in Major League Baseball at 61-41, sitting just one game ahead of the Cubs in the NL Central division.
Meanwhile, the Marlins have had a mixed season, sitting at 48-53, 6.5 games behind the final NL Wild Card spot. The Marlins recorded a 4-2 record since the break, securing series victories over the Royals and Padres.
In terms of injuries, the Brewers are hoping to see Sal Frelick return by Friday. Their list also includes notable names such as Nestor Cortes and Jake Bauers, among others. The Marlins are struggling with their own injury woes, with Derek Hill and Connor Norby among those sidelined.
Christian Yelich continues to lead the Brewers’ offense with 19 home runs, with Jackson Chourio aiming for a notable 20-20 season, having accumulated 16 homers and 18 steals. Despite mixed power numbers, Milwaukee’s speed on the base paths, highlighted by players like William Contreras and Caleb Durbin, has played a vital role in their recent success.
For the Marlins, Kyle Stowers shines offensively with his 22 home runs, while Agustín Ramírez is making a strong case for NL Rookie of the Year honors. Nonetheless, the team struggles both offensively and defensively, ranking lower in various hitting and pitching statistics.
The pitching matchups for the weekend series are exciting. Freddy Peralta (2.85 ERA) will face Cal Quantrill (5.24 ERA) on Friday, followed by José Quintana and Janson Junk on Saturday, and Brandon Woodruff (1.65 ERA) against Eury Pérez (3.23 ERA) on Sunday. Previewing these pitchers indicates a favorable edge for the Brewers, particularly with Woodruff’s impressive performance since returning from injury.
Fans can look forward to an engaging weekend in Milwaukee that includes events celebrating American Family Field’s 25th anniversary. With the Brewers poised for a potential sweep, they hope to capitalize on the positive energy from their home crowd.
Overall, this matchup brings not only a sports rivalry but a chance to reinvigorate excitement among fans as the teams enter the final stretch of the season. It’s a promising time to be a Brewers fan, especially with the team performing at such a high level.