The Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves are about to kick off a three-game series from August 21-23, and if you think it’s just another late-season matchup, think again. This isn’t just a clash between two of the National League’s top three teams; it’s got strange start times, a game in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, and massive implications for the NL’s top playoff spots.
Bye, Bye, Bye: High Stakes, Wild Schedule
This series is absolutely critical. The Brewers need to win at least two of these three games if they want a shot at the season-long tiebreaker. Why does that matter so much? Because these two teams are fighting for the same ground at the top of the National League. We’re talking about those coveted first-round byes, the ones that let you skip the wild-card series entirely. Right now, it’s the Brewers, Dodgers, and Braves in a tight battle for those top two spots.
And the schedule for this high-stakes showdown? It’s wild. Friday, August 21, is a 3:10 p.m. CT start. Saturday, August 22, is a 1:10 p.m. CT start. But then Sunday, August 23? That game is at 6:10 p.m. CT and it’s happening in Williamsport, Pennsylvania! Yeah, you read that right. The first two games will be on Brewers.TV, and the finale is hitting ESPN, with all three on AM-620 WTMJ radio.
Cy Young Showdown on the Mound
Forget the bizarre schedule for a second, because Friday’s pitching matchup alone is worth tuning in for. We’re talking two bona fide National League Cy Young Award contenders squaring off: the Braves’ ageless wonder LHP Chris Sale (12-8, 2.16 ERA) against the Brewers’ RHP Jacob Misiorowski (12-5, 1.75 ERA). Sign me up!
Sale, at 37, is still putting up eye-popping numbers as his team’s ace. He’s getting an extra day of rest after his last outing where he gave up just one earned run in six innings with nine strikeouts and zero walks. The man has only allowed more than three runs in a start *once* all season! He’s got a 1.016 WHIP and 160 strikeouts in 129 innings. Somehow, Atlanta has lost his last two starts, making them 13-9 in his outings this year. He’s actually moved up to No. 2 in Cy Young odds in some places.
But Misiorowski? He’s still the heavy favorite, rocking a ridiculous 1.75 ERA, a league-leading 0.75 WHIP, and a league-leading 210 strikeouts in 139 innings. This is presumably the top two pitchers in the league going head-to-head! Saturday sees LHP Martín Pérez (8-7, 3.15) against RHP Logan Henderson (7-2, 2.70), and Sunday’s Williamsport game features RHP Tyler Mahle (4-10, 4.53) battling LHP Shane Drohan (6-4, 3.86).
Tickets are still available for Friday’s opener, though the Brewers expect a sellout. You definitely want to catch this one. With the Brewers needing at least two wins to keep their season-long tiebreaker hopes alive against the Braves, and those first-round byes on the line, every pitch in this series is going to matter. Get ready for some high-stakes baseball, even if it’s in a random location on a Sunday night!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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