The Milwaukee Brewers will turn to right-hander Quinn Priester as they pursue their fourth division title in five years and a sweep of the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Thursday.
Priester (13-2, 3.25 ERA), who has won a franchise record 12 consecutive decisions, will be opposed by left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (6-11, 4.08).
The Brewers (93-59) recorded their second straight 9-2 victory on Wednesday to reduce their magic number to six to clinch the National League Central. Sal Frelick belted a three-run homer and Blake Perkins matched his career high with five RBIs.
Taylor Ward had two solo homers for the Angels (69-83), boosting his RBI total to 100 for the first time in his career.
Los Angeles has lost six straight games, however.
The Brewers (93-59) have clinched a playoff berth and have the best overall record in the majors. They kept their five-game division lead over the Chicago Cubs, who clinched a playoff berth with an 8-4 win at the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
Milwaukee holds a 2 1/2-game lead over the Philadelphia Phillies for home-field advantage in the NL playoffs. The Phillies dropped a 5-0 decision to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
Priester, acquired from the Boston Red Sox in early April, has a 2.82 ERA over his winning streak, covering 18 games, including 15 starts. He has not lost since mid-May.
In his last start, Priester allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings to get the win in an 8-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.
Priester has faced the Angels just once in his career, allowing five runs (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings in a 9-0 loss in 2024 while with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Prior to Wednesday’s game, the Brewers placed starting pitcher Jose Quintana on the 15-day injured list with a left calf strain. They also activated reliever Rick Mears, who pitched one inning and allowed one of Ward’s homers.
The timetable for closer Trevor Megill to return from the injured list is uncertain. Megill, who is sidelined with a right flexor strain, has a team-high 30 saves in 36 opportunities.
“He’s working through the process of trying to hurry up, and that’s not always the best thing for a flexor strain,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said prior to the game.
Angels starter Jose Soriano was removed in the second inning Wednesday after being struck by a line drive off the bat of Jake Bauers. Soriano sustained a right forearm contusion, and X-rays were negative for a fracture, the team announced.
Angles manager Ray Montgomery was uncertain if Soriano would make another start in 2025.
“It’s hard to say,” Montgomery said. “We’ve got to see how it feels.”
Kikuchi is 1-4 with a 7.49 ERA over his last seven starts, allowing 28 earned runs in 33 2/3 innings.
In his most recent start, Kikuchi allowed just one run on four hits in six innings in a no-decision versus the Seattle Mariners, a loss last Friday.
Kikuchi is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in three career starts against Milwaukee.
Angels slugger Mike Trout remains one homer short of 400 for his career. Trout was 0-for-7 in the first two games of the series with five strikeouts, including three Wednesday.
–Field Level Media
