Brandon Woodruff toes the rubber for Milwaukee as the Brewers host the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field on Sunday, June 28, with first pitch scheduled for 2:10 PM ET. This NL Central rivalry matchup carries real weight — every game between these two clubs matters in the standings race, and Woodruff's effectiveness against a Cubs lineup capable of doing damage will go a long way toward setting the tone for the week ahead. Chicago counters with left-hander Ryan Rolison, making this a compelling stylistic contrast at the top of the pitching matchup.

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs: Starting Pitcher Preview

Woodruff has long been one of the more reliable starters in the NL Central when healthy, and his ability to generate swings and misses with his hard sinker and slider combination makes him a genuine problem for right-handed hitters. The Cubs will need to have a disciplined approach early in counts if they want to extend his pitch count and get into a Milwaukee bullpen that has had its own share of volatility this season.

Rolison is a southpaw who will get his shot against a Brewers lineup that leans toward right-handed hitters. Milwaukee will need to be aggressive against him early — left-handed starters who can locate their fastball down in the zone tend to keep this offense in check if they're allowed to work into a rhythm.

Milwaukee Brewers Starting Lineup for June 28

• Christian Yelich — DH
• Jackson Chourio — CF
• Brice Turang — 2B
• Andrew Vaughn — 1B
• Jake Bauers — LF
• Gary Sánchez — C
• Sal Frelick — RF
• Cooper Pratt — SS
• David Hamilton — 3B

Keys to Watch for the Brewers on Sunday

Jackson Chourio's Impact at the Top of the Order

Hitting second and playing center field, Chourio is the engine of this offense when he's locked in. His speed on the bases and his ability to put the ball in play against left-handed pitching will be critical. If Chourio gets on base early and forces Rolison to work out of the stretch, it opens up the middle of the order for Turang and Vaughn to do damage.

Woodruff's Command Early in the Game

The biggest variable with Woodruff on any given day is his first-inning command. When he's sharp from the jump, he's as good as anyone in this division. If he's laboring early and running deep counts, manager Pat Murphy will have decisions to make sooner than he'd like against a Cubs lineup that can string hits together.

Gary Sánchez Behind the Plate

Sánchez hitting sixth gives this lineup a legitimate power threat in the back half of the order. His bat-to-ball struggles can be a liability, but against a lefty starter, his right-handed power profile is exactly what Milwaukee wants in that lineup slot. One big swing from Sánchez could be the difference in a close game.

Prediction

This is a winnable game for Milwaukee at home with Woodruff on the mound. The Brewers take this one, 4-2. Woodruff goes six-plus innings, Chourio drives in a run, and the American Family Field crowd gets a satisfying Sunday afternoon win in a rivalry series that means something every single time these two teams meet.