The Brewers just keep humming along.
After splitting a four-game set with the rival Cubs earlier this week, Milwaukee remains eight games up in the NL Central and four wins clear of both the Dodgers and the Braves in the hunt for the league’s top postseason seed. They’re in cruise control.
Will a trip to Cincinnati cause any excitement? Let’s dive into this divisional battle and make a couple picks on the DraftKings Sportsbook.
Brewers vs. Reds prediction, preview
It would appear that the Brewers have created another viable MLB arm from out of nothing. Well, I guess this one they technically traded for, so the Red Sox deserve a little credit, too. Shane Drohan was the less heralded of the two left-handed pitchers that Milwaukee received in the Caleb Durbin deal, but in 2026, he’s been just as important as Kyle Harrison. Over 110.1 innings, the 27-year-old has managed 3.75 ERA and a 3.42 FIP. Drohan’s 11.7% swinging strike rate and 23.6% strikeout rate are decent, while his 33.7% chase rate ranks in the 81st percentile of the league. There’s nothing all that flashy about Drohan, but he’s consistently been able to get the job done.
That should all play pretty well in a matchup against the Reds. For the season as a whole, Cincinnati has struggled with the bats, posting a league-worst .228 batting average and pairing that indignity with a 29th-ranked 91 wRC+. With that said, the Reds have been at their most dangerous against LHPs in 2026, primarily due to Elly De La Cruz’s sudden ability to hit right-handed. As recently as last year, I was advocating for the phenom to stop switch-hitting. I guess it’s a good thing I’m not managing Cincinnati, because in 151 plate appearances versus lefties this season, De La Cruz is slashing .333/.404/.621 with a 175 wRC+. Drohan’s presence should at least slow down the red-hot Hector Rodriguez, who is just 2-for-16 (.125) in left-on-left matchups at the MLB level.
Finally, let’s talk a little Rhett Lowder. The former seventh-overall pick’s rookie campaign is probably not going how anyone involved with the Reds would have liked. Lowder’s shown glimpses of competency, yet overall, a 5.14 ERA and a 5.12 xERA are not going to impress anyone. Nor is a seventh percentile whiff rate (18.9%) or a 15th percentile opponent barrel rate (9.6%). Going forward, Lowder is going to either need to start missing more bats or keeping more balls in the park. Entering play on Friday, the RHP has surrendered at least one long ball in six straight outings. Not ideal.
Brewers vs. Reds pick, best bet
Best Bet: Brewers ML (-163)
Milwaukee being the road team gets us a little value here, but I’ll admit, this is probably nothing but a parlay piece. Rhett Lowder gave up 11 hits and six earned runs the last time he faced the Brewers on June 30. I could see a similar scenario playing out this evening.
Strong Lean: Jake Bauers 2+ Total Bases (+116)
Bauers owns a 96th percentile hard hit rate (52.7%) and a 143 wRC+. Meanwhile, Lowder’s had his struggles with LHBs, conceding a robust 11.7% barrel rate within the split. Bauers is 5-for-8 with two home runs versus Lowder in his career.
