The surging Milwaukee Brewers will turn to surprising rookie right-hander Tobias Myers to keep their winning streak alive when they host the Chicago Cubs on Saturday afternoon in the middle game of the teams’ three-game series.
Myers (5-2, 3.12 ERA) will be opposed by left-hander Justin Steele (0-3, 3.08).
Rookie Jackson Chourio’s first career grand slam, in the fourth inning off Jameson Taillon, accounted for all of the Brewers’ scoring in a 4-2 victory Friday night in the series opener.
Milwaukee, which has four grand slams in the past six games, extended its winning streak to five to move to a season-high 16 games above .500.
Starter Colin Rea allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings, and the bullpen blanked the Cubs the rest of the way. Trevor Megill notched his 17th save in 18 opportunities with a perfect ninth.
Seiya Suzuki had a solo homer for the Cubs, who also left the bases loaded in the seventh inning.
Chicago is 2-6 over its past eight games, scoring a total of 13 runs in the six losses. The Cubs also have lost 15 of their past 20 road games.
“We’ve got to score more runs, no question about it,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “That’s a part of this, for sure. And it takes kind of all areas to win a baseball game. We’re not doing that enough right now.”
The 20-year-old Chourio is batting .328 (21-for-64) over his past 21 games with four homers, three doubles and 15 RBIs.
“The kid is learning,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He’s made the most of his opportunities lately. This month … and every month got better.”
Myers is 4-0 with an 0.71 ERA in four starts in June, allowing just two earned runs in 25 1/3 innings. He has not lost in eight starts and one relief appearance since a 6-5 loss to the Cubs on May 4 — his only career appearance against Chicago.
In his most recent outing, Myers allowed one run in five innings, striking out three with no walks in a 6-2 win at San Diego on Sunday.
“He continues to work and continues to be serious about his unexpected arrival in the big leagues,” Murphy said after Myers’ last start. “He himself will tell you he didn’t know he was going to be here. He was hoping and whatever. But since he’s been here, he’s decided that, ‘I’m going to listen to these guys.'”
Myers spent most of last season at Double-A Biloxi, posting a 5.03 ERA. In 2022, he was 1-15 with a 7.82 with three different teams at Triple-A.
Steele, making his 12th start of the season, has yet to win this season despite four consecutive outings of six or more innings. He has a 1.69 ERA in five starts in June.
Each of Steele’s past two starts have come against the Giants without a decision, although he struck out 17 with just three walks in 14 innings. He allowed two runs in 7 1/3 innings his last time out, a 5-4 loss at San Francisco on Monday.
Steele is 2-2 with a 2.00 ERA in 14 career appearances, including 12 starts, vs. Milwaukee.
He has faced the Brewers once this season, tossing seven scoreless innings, but did not get a decision in a 5-1 loss on May 27.
–Field Level Media
