Cubs hope Shota Imanaga can help them avoid 2-0 NLDS hole vs. Brewers

MILWAUKEE -- The Milwaukee Brewers will turn to left-hander Aaron Ashby for a spot start as they look to move one step closer to their first postseason series win since 2018 when they host the Chicago Cubs on Monday night in the second game of the National League Division Series.

Ashby (5-2, 2.16 ERA), who made just one start in a career-high 43 regular-season appearances, will be opposed by Shota Imanaga (9-8, 3.73 ERA) in the first postseason series between the Central Division rivals which are separated by about 90 miles on I-94.

The Brewers took the opener 9-3 on Saturday, chasing Cubs starter Matthew Boyd after just two outs during a six-run first inning. Freddy Peralta, who led the NL with 17 victories, bounced back from a game-opening homer and pitched effectively into the sixth. Chicago got all three runs on solo homers.

"There's no penalty -- it's one loss. It doesn't count for more how you lose," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said Sunday. "We didn't lose well, but sometimes -- a close game could have cost us some pitching type stuff, too. We lost and you move on, and that's how the clubhouse felt."

Milwaukee, which finished five games ahead of the Cubs with a franchise-record 97 victories, has the No. 1 overall seed and home-field advantage for the entire postseason. The Brewers are in the playoffs for the seventh time in eight seasons, but have not won a playoff series since the 2018 NLDS against the Colorado Rockies.

Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio was removed in the second inning Saturday with hamstring tightness after legging out an infield single, his third hit of the game, that put Milwaukee in front 9-1.

Chourio, who missed almost all of August with a strained right hamstring, had an MRI exam Saturday, and was scheduled to take part in workouts Sunday.

"I can't give you a definitive (timeline), but I know that we're going to test some things today," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said Sunday. "I don't know that he'll do much, but the MRI came back and it's inconclusive and it's not a serious hamstring strain, but it's not necessarily something that won't limit him."

The versatile Ashby pitched in the series opener, retiring all four batters he faced with one strikeout in a 16-pitch outing.

"Whether that's in the first inning or the fourth, fifth, seventh, whenever it is. I think they've made it clear that your job is just to get outs," Ashby said Sunday. "Going into tomorrow, it'll be kind of the same situation."

Ashby, who also had three saves in three chances, did not allow a run over his final seven regular-season outings spanning 10 1/3 innings.

Ashby is 2-1 with a 5.33 ERA in nine career outings vs. the Cubs, including four starts. He allowed four runs in 8 2/3 innings in three relief outings this season against them.

Imanaga struggled down the stretch, going 1-2 with a 6.51 ERA in five September starts.

Imanaga came out of the bullpen in the second game of the wild-card series, a 3-0 loss to the Padres on Wednesday. Imanaga entered in the second, allowing two runs on three hits in four innings, throwing 67 pitches.

Imanaga is 1-3 with a 5.73 ERA in four career starts vs. Milwaukee. He was 1-2 with a 3.57 ERA in three games against the Brewers this season, allowing seven runs in 17 2/3 innings.

"I think all the hitters, they understand what they need to do, and I think that's the Brewers offense," Imanaga said Sunday. "Even yesterday, just the next guy was up, the next guy was ready. So, I think, for me, it's just making sure, take it one out at a time, and then thinking about that one out."

--Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media