Brewers vs Braves Preview: Battle of the Bullpens Heats Up

The Brewers roll into Truist Park riding a three-game winning streak. Milwaukee sits at 45-26 overall and has been tough on the road this season. The Braves are at 46-27 at home, but they've stumbled lately with three straight losses. You can feel the energy building for this matchup—two teams that know how to win going head-to-head. Jacob Misiorowski takes the mound for Milwaukee. Martin Perez starts for Atlanta. This is the kind of pitching duel that makes baseball beautiful. Both teams want to bounce back and prove they belong in the playoffs.

Jacob Misiorowski is the Brewers' starting pitcher, and he's got the kind of stuff that gets fans on their feet. He's a hard-throwing right-hander with serious potential. Milwaukee's pitching staff is young and hungry after losing some key arms. Trevor Megill anchors the bullpen with 30 saves from last season. The Brewers need their rotation to stay strong all year long. Against Atlanta's hitters, Misiorowski has to attack the zone early and often. One strong start here sets the tone for the whole series.

The Braves are missing Ronald Acuña Jr., one of their best players, due to a hamstring injury. Michael Harris II is dealing with back tightness too. That's tough when you're trying to win games at home. Martin Perez gets the ball for Atlanta and needs to be sharp. Spencer Strider, the Braves' electric ace, is sidelined with elbow trouble. Atlanta's pitching staff still has firepower with Chris Sale and other strong arms. The Braves have won 46 games this season and know they can compete. But losing key players makes Friday's game even more important.