The Milwaukee Brewers are set to wrap up their last road trip of the 2026 regular season this week, as they’ll visit the Philadelphia Phillies for three games. A pair of playoff teams (barring a final week collapse by Philadelphia), the Brewers sit at 98-58 with the best record in baseball, while the Phillies are 86-70 and currently sit in the final NL Wild Card spot, four games ahead of the D-backs with six games to go. Last time these teams met, back in June, the Brewers took two of three in Milwaukee with a pair of shutouts.
The Brewers injured list currently includes relievers Grant Anderson (on rehab assignment), Bryse Wilson (on rehab assignment), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season). They’re also without starters Quinn Priester (out for season) and Brandon Woodruff (potential late postseason return).
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Philadelphia is without pitchers Jesús Luzardo (aiming for postseason return), Caleb Kilian (out for season), and Brad Keller (out for season). Outfielders Johan Rojas and Adolis García are also out for the year. Right-hander Jonathan Bowlan is also considered day to day with a mild groin strain.
Jake Bauers and Jackson Chourio lead the way for Milwaukee’s offense, with Brice Turang a homer and a steal away from a 20-20 season. William Contreras has also been a key producer over the last month or so, and Joey Ortiz has been a leader offensively in the second half. Andrew Vaughn, Garrett Mitchell, Cooper Pratt, Luis Lara, and Christian Yelich have also been regular producers, with Gary Sánchez, David Hamilton, Sal Frelick, and Bo Naylor serving as depth. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .258/.341/.403 (.744 OPS ranks fourth), with 149 homers (tied for 28th), 802 runs scored (second), and 156 steals (fifth).
Kyle Schwarber leads the majors with 45 homers this season, driving in 95 and also walking 101 times, just behind Bryce Harper‘s 104. Harper has slugged 28 homers, while Trea Turner is a homer away from a 20-20 season (19 homers, 21 steals), and Brandon Marsh, Alec Bohm, J.T. Realmuto, and Bryson Stott also have double-digit homers. Deadline acquisition Luis Arraez is hitting “just” .285 since joining Philadelphia, and Justin Crawford rounds out the usual starters. Bryan De La Cruz, Derek Hill, Garrett Stubbs, Edmundo Sosa, and Rafael Marchán round out the bench. As a team, the Phillies are hitting .241/.312/.397 (.709 OPS ranks 22nd), with 179 homers (tied for 14th), 697 runs scored (tied for 13th), and 102 steals (15th).
Milwaukee’s bullpen is anchored by closer Trevor Megill, setup man Abner Uribe, and high-leverage arms in Aaron Ashby, Chad Patrick, and DL Hall. Ashby’s 3.27 ERA is actually the worst of that group, while Megill leads the team with 29 saves this year. Shane Drohan has rejoined the bullpen after working as a starter for most of the year, as has the struggling Kyle Harrison. Deadline acquisitions JoJo Romero and Antonio Senzatela are also in the ‘pen, as is Colton Gordon, who hasn’t yet made an appearance with Milwaukee (more on him later). As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.54 team ERA (second) including a 3.64 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.41 bullpen ERA (fourth). They’ve struck out 1,492 batters (second) over 1,393 2/3 innings.
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José Alvarado leads Philadelphia with 65 appearances, though his 5.02 ERA over 57 1/3 innings isn’t ideal. Jhoan Duran is the closer, as he’s 32-for-34 in save opportunities, turning in a 1.76 ERA and 79 strikeouts over 56 1/3 innings. The aforementioned Bowlan (3.36 over 56 1/3 IP), Tim Mayza (3.46 ERA over 65 IP), and Chase Shugart (4.03 ERA over 51 1/3 IP) all play key roles, while deadline pickup Brooks Raley (8.71 ERA over 10 1/3 IP) has struggled. Tanner Banks (6.82 ERA over 33 IP) and Max Lazar (5.63 ERA over 8 IP) have also had a rough go, while Alex McFarlane (2.35 ERA over 15 1/3 IP) has been solid. As a staff, the Phillies have a 4.00 team ERA (11th) including a 3.79 starter ERA (seventh) and a 4.34 bullpen ERA (21st). They’ve struck out 1,510 batters (first) over 1,384 1/3 innings.
