Amid struggles, Cubs now stuck facing Brewers' hard-throwing Jacob Misiorowski

In what could be another season-long battle to the finish line, a victory for the visiting Milwaukee Brewers over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday would propel them to the top of the NL Central division.

Milwaukee got off to a strong start to the series, taking the opener 9-3 on Monday to move within a half-game of Chicago in the first meeting between the clubs since the Brewers' National League Division Series win in October.

Jacob Misiorowski (3-2, 2.12 ERA) makes his 10th start of the season for Milwaukee on Tuesday. Misiorowski, 24, hasn't allowed a run in three May starts, last tossing seven scoreless frames and striking out 10 in a no-decision against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. The Brewers lost 3-1.

In that game, he threw 40 pitches that reached at least 100 mph. His final pitch of the evening came when he struck out Nick Castellanos with a 103.2 mph fastball.

The second-year flamethrower is in the top 10 starters in ERA, but he was pulled against the Padres because of a leg cramp. Misiorowski didn't seem concerned entering the outing at Wrigley Field.

"Nothing we haven't seen before, but it'll be fine. I'll be ready to go," Misiorowski said. "I felt like I was in a good spot to keep rolling (against San Diego), but it is what it is. Everything was working. It really clicked."

Misiorowski has struck out 21 batters across his past two starts and is tied with the Philadelphia Phillies' Cristopher Sanchez for the most strikeouts in the majors(80). He is 0-1 with a 5.63 ERA in two regular-season starts against the Cubs. He faced Chicago twice in the NLDS last year, tallying a 2-0 record and a 1.29 ERA.

As for the Cubs, their pitching woes continued Monday as they allowed at least eight runs for the third straight game. Chicago has now dropped seven of its past nine games and is in jeopardy of dropping its fourth straight series.

Ben Brown (1-1, 1.60 ERA) will continue his transition from reliever to starter for the Cubs on Tuesday. Brown has appeared in 14 games, the past two as a starter. Against the Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves, Brown threw eight scoreless innings, allowing one hit, striking out 10 and walking just two.

"Ben had a really encouraging outing and an important outing," Chicago manager Craig Counsell said of Brown's most recent start. "From what Ben has done in both his starts has really given us something that we feel we can build on. It's given him a lot of confidence, for sure."

Injuries to Cubs starters Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd and Justin Steele have forced Brown into the rotation -- a spot he struggled in last season. Brown started in 15 of his 25 appearances a year ago, putting up a 6.30 ERA in the role. A disappointing 2025 has given the 26-year-old nothing but motivation in 2026.

"I think last year's failures have helped get to where I want to be," said Brown, a 33rd-round draft pick in 2017. "I have 10 years in professional baseball, so I have a lot of experience, relatively. I've just been learning how to be a good pitcher and a good teammate."

Brown is 2-0 with a 1.00 ERA in two career starts against the Brewers.

--Field Level Media