The Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds square off in an NL Central clash on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at American Family Field, with first pitch scheduled for 2:10 PM ET. Jacob Misiorowski gets the start for Milwaukee against Cincinnati's Chase Burns in what shapes up as a compelling pitching duel between two of the division's more intriguing young arms. With the dog days of summer approaching and every game carrying divisional weight, this one matters. Catch it locally on Brewers.TV Presented by Potawatomi Sportsbook or on WTMJ 620 AM.

Brewers vs. Reds Preview: July 2, 2026 at American Family Field

Starting Pitchers: Misiorowski vs. Burns

Jacob Misiorowski has been one of the more fascinating stories in the Milwaukee rotation. The hard-throwing right-hander has the kind of electric stuff that can blow through a lineup when he's locked in — a mid-to-upper-90s fastball paired with a wipeout breaking ball that keeps hitters off balance. The question with Misiorowski has always been command and consistency, and how he handles a dangerous Cincinnati lineup will be a major storyline Thursday afternoon.

On the other side, Chase Burns is one of the better young starters Cincinnati has developed in recent years. Burns attacks hitters with a power arsenal and has shown the ability to go deep into games. The Brewers' lineup will need to be disciplined and patient to get to him early.

Milwaukee Brewers Lineup Breakdown

Manager Pat Murphy has set a lineup built around a strong core. Christian Yelich leads off from the DH spot, which gives the offense a proven on-base presence at the top. Jackson Chourio bats second and brings the kind of speed and explosiveness that can change a game in a hurry. Brice Turang slots into the three-hole at second base, and William Contreras anchors the cleanup spot — the Brewers need Contreras to be the middle-of-the-order force he's capable of being against a quality starter like Burns.

Jake Bauers at first base, Garrett Mitchell in center, and Sal Frelick in right round out the middle of the order. Cooper Pratt starts at shortstop and David Hamilton draws the nine-hole at third. Hamilton's speed at the bottom of the order can be a genuine weapon when the lineup turns over.

Cincinnati Reds Lineup Breakdown

The Reds bring a genuinely dangerous lineup to Milwaukee. Elly De La Cruz leads off at shortstop and is the kind of player who can take over a game by himself — his combination of power and speed makes him a nightmare to contain. Sal Stewart bats second at third base, followed by JJ Bleday and Eugenio Suárez, who provides veteran pop in the cleanup spot. Nathaniel Lowe at first base gives Cincinnati a reliable on-base presence in the five-hole, and Noelvi Marte, Edwin Arroyo, Jose Trevino, and TJ Friedl round out a deep, athletic group.

Keys to Watch

• Misiorowski's command: If he can throw strikes with his secondary pitches early, he has the stuff to neutralize De La Cruz and the Cincinnati lineup. Wild stretches will give the Reds' speed-and-power combination too many opportunities.
• Containing De La Cruz: The Reds' leadoff man is an absolute game-changer. Keeping him off the bases — and off the basepaths — is critical for Milwaukee.
• Chourio's impact: Jackson Chourio batting second with Yelich on base is a weapon the Brewers need to exploit. Burns will have to respect both his speed and his improving power stroke.
• Middle-order production: Contreras and Bauers need to punish any mistakes Burns makes. The Brewers can't afford to strand runners against a pitcher of Burns' caliber.

Prediction

This one has the makings of a tight, low-scoring affair. Both Misiorowski and Burns have the stuff to dominate, and NL Central games in July tend to get gritty in a hurry. The edge goes to Milwaukee at home — Misiorowski's ceiling is sky-high when his command is sharp, and American Family Field gives the Brewers a genuine home-field advantage. Brewers 3, Reds 2.