Tuesday, September 22 @ 5:40 p.m.: RHP Dustin May (7-9, 4.61 ERA, 3.50 FIP) vs. RHP Zack Wheeler (13-5, 2.99 ERA, 3.47 FIP)
May has had an up-and-down tenure in Milwaukee, with several strong starts and several short ones. After working six scoreless innings against the Reds on September 11, he went just 2 1/3 innings against the Orioles on Friday, allowing three runs on six hits, a walk, and a hit batter while striking out four, needing 70 pitches to do so. He’ll go on short rest after the shortened start, looking to bounce back against Philadelphia. May has faced 28 teams in his career, but the Phillies are not one of them (the other is Toronto).
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Wheeler, 36, was nearly a Brewer as the return from the Mets in the Carlos Gomez trade, but that never came to fruition as Gomez ultimately headed to Houston. He remains one of the most consistent starters in the majors, as he’s 13-5 with a 2.99 ERA, 3.47 FIP, and 177 strikeouts over 150 1/3 innings this year. He’s allowed one run or fewer in each of his last four outings against the Angels, Braves, Astros, and Nationals, totaling 26 innings with three earned runs and 29 strikeouts. The veteran righty has made 11 career starts against Milwaukee, and he’s 5-2 with a 2.41 ERA and 78 strikeouts across 71 innings.
Wednesday, September 23 @ 5:40 p.m.: RHP Logan Henderson (10-3, 2.51 ERA, 3.30 FIP) vs. RHP Aaron Nola (7-10, 4.49 ERA, 4.78 FIP)
Henderson, who has quickly developed into Milwaukee’s No. 2 starter, has had a great rookie season, going 10-3 with a 2.51 ERA, 3.30 FIP, and 107 strikeouts across 93 1/3 innings. He’s coming off what he’d probably consider a “disappointing” start against the Pirates, going five innings with three runs allowed (tying a career-high mark) and eight strikeouts in a no-decision. This marks Henderson’s first career appearance against Philadelphia.
Nola, 33, is another veteran right-hander, having spent all 12 seasons of his career in Philadelphia. Nola is having a mediocre year, with a 7-10 record, 4.49 ERA, 4.78 FIP, and 169 strikeouts over 168 1/3 innings. He’s had trouble with the long ball, allowing an MLB-worst 34 homers this season. He’s looked better over his last several outings, though, allowing two runs or fewer in each of his last seven starts, totaling 48 1/3 innings with a 1.86 ERA and 48 strikeouts. Nola has made 16 career starts against Milwaukee, going 7-3 with a 3.22 ERA and 104 strikeouts over 95 innings. That includes a no-decision back in June, when he went 4 2/3 innings, allowing three runs and striking out three.
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Thursday, September 24 @ 5:05 p.m.: TBD vs. TBD
Neither team has announced a starter for Thursday’s series finale, and it’s hard to predict Milwaukee’s starter due to the recent shuffling e.g., Dustin May and Kyle Harrison. This seems like the perfect opportunity for Colton Gordon, who the Brewers acquired alongside Lance McCullers Jr. in exchange for Jadyn Fielder back in July. Gordon, 27, hasn’t yet appeared in the majors with Milwaukee, but he’s 6-4 with a 5.95 ERA and 83 strikeouts over 95 1/3 innings in MLB with the Astros. He’s made 10 starts with Triple-A Nashville since being acquired, going 1-5 with a 4.67 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 54 innings. The former eighth-round pick has made one career start against Philadelphia, which came last June while with Houston. He went five scoreless innings, striking out four to pick up the win.
Philadelphia will likely go with José Urquidy as the “bulk arm” in this game, as the last turn through the rotation, left-hander Tim Mayza opened the first inning before turning it over to the right-hander. Urquidy, 31, started the season with the Pirates and also spent time with the White Sox before being claimed off waivers by Philadelphia on Thursday. He’s made 12 appearances (one start) this year, totaling 33 2/3 innings with a 4.54 ERA, 3.84 FIP, and 27 strikeouts. In Friday’s loss to the Mets, he worked 4 2/3 innings, allowing no runs on five hits and six strikeouts. Urquidy has faced 26 teams in his career, but the Brewers are not one of them.
Tuesday, September 22: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
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Wednesday, September 23: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Thursday, September 24: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
The Phillies have a lot more to play for at this point, as they’re fighting with the Cubs and Padres for home-field advantage in the NL Wild Card Series (whereas the Brewers are just fighting with the Dodgers for the top overall seed). Philadelphia hasn’t been consistent recently, though, so I wouldn’t be surprised if the Brewers sneak away with two out of three.
