Spring Training Game Thread #28: Milwaukee Brewers (12-16) vs. Cincinnati Reds (14-15)
Aaron Ashby leads a bullpen day as spring training nears end
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MARCH 09: Pitcher Aaron Ashby #26 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at American Family Fields of Phoenix on March 09, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) | Getty Images Real baseball is so close that it’s back in our home ballpark. The big-league Brewers are back in Milwaukee, set to take part in the first of two final tune-ups against the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field (the big one).
As far as newsy items today, the Brewers confirmed who will start in each of their first six games, giving us a clear picture of what the rotation will look like to begin the season. Before today, the question still remained whether Kyle Harrison, who has been dealing with a blister, or Brandon Woodruff, who is being treated cautiously after finishing last season with a lat injury, would be healthy enough to start the season with the team. Today, we got that answer: yes, Harrison and Woodruff are scheduled to start the fourth and fifth games of the season, respectively.
They’ll follow Jacob Misiorowski, Chad Patrick, and Brandon Sproat, who will start the games in the White Sox series to open the year. Also, yesterday’s announced optioning of Shane Drohan and Robert Gasser and the impending injured-list designations for Quinn Priester, Rob Zastryzny, Craig Yoho, and Akil Baddoo mean that the Brewers’ opening-day roster is essentially finalized, barring an unexpected injury between now and Thursday afternoon. (It has happened before!
Knock on the nearest wooden object. ) A quick rundown, with more analysis later this week: Catchers: William Contreras and Gary Sánchez Infielders: Andrew Vaughn, Jake Bauers, Brice Turang, Joey Ortiz, Luis Rengifo, David Hamilton Outfielders/DH: Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio, Brandon Lockridge, Garrett Mitchell, Christian Yelich Starters: Misiorowski, Patrick, Sproat, Harrison, Woodruff Relievers: Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, Aaron Ashby, Jared Koenig, Ángel Zerpa, DL Hall, Grant Anderson, Easton McGee As for tonight’s game, the Brewers are fielding a strong lineup—not unexpected, given that I assume most of the minor leaguers stayed behind or traveled elsewhere—a lefty-heavy group which could be a preview of the lineup they’ll use Thursday against Chicago’s Shane Smith. (If that’s the case, it looks like we might be in for more platooning between Ortiz and Hamilton than we maybe expected.