Brewers today 8/14/2025: Going for a baker's dozen
You could say that the Milwaukee Brewers having Thursday off could be a momentum-killer, but I will argue that it is a well-deserved day off. Whether you want to call it pressure or not (I choose the latter), the Crew simply needed a day off before embarking on a stretch of 23 games in 22 days.
That string of games will go a long way to determine the Brewers' staying power because at some point, the 12-game winning streak they carry into Friday's opener of a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park will come to an end. But at least fans will be able to enjoy free George Webb burgers!
WHERE THEY STAND
The Brewers continue to hold onto the best record in MLB at 76-44. There are only two other teams that have reached 70 wins – the Toronto Blue Jays (71-51) and the Detroit Tigers (70-52), with both of those teams in the AL. The next best records in the NL are the other two division leaders, with the Philadelphia Phillies (69-51, NL East) and San Diego Padres (69-52, NL West). That means the Brewers are 6½ and 7½ games ahead of those teams in the race for one of the top two seeds in the NL. That is just slightly less than the lead the Brewers have over the second-place Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Thanks to the Cubs' 2-1 loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday, the Brewers have an eight-game advantage entering the weekend.
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Brewers RHP Jacob Misiorowski (4-1, 2.70 ERA) vs. Reds RHP Nick Martinez (10-9, 4.49 ERA). Technically, the Brewers' starter is TBA, but the Miz is due to be activated off the 15-day injured list. There was talk about the All-Star rookie going on one rehab appearance following his bruised shin, but with limited innings on Misiorowski's right arm, the Brewers would be wise not to waste them on the Durham Bulls (the Triple-A Nashville Sounds' opponent this week). Martinez has allowed exactly two runs in five of his last six outings (one in relief). In his last game, Martinez came back from a relief appearance and went seven innings, allowing four hits with two walks and four strikeouts. The game is on Apple TV+.
Saturday: Brewers RHP Quinn Priester (11-2, 3.49 ERA) vs. Reds RHP Zack Littell (9-8, 3.60 ERA). Priester has won 10 straight decisions, but needed a little help from his friends in his last game to keep that streak alive. Priester yielded six runs in 4⅓ innings, his worst start since joining the Brewers in an April trade. Littell is also a trade acquisition, joining the Reds at the trade deadline. Littell has made two starts, posting a 3.86 ERA in 11⅔ innings, with two walks and 11 strikeouts. But in his last start, he gave up four runs in 4⅔ innings vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Sunday: Brewers LHP Jose Quintana (10-4, 3.44 ERA) vs. Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (8-3, 2.41 ERA). Quintana and RHP Freddy Peralta were flip-flopped in their last turn through the rotation to give Peralta and extra recovery day. Quintana became the third Brewers starter to reach double digits in victories (Peralta has an MLB-best 14) in his last start, allowing six hits and one run over six innings. Abbott has been a rock for the Reds. He is coming off a six-hit, three-run outing over 7⅔ innings against the Phillies.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Aside from Misiorowski, 1B-OF Jake Bauers (left shoulder impingement) was slated to begin a rehab assignment with Nashville on Thursday. LHP Robert Gasser (Tommy John surgery) was to have another rehab appearance with Nashville on Thursday, scheduled to go three innings.
COMING UP
After facing the Reds, the Brewers make their long-awaited trip to Wrigley Field for a five-game series against the Cubs, including a doubleheader to open things up Monday. The Brewers' recent surge has flipped the pressure to the Cubs needing to win at least three if not four of the games to keep up with the Brewers. The pitching matchups are tentatively: Peralta and TBA vs. RHP Cade Horton (7-3, 3.07 ERA) and TBA on Monday, Woodruff vs. LHP Matthew Boyd (11-5, 2.46 ERA) on Tuesday, Misiorowski vs. Colin Rea (9-5, 4.09 ERA) on Wednesday and Priester vs. LHP Shota Imanaga (8-5, 3.19 ERA) to finish things up Thursday. It wouldn't be surprising to see the Brewers to call up Chad Patrick (3-7, 3.52 ERA in 19 games, 18 starts in MLB) to start a game in the doubleheader.
