The much-anticipated four-game series between the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers begins Thursday, Aug. 13 at Dodger Stadium. Though the standings suggest that a postseason rematch this October is possible, neither team is playing close to its best baseball.
The Brewers were swept by the surging San Diego Padres during the first leg of their seven-game southern California road trip this week, while the Dodgers dropped seven straight and eight of nine earlier this month before returning home to sweep the Kansas City Royals.
Because the Brewers own the National League's best record, the organization was criticized by some of the national baseball media for not being more aggressive at the trade deadline to keep the Dodgers from acquiring ace pitcher Tarik Skubal.
Skubal will pitch Sunday, Aug. 16 in the final game of the series. Brewers ace Jacob Misiorowski will pitch Saturday, Aug. 15. His start last year against the Dodgers was special.
Here's what to know about the pitching matchups for the Brewers and Dodgers:
Who's pitching in the Brewers vs Dodgers series?
- Brewers at Dodgers, Aug. 13, 9:10 p.m.: Milwaukee LHP Shane Drohan (6-4, 3.87) vs. Los Angeles RHP Roki Sasaki (5-5, 4.54)
- Brewers at Dodgers, Aug. 14, 9:10 p.m.: Milwaukee LHP Robert Gasser (3-4, 4.57) vs. Los Angeles RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (11-7, 2.65)
- Brewers at Dodgers, Aug. 15, 6:15 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Jacob Misiorowski (11-5, 1.76) vs. Los Angeles LHP Justin Wrobleski (11-4, 3.44)
- Brewers at Dodgers, Aug. 16, 3:10 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Logan Henderson (6-2, 2.88) vs. Los Angeles LHP Tarik Skubal (7-6, 2.93)
Misiorowski didn't pitch against Los Angeles in the previous series, but his regular-season start last year against the Dodgers was dominant. He struck out 12 over six innings in a 3-1 victory.
Gasser wasn't sharp in his May start against the Dodgers at American Family Field, allowing four runs over four innings.
Yamamoto allowed just one run against the Brewers over seven innings in May.
Skubal didn't pitch well in an April turn against the Brewers while with Detroit. He surrendered four runs on seven hits, but the Brewers lost, 5-4.
Though the Dodgers' Blake Snell struck out 10 in his return from the injured list earlier this week, the Brewers will miss him in the series.
How has Tarik Skubal done since being acquired by the Dodgers?
Skubal's first two starts as a Dodger haven't been overwhelming. He's 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA, 12 strikeouts and four walks in 11 innings. The Dodgers have split the two games he's been on the mound.
In his career against the Brewers, he's 2-0 with 24 strikeouts in 19⅔ innings with a 2.29 ERA.
More: CC Sabathia says Brewers 'kind of blew it' by not landing Tarik Skubal
Who are the Dodgers' best pitchers? What about Shohei Ohtani?
Though he isn't pitching currently – he's been out since July 3 with knee discomfort – Shohei Ohtani is having another MVP-type season, hitting .292 with 27 home runs, 74 RBI and a .937 OPS.
Though Skubal has grabbed all the recent attention, Yamamoto continues to be the Dodgers' most consistent pitcher. He's 11-7 with a 2.65 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP.
Since returning from the injured list, closer Edwin Diaz has been hit hard in five appearances (9.00 ERA, 2.14 WHIP). Tanner Scott leads Dodgers relievers with a 2.27 ERA but the overall bullpen ERA is 4.02.
How's the Brewers pitching staff looking?
Drohan had a rough last start, Aug. 7 against Minnesota, allowing six earned runs in five innings. But four of his previous five starts were quality ones, pitching at least six innings and giving up three runs or less.
Gasser gave up three runs in 4⅔ innings Aug. 8 against the Twins but still got the win. He's won his last four starts and has a 3.48 ERA in them.
Misiorowski allowed two home runs and three earned runs in six innings Aug. 9 vs. Minnesota, but only gave up four hits and struck out nine, with one walk. He only allowed three earned runs total in his three previous starts.
Henderson had a quality start in the opener Aug. 10 against the Padres, giving up three runs on five hits in 6⅓ innings but striking out seven. But that was only the second time in 11 starts this season that he's given up more than two runs.
In the bullpen, closer Trevor Megill has been terrific, giving up only one run in his last 24 appearances and none in his last eight. Abner Uribe has been impressive, too. He hasn't allowed a run in his last 21 games. Outside of a bad outing July 29 against San Francisco, Aaron Ashby hasn't given up a run in 10 of his last 11 games.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Misirowski, Skubal to pitch in Brewers-Dodgers series