Surging division leaders clash when Dodgers visit Brewers

The visiting Los Angeles Dodgers will turn to left-hander Justin Wrobleski to slow down the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday in the opener of a three-game series between surging division leaders.

Wrobleski (6-1, 2.49 ERA) will be opposed by right-hander Logan Henderson (1-1, 3.50 ERA) in the first meeting since the Dodgers swept Milwaukee in the NLCS last season.

The Dodgers defeated NL West rival San Diego 4-0 on Wednesday behind Shohei Ohtani, who homered on the first pitch of the game and pitched five scoreless innings.

Los Angeles, 5-1 on its current road trip, has won seven of its last eight games, including two of three in San Diego to move 1 1/2 games ahead of the Padres in the division.

The Brewers defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-0 on Wednesday to complete their first sweep at Wrigley Field since 2021. Kyle Harrison allowed two hits over seven innings, striking out 11.

Milwaukee, which outscored the Cubs 19-5 over the three games, has won 11 of its last 13 games and four consecutive series to move atop the NL Central, which they have won the last three seasons.

"We have a very young club, as you know. Guys that are in their second, maybe their third year. We don't have too many others than that," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said following the sweep. "Yeah, I think it gives you a little confidence, but Friday will be here soon enough, and we have the Dodgers in town."

Both the Dodgers and Brewers were idle Thursday.

Wrobleski, who made just two starts in 24 appearances last season, has flourished since his full-time move to the rotation.

He bounced back from his worst outing to get the win in his last start, allowing two runs in six innings in a 15-2 rout of the Angels. In his previous start, he was tagged for seven runs in 8 2/3 innings in a 7-2 loss to the Braves.

"There's going to be things that I can learn from and get better at, but at the end of the day, I felt like I threw the ball pretty well," Wrobleski said following his last start.

Opponents are batting .212 against Wrobleski, who has given up just two homers in 50 2/3 innings.

Wrobleski has faced the Brewers just once, allowing four runs in five innings, including a pair of homers, taking the loss in a 9-2 defeat on July 7, 2024, in his major league debut.

Henderson is coming off his best start, allowing one run in five innings to get the victory in a 2-1 win at Minnesota. He struck out seven and walked one in an 84-pitch outing.

Henderson, in his second stint this season with Milwaukee, has not allowed more than two runs in any of his first four starts. In three starts this month since being recalled from Triple-A Nashville, he is 1-1 with a 2.81 ERA, allowing five runs in 16 innings and pitching at least five innings each time out.

Henderson, facing the Dodgers for the first time, has walked just three in 18 innings this season, striking out 23.

--Field Level Media