Well, here we go again. Seven years after the Brewers lost to the Dodgers in the 2018 NLCS, they will get their chance at redemption.
Left-handed reliever Aaron Ashby is scheduled to start for Milwaukee as the opener. Ashby had a 2.16 ERA through 43 regular-season appearances and has a 5.79 ERA through 4.2 innings this postseason. In his last appearance, against the Cubs, he went 0.1 innings, allowing a hit and hitting a batter without giving up a run.
In the words of Brewers manager Pat Murphy, Quinn Priester is “73%… no, 71%” likely to follow Ashby. Murphy used lefty DL Hall, who was left off the roster for the NLCS, as an opener for Priester a few times during the regular season. The right-handed Priester was a revelation this season for Milwaukee, putting up a 3.32 ERA through 29 regular-season appearances (24 starts). He struggled in his only appearance against Chicago, failing to make it out of the first inning in a game the Brewers would go on to lose.
Los Angeles’ starter is two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell, who was limited to eleven regular-season starts due to shoulder problems in what was his first season with the Dodgers. Snell posted a 2.35 ERA through those eleven starts. In his most recent appearance, he went six shutout innings while allowing just one hit in Game 2 against the Dodgers’ NLDS opponent, the Philadelphia Phillies.
Jackson Chourio will lead off for the Brewers today, starting in right field (presumably due to the right hamstring he re-injured in Game 1 of the NLDS). He’s followed by Christian Yelich (DH’ing), William Contreras, and Brice Turang. Andrew Vaughn will hit fifth after hitting the go-ahead home run in Game 5 of the NLDS. Sal Frelick is hitting sixth in center field, with Caleb Durbin in the seven spot. Isaac Collins gets his first start of the postseason in left field, with shortstop Joey Ortiz bringing up the rear.
Today’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:08 p.m. CT at American Family Field. The game will be televised on TBS & HBO Max, with radio broadcasts available on ESPN Radio and the Brewers Radio Network.
