Brandon Sproat's 5.94 ERA Is Getting Hard to Ignore, Even as Milwaukee Rolls On

Holy smokes, did you catch the Brewers last night? Talk about gritty! They pulled off a wild 2-1 win in extra innings against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, proving once again why they're sitting pretty atop the NL Central. Jake Bauers scored the winning run in the 10th thanks to a Joey Ortiz sacrifice fly. These guys are playing some serious small-ball, stacking up runs without needing to go yard every inning. They're third in the majors with 399 runs, even though they've got the fewest home runs in the NL with just 68. Wild, right?

Ortiz absolutely nailed it after the game, saying, "We trust each other. We know the next guy is going to get the job done. And if he doesn't, then the next guy will. We all believe in each other." That kind of belief is what gives them a five-game cushion over the Cardinals and a massive 10 1/2-game lead on the last-place Reds. But even with all that good vibe, they've got some serious pitching questions looming over Tuesday night's rematch. Can they keep this momentum rolling when one of their starters is struggling this much?

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Sproat's Hamstring Cramp Isn't the Only Problem

Milwaukee is sending right-hander Brandon Sproat to the mound tonight, and let's be real, his 1-4 record and 5.94 ERA aren't exactly instilling confidence. The dude is still looking for his second major league win, and his last outing against the Guardians was a struggle. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings, giving up four runs on two hits, striking out six, and walking two, eventually getting a no-decision in their 9-4 victory. Oh, and he exited that game in the fourth inning because of a right hamstring cramp. Seriously, a cramp?

Sproat himself said, "As dumb as it sounds to be a cramp, it really stinks, but it's the best thing. It kind of seems soft, almost." He admitted it got worse as he pushed through a long inning. Since joining the Brewers in January as part of that trade that sent Freddy Peralta to the Mets, Sproat has barely gone more than five innings in just four of his 14 appearances. He's faced the Reds once before, as a Met last September, yielding three runs on three hits with seven strikeouts in a 3-2 loss. Tonight, he's got to prove he can go deep and give his team a chance.

Lodolo's Woes Are Piling Up for Cincinnati

Across the diamond for the Reds, left-hander Nick Lodolo isn't exactly in cruise control either. He's rocking a 2-2 record with an even uglier 6.12 ERA. After missing time with a left index finger blister and making his season debut on May 8, Lodolo just hasn't been able to find that 2025 form when he posted a career-best 3.33 ERA. This June has been brutal for him: he's 0-1 with a 7.80 ERA in three starts. His last time out against the Mets was a disaster, giving up season highs of seven runs and 11 hits across just 4 2/3 innings in a 9-1 loss. Ouch.

Lodolo knows it, too. He said, "I'm trying to get better. It starts with location. It's something I've just got to get better at, and I need to this week, for sure. Overall, there are plenty of other things I feel like I obviously didn't do a good job of." He's given up double-digit hits in two of his last three starts, so yeah, location is a thing. Oddly enough, he's been pretty solid against Milwaukee in his career, with a 1-1 record and a 2.84 ERA in six appearances. Can he turn it around tonight?

The Brewers are flying high, but this pitching matchup is a wild card. Can Sproat finally deliver, or will Lodolo find his groove against a team he's historically handled? We'll find out tonight!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.