The Milwaukee Brewers — fresh off a solid 5-2 homestand to push them to 74-44 on the season — are headed back to the West Coast after visiting the Giants and Angels last week. This time, they’ll face two slightly more formidable opponents in the Padres and Dodgers. First up is San Diego, currently in a fight for an NL Wild Card spot alongside the Phillies and D-backs (among several others). At 62-57, the Padres have turned things on in recent weeks to put themselves firmly into the playoff race.

The Brewers have lost several position players in recent days, as shortstop Cooper Pratt hit the IL on Sunday with a hamstring strain and Joey Ortiz is considered day-to-day with neck tightness. The team also lost prospect Jett Williams, who, in his first at-bat back from injury, re-injured his hand while swinging. Outfielder Sal Frelick is also out, though he’s on his way back as he began a rehab assignment over the weekend. Pitchers Joel Kuhnel (on rehab), JoJo Romero (mid- to late August), Rob Zastryzny (TBD), Brandon Woodruff (out for season), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), Quinn Priester (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season) are all on the IL.

San Diego’s injured list currently includes pitchers Joe Musgrove (on rehab), Nick Pivetta (exited rehab outing last week), David Morgan (on rehab), Jason Adam (late August or early September), Lucas Giolito (late August), Bryan Hoeing (out for season), and Yu Darvish (considering retirement). Outfielders Ramón Laureano (likely out for season) and Samad Taylor (close to a rehab assignment) are also out, as well as utility man Miguel Andujar (late August).

Jake Bauers leads Milwaukee with 21 homers, though Jackson Chourio’s four-homer week has him closing in with 21 on the season. Brice Turang, William Contreras, Garrett Mitchell, Andrew Vaughn, Christian Yelich, Ortiz, Luis Lara, and David Hamilton round out the regulars, with Brandon Lockridge, Gary Sánchez, and new addition Jihwan Bae serving as depth. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .253/.337/.398 (.735 OPS ranks seventh), with 109 homers (last), 585 runs (fifth), and 117 steals (fourth).

Despite an ice-cold start offensively, the Padres have turned it around a bit offensively in recent weeks. Manny Machado, who’s hitting just .212 for the year, leads the team with 23 homers, good for a .420 slugging percentage. He’s followed by Jackson Merrill (18 homers), Ty France (16 homers), Gavin Sheets (15 homers), and Fernando Tatis Jr. (11 homers). Xander Bogaerts, Luis Campusano, Freddy Fermin, Jake Cronenworth, recent former Brewer Luis Rengifo round out the regulars, with Austin Hays, Jase Bowen, and Sung-Mun Song, providing depth. As a team, the Padres are hitting .236/.313/.382 (.695 OPS ranks 25th), with 124 homers (20th), 497 runs (22nd), and 119 steals (third).

Aaron Ashby leads the Brewers with 55 appearances and 13 wins this year, as he’s also turned in a solid-but-not-great 3.56 ERA. Abner Uribe (2.05 ERA) and Trevor Megill 92.58 ERA) are once again the anchors of the bullpen, while Chad Patrick (3.32 ERA) provides long relief. With a six-man rotation, the Brewer bullpen is rounded out by DL Hall (2.60 ERA), Antonio Senzatela (7.71 ERA), and recent addition Lyon Richardