After 16 games against one another this year, the Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds are split at eight wins a piece. This upcoming series will determine who wins the season matchup. It also is a critical series for the Brewers are looking to distance themselves from the Reds in the National League Central.
Entering play on Tuesday, the Brewers hold a 7.5 game lead in the division. If the Brewers win this series, taking two games would expand their lead to 8.5 games whereas a sweep to 10.5 games. Should the Brewers lose this series their lead would decrease to 6.5. Worst case scenario, if the Brewers are swept by the Reds than the lead will be just 4.5 games.
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The Brewers must avoid a sweep at all costs. This is their chance to pull away from the Reds and deliver a near death blow to their hopes at catching the Brewers in the division.
Oddly enough the last time the Brewers were swept in a three game series this season was against the Reds on June 14th-16th. Thankfully both Brandon Woodruff and Corbin Burnes are set up to pitch in this series, which makes being swept not as likely.
On the Reds side, they will send for forth Tyler Mahle, Luis Castillo, and Sonny Gray. After a rough start to the season, six out of Castillo’s last seven starts have been quality starts. Mahle has been excellent this year, especially on the road.
Probables for this week’s Reds-Brewers series:
Burnes (8-4, 2.13) vs. Mahle (10-4, 3.78)
Woodruff (7-7, 2.48) vs. Castillo (7-12, 4.35)
Anderson (4-7, 4.15) vs. Gray (5-6, 4.15)— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) August 22, 2021
From an offensive standpoint, the Brewers need Christian Yelich to stay hot. He has put together a great stretch of games and is more than capable of altering the fate of a series by himself. Additionally, Avisail Garcia is enjoying a career year and an incredible month of August. As for the Reds, Joey Votto and Tyler Naquin are two names to watch out for right now. Jesse Winker currently remains sidelined with an intercostal strain.
Should the Brewers come away victorious in the series, they would also be helping out the San Diego Padres. The Padres currently trail the Reds by one game in the wild card standings. With the way the Reds having been playing lately, it may be better if the Padres sneak into the play-offs.
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