Brandon Sproat (1-4, 6.17) draws Jack Perkins (2-3, 6.19) for first pitch at 8:05 PM CT in Sacramento, and if you're trying to find an ERA edge between these two, bring a magnifying glass. Both guys have been hit around all year, both are coming off short, ugly outings on June 5, and both are pitching with the knife to their roster spot.
Sproat's situation is the one to watch — he's allowed at least 3 earned runs in 5 straight starts, and with Brandon Woodruff already on a rehab assignment, the Brewers have a Sproat decision to make any day now. Perkins, meanwhile, got tagged for 5 earned in 4 innings against Houston his last time out. Neither side is sending a stopper to the mound on getaway night.
Form-wise, this is a mismatch on paper. Milwaukee is 41-24 and just rolled through Coors hanging 9, 7 and 12 before flying west. The A's are 32-35 and just traded an absurd 15-14 loss for a 7-5 win in the first 2 games of this set. The Brewers' bullpen got the worst of those slugfests — Trevor Megill (oblique) was unavailable Monday — but the lineup is humming.
- Day-To-DayTrevor Megill RP — Megill wasn't available to pitch in Monday's game against the Athletics due to oblique tightness, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
- 10-Day-ILBrandon Lockridge LF — Lockridge (knee) will attempt to run at 85-to-90 percent intensity Monday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILBrandon Woodruff SP — Woodruff (shoulder) allowed three runs on five hits and two walks over 3.2 innings in his first rehab start with the Brewers' Arizona Complex League affiliate Tuesday.
- 15-Day-ILDL Hall RP — The Brewers expect Hall to return from his left pec strain in late July, Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.
- 15-Day-ILCarlos Rodriguez RP — The Brewers placed Rodriguez on the 15-day injured list Monday due to a right shoulder impingement, MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILLogan Henderson SP — Henderson received an injection in his back Tuesday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILRob Zastryzny RP — The Brewers reinstated Zastrzyny (shoulder/ribs) from the 60-day injured list Sunday.
- 15-Day-ILJared Koenig RP — Koenig (elbow) said his live bullpen session went well Tuesday and he expects to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Friday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILJacob Wilson SS — Wilson (shoulder) went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored Sunday with Triple-A Las Vegas.
- 15-Day-ILAaron Civale SP — Civale (shoulder) began a throwing progression Monday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 15-Day-ILLuis Severino SP — The Athletics announced Tuesday that Severino has been diagnosed with a strain of his right shoulder capsule and subscapularis muscle and will be re-evaluated in 4-to-6 weeks, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILBrooks Kriske RP — Kriske (shoulder) will be shut down from throwing for at least three weeks, Jason Burke of SI.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILDenzel Clarke CF — Clarke (hamstring) will receive a platelet-rich plasma injection Tuesday, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.
- 60-Day-ILGunnar Hoglund SP — Hoglund (knee/back) will be sidelined for the rest of the 2026 season after undergoing surgery on his left hip Monday.
The pitching staffs both look like a M.A.S.H. unit. Milwaukee's rotation depth is in the IL ward with Woodruff, Quinn Priester, Logan Henderson and DL Hall all out, and the bullpen lost Carlos Rodriguez on Monday plus Brian Fitzpatrick to a UCL strain that may be Tommy John. The A's are running a rotation without Luis Severino (4-6 weeks) and Aaron Civale, and they're still missing Jacob Wilson at shortstop. Whoever gets to a competent reliever first probably wins this game.
The market basically calls this a coinflip — moneyline is -103/-105, total is 14.5. Given how the first 2 games have played out and the velocity of both starters' implosions, that total feels honest rather than generous. The Brewers are the better team; the A's are the team that gets to use last licks in Sacramento.