The Milwaukee Brewers hit the road on Monday, June 22, heading to Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati for a 7:10 PM ET first pitch against the Reds. Brady Singer takes the ball for Cincinnati in what shapes up as a pivotal NL Central matchup. Milwaukee's starter has yet to be announced, adding a layer of intrigue to the preparation side of this one. Division games in late June carry real weight — every win and loss in the NL Central standings matters, and the Brewers can't afford to spot their rivals anything in a series like this.

Pitching Matchup: Brady Singer Anchors Cincinnati's Start

Brady Singer gets the nod for the Reds, and he's a legitimate headache for opposing lineups when he's operating with his full arsenal. Singer is a power right-hander who works up in the zone with a riding fastball and complements it with a sharp slider. He has the stuff to keep a Brewers lineup honest, and Cincinnati will lean on him to set the tone early in this series.

On the Milwaukee side, the probable starter remains to be confirmed. That's a storyline worth tracking in the hours leading up to first pitch — whether the Brewers roll with an established rotation arm or make a roster move to fill the slot will have significant implications for how they approach the game tactically.

Cincinnati Reds Lineup Milwaukee Must Contain

The Reds are sending out a lineup that has legitimate pop from top to bottom. Blake Dunn leads off from center field, with JJ Bleday slotted second in left. Sal Stewart gets the three-hole at first base, and Nathaniel Lowe slots in as the cleanup designated hitter — a left-handed bat with the ability to do damage against right-handed pitching.

Spencer Steer hits fifth at second base, followed by veteran third baseman Eugenio Suárez at six. Noelvi Marte gets the seven-hole in right, Tyler Stephenson catches and bats eighth, and Matt McLain rounds out the order at shortstop. That's a lineup with athleticism at the top and experienced bats throughout the middle.

Keys to Watch for the Brewers

• Whoever Milwaukee sends to the mound needs to establish the fastball early and keep Nathaniel Lowe from doing damage in the middle of the game when the lineup turns over.
• Eugenio Suárez is a former Brewer, and he always seems to find motivation against his old club — the pitching staff must not let him beat them with a mistake pitch.
• The Brewers' ability to work Singer's pitch count and get into the Cincinnati bullpen by the fifth or sixth inning could be the difference-maker in this one.
• Containing Blake Dunn at the top of the order is critical — if the Reds get him on base consistently, they create problems that compound quickly.

Prediction: Brewers Grind Out a Close One

This has the feel of a tight, low-scoring NL Central battle. Brady Singer is a capable arm, but he's hittable when a lineup is patient and makes him work. If the Brewers come in with a quality starter and execute at the plate, they have enough to steal a win on the road Monday night. Expect a 4-2 Brewers victory in a game decided in the late innings. Tune in on WTMJ 620 locally or catch the broadcast on Brewers.TV.