Brewers aim for rare four-game sweep as Jacob Misiorowski faces Chase Burns

The Milwaukee Brewers close out their series with the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday afternoon with a chance at a rare four-game sweep, setting up a matchup that has the feel of a showcase for two of the sport’s most intriguing young right-handers. Milwaukee owns a 53-31 record to open July 2, while Cincinnati is 39-46, and the game pairs Jacob Misiorowski with Chase Burns in a pitching duel framed by both teams’ contrasting trajectories this season.

Misiorowski and Burns are the headline because of the way each starter’s repertoire plays when it’s at its best. One analysis linked to the matchup emphasizes how Misiorowski’s fastball has averaged around 100.3 mph, while Burns is described as sitting in the 93rd percentile with a fastball that averages about 97.9 mph. The same preview describes both pitchers as ranking at or near the top of league-wide “Stuff+” categories, with Misiorowski placed first and Burns fourth, and also notes their strong run-prevention marks and overall value measures in established baseball analytics databases.

Beyond the matchup itself, the game’s stakes lean heavily toward momentum and control. Milwaukee has been winning in bunches over recent weeks, and the preview points to an eight-in-their-last-ten stretch that includes a 6-0 record against the Reds. Cincinnati’s season arc is steeper in the other direction, with the same preview describing the Reds as having won only twice in their last nine and as struggling since early June.

Lineup notes from the pregame preview suggest Milwaukee is keeping its core intact for the afternoon game. Christian Yelich returns to the leadoff spot, with Garrett Mitchell also back in the lineup after a notable recent performance. The projected field includes Sal Frelick and Jackson Chourio in the outfield, with David Hamilton, Cooper Pratt, Brice Turang, and Jake Bauers across the infield, and William Contreras doing the catching, reflecting a lineup built to apply pressure early in the series finale.

Time and broadcast information also point to a straightforward rhythm for Milwaukee’s clubhouse on a rest-and-reload day. First pitch is scheduled for 1:10 p.m., with the game set to air on Brewers TV and on the Brewers Radio Network. After Thursday, the Brewers are expected to move directly into a new series window that can shape how they manage their rotation and bullpen workload as the summer grind tightens.

The pitching duel between Misiorowski and Burns is the most direct reason to watch, but the broader context matters too. For Milwaukee, a sweep would be a statement both in the standings picture and in how efficiently the staff can turn a series into multiple wins. For Cincinnati, the matchup is a chance to slow a team that has already found ways to exploit them repeatedly, even as the Reds chase consistency and a spark against a division leader.

As always, pregame plans can shift once weather, bullpen availability, and late lineup decisions are confirmed. But barring changes, Thursday’s game is framed as a meaningful test for both teams’ young aces, with Milwaukee looking to finish the series strong and Cincinnati searching for a reset.