The Milwaukee Brewers face off against the Arizona Diamondbacks this Saturday evening in a key matchup between two teams eyeing a playoff berth. The Brewers are on the verge of clinching their second consecutive NL Central Division title, while the Diamondbacks, last year’s National League Champions, are positioned well for one of the three wildcard spots. This matchup features a compelling pitching duel as Brewers rookie right-hander Tobias Myers (7-5, 2.93 ERA) takes on Diamondbacks’ Brandon Pfaadt (9-8, 4.42 ERA). Fans can look forward to the first pitch at 8:10 PM EST.
Brewers Rely on the Rookie
The Milwaukee Brewers have surprised many this season, leading the NL Central Division despite significant changes to their starting rotation and the offseason trade of their ace. With a record more than 20 games over .500, the Brewers also boast the best run differential in the National League, showcasing their ability to compete with bigger names like the Dodgers and Phillies. After a successful series against the Giants in San Francisco, where they took two of three games, the Brewers arrived in Arizona fresh off a 2-1 victory over the Diamondbacks on Friday night, extending their NL Central lead to ten games, highlighted by a homer from Rhys Hoskins.
In the second game against Arizona, the Brewers will hand the ball to rookie sensation Tobias Myers. This talented pitcher has had an impressive debut season, posting a 7-5 record in 22 games, including seven quality starts. With an ERA of 2.93 and a WHIP of 1.16, Myers has thrown 120 innings, allowing 106 hits, striking out 112 batters, and walking 33. He’s also given up 17 home runs. In his last outing, he excelled against the Rockies, allowing just one run over six innings while racking up 11 strikeouts.
Injury Report: RP Rob Zastryzny, RP Enoli Paredes, 3B Oliver Dunn, RP Nick Mears, and RP Bryse Wilson will not participate in this game.
Diamondbacks Lean on Pfaadt
The Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in a familiar position as they approach the end of the 2024 season. After making a remarkable run to the World Series from a wildcard spot last year, they are once again fighting for a chance to defend their National League title. Following a successful two-game series sweep against the Texas Rangers, the Diamondbacks faced the Brewers on Friday, where they fell short, losing 2-1 despite a solid performance from Eduardo Rodriguez. Currently, they trail the Padres by a game for the top wildcard spot.
For the middle game of this series, the Diamondbacks will start right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. He comes into this game with a record of 9-8 after 28 starts, including 12 quality outings. Pfaadt has faced 165 hits in 165 innings, accumulating 160 strikeouts while walking only 36 batters. However, he is coming off a tough outing against the Astros, where he allowed eight hits and four runs in 4.2 innings, leading to an 8-0 loss.
Injury Report: SP Merrill Kelly, C Gabriel Moreno, RP Bryce Jarvis, and RP Drey Jameson are all sidelined.
Best Bets for Milwaukee Brewers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks
Brandon Pfaadt has shown a marked improvement when pitching at home this season, securing six of his nine wins in front of the Arizona crowd. The Diamondbacks have also won three of his last five starts, showcasing his effectiveness. On the other hand, Tobias Myers has delivered strong performances but is entering uncharted territory in terms of innings pitched. Given the Brewers’ commanding lead in the division, they may opt to limit his innings as playoff preparations begin. In contrast, Pfaadt will be fully utilized, and it is likely he will pitch deep into the game. Expect the Diamondbacks to make a strong push in the later innings to secure the victory.
Take Arizona with the money line.
