The Milwaukee Brewers wrap up a Saturday night home date against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field, with first pitch set for 7:10 PM ET on September 26, 2026. Dustin May takes the hill for Milwaukee opposite Cardinals left-hander Quinn Mathews in a late-season divisional matchup that carries real weight in the NL Central standings. Jackson Chourio leads off a nine-man Brewers lineup that features William Contreras hitting cleanup, while St. Louis has not yet released their batting order. Catch it on Brewers.TV Presented by Potawatomi Sportsbook or locally on WTMJ 620 AM.

Brewers vs. Cardinals: Saturday, September 26 Pitching Matchup

Dustin May gets the start for Milwaukee. The right-hander has had a winding career path defined by Tommy John surgery recovery and multiple stints working his way back to full health, and any outing from May carries the inherent interest of watching a pitcher with premium stuff try to stay on the field and deliver results. Without current ERA or win-loss figures confirmed for this season, the focus shifts squarely to execution on the night — can May keep St. Louis off the bases and give this Brewers lineup a chance to work?

On the other side, Quinn Mathews draws the assignment for the Cardinals. The young left-hander is still establishing himself at the major league level, and late-season starts against division rivals are exactly the kind of proving-ground moments that define a pitcher's offseason standing. Again, confirmed 2026 stats for Mathews are unavailable here, so Milwaukee's hitters will need to do their homework and adjust early.

Milwaukee Brewers Lineup: Keys to Watch

Manager Pat Murphy has set a lineup worth paying attention to from top to bottom.

• Jackson Chourio (LF, leadoff): The young outfielder leading off is the engine for everything Milwaukee wants to do offensively. His ability to get on base and create chaos on the basepaths sets the table for what follows.
• William Contreras (C, cleanup): Contreras hitting fourth signals the trust Milwaukee places in his bat. The switch-hitting catcher has the power and plate discipline to punish mistakes, and that cleanup role demands he deliver in run-scoring situations.
• Brice Turang (2B, No. 2): Turang in the two-hole means Milwaukee wants contact and situational hitting in that critical spot. His job is to move Chourio and set up the middle of the order.
• Gary Sánchez (DH, No. 5): Sánchez brings veteran presence and raw power in the five spot. Against a left-handed starter in Mathews, his right-handed bat could be a significant factor.
• Cooper Pratt (SS, No. 7) and Luis Lara (CF, No. 6): The younger pieces in the lineup, both developing at the major league level. Their at-bats against Mathews will be worth tracking — how they handle a young lefty tells you something about their development.

Three Keys to the Game

• Dustin May's command: May's ceiling is genuinely high, but command and pitch efficiency will determine how deep he goes. If he's locating his fastball and getting ahead in counts, this could be a dominant outing.
• Exploiting a young starter: The Brewers need to make Mathews work early, run up his pitch count, and force St. Louis to go to their bullpen. Patient at-bats from Chourio, Turang, and Contreras set that tone.
• Situational hitting: Late September baseball comes down to executing with runners on base. Milwaukee needs timely hits, not just loud contact that produces nothing on the scoreboard.

Prediction

This is a winnable game for Milwaukee at home with a rested crowd behind them on a Saturday night. If May delivers five or six quality innings and the middle of the Brewers order does damage against a Cardinals left-hander, the advantage tilts toward the home side. Brewers 5, Cardinals 3.