Brewers-Cubs Showdown

Brewers Manager Coaches Through Back Surgery

Milwaukee skipper Pat Murphy underwent surgery for a ruptured disk in his back on June 25, according to AP. Despite the procedure, Murphy prepared to lead the team from the dugout. He called the ability to develop young arms like Harrison and Misiorowski the "lifeblood" of the organization, per MLB.com.

Harrison himself has praised the move to Milwaukee. "People here have done a great job making me feel comfortable," he told MLB Network. "I've got nothing but great things to say about this place." His strikeout rate has jumped sharply since joining what analysts call Milwaukee's "pitching lab," according to Bleacher Nation.

Cubs Thrust Newly Acquired Peterson Into a Must-Win Start

Chicago is in survival mode. Edward Cabrera was carted off with a hamstring injury on June 23. Ben Brown landed on the injured list with a neck injury the same day, according to RotoWire. The Cubs then traded for David Peterson from the Mets, giving up High-A prospect Cole Mathis to get him, per ESPN.

Analysts from Foul Territory called the Peterson deal a "panic move." They note his ERA sits at 6.09, but point out his 54.7% groundball rate could play well behind Chicago's strong infield defense. FanGraphs analysts remain skeptical, flagging his 42.2% hard-hit rate as a serious concern against a hot Brewers lineup.

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A 7.5-Game Lead That Could Widen Before the All-Star Break

The Brewers sit at 50-29, a .633 win rate. The Cubs are 44-38, sitting 7.5 games back in the NL Central, according to CBS Sports. A win tonight would push that gap to 8.5 games with the All-Star break approaching. At their current pace, Milwaukee is on track for the No. 1 seed in the National League, which would mean home-field advantage through the World Series.

Ticket demand reflects the buzz. Secondary market prices for the remainder of Milwaukee's June home stand have risen 15%, according to StubHub. A sellout crowd of 41,500 is expected at American Family Field. Former Brewers manager Craig Counsell now leads the Cubs and returns to Milwaukee under mounting pressure as his team falls further behind.

TV, Radio, and How to Watch Saturday's Game

Game 2 starts at 7:10 PM ET (4:10 PM PT) at American Family Field. Milwaukee fans can watch on Brewers.TV or stream via Fubo. Cubs fans can find the game on Marquee Sports Network. Radio coverage is on WTMJ 620 for Milwaukee and 670 The Score for Chicago, according to Yahoo Sports.

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