​It’s the eve of the final series before the All-Star break, weather permitting, and the Brewers are in Pittsburgh to close things out with a three-game set against the Pirates. Brandon Sproat will start for Milwaukee, while Braxton Ashcraft, a first-time All-Star, will take the mound for Pittsburgh. Before we dive into tonight’s matchups, a transaction worth noting: the Brewers have signed Bryse Wilson to a major-league deal. To make room, Milwaukee optioned Drew Rom to Triple-A Nashville and designated Easton McGee for assignment.
Wilson returns to the Brewers, having previously pitched for them in 2023 and 2024 mostly in a long-relief, mop-up role. In 2023, he enjoyed a strong campaign: in 53 appearances, Wilson posted a 2.58 ERA and went 6-0. The following year, 2024, was more challenging, yet he still logged over 100 innings as a swingman and posted an ERA just above the league average. However, his on-field results since leaving Milwaukee have been tough to square with his peripherals. He appeared in 20 games for the White Sox in 2025 and posted a 6.65 ERA over 47 1/3 innings; in three big-league appearances across 2026 (two with the Cubs, one with the Phillies), he allowed seven earned runs in 9 3/3 innings. Wilson’s role with the Brewers, at least initially, will likely mirror that earlier tenure: dependable mop-up duty when needed, a role that tends not to demand a lot of strikeouts and, historically, has featured more contact than whiffs. He’s generally been good at avoiding walks, but his strikeout numbers have been limited, and his recent seasons have shown him to be hittable—roughly 12.5 hits per nine innings over his last couple of years.
Back to tonight’s action: Sproat will try to cap the pre-break portion of the schedule on a high note. His last outing mixed promise with frustration: he needed 92 pitches to get through four innings, allowing eight baserunners, yet he managed to strand most of them and yielded just one run as Milwaukee beat the Diamondbacks 3-2. The performance suggested growth in his ability to navigate trouble rather than fold when things aren’t going smoothly. Since the start of June, Sproat has posted a 3.30 ERA over 30 innings, and Milwaukee has gone 5-1 in his starts—quite a shift from his 6.24 ERA and 5-6 team record in the month prior.
Ashcraft has enjoyed a strong season for Pittsburgh, earning an All-Star nod as an injury replacement. At 26, in his second major league season, he has continued to excel since debuting in late May of last year. This season he’s gone 9-3 with a 3.24 ERA (a 134 ERA+), and his underlying numbers are even more impressive: a 3.16 FIP, along with solid peripherals (10.1 strikeouts per nine, 2.1 walks per nine). He’s a hard thrower, sitting in the upper-90s with a four-seamer, and he works off a complementary curveball and sinker. The curveball, in particular, has become a weapon and is a key part of what makes him an effective pitcher for Pittsburgh. He’s illustrated durability and consistency beyond his years, a testament to his repertoire and command.
Tonight’s starters page a classy contrast in styles: Sproat, aiming to prove he can carry his late-season momentum into the break, against Ashcraft, who has already demonstrated that his command and velocity can carry him through a lineup multiple times. Brewers fans will be watching to see whether Sproat can continue the pattern he’s established since June—quality control over innings, limiting the big hits, and leaning on efficient outs to keep the game in reach. If he can maintain his pace and keep the team in the game, Milwaukee’s offense will have a chance to prove productive as the series unfolds.
As for the Brewers’ acquisition of Wilson, the move adds another arm to the bullpen mix—a veteran who can slot into a versatile role as needed and soak up innings in a pinch. Whether his stint lasts beyond a few appearances remains to be seen, but for now he represents depth and experience as Milwaukee charts the final stretch into the second half. The high-level takeaway is that both clubs arrive with efficiently pitched rotations, capable bullpens, and a shared urgency to prepare for the sprint to the postseason, with Ashcraft’s form and Sproat’s recent development providing a focal point for how this series may tilt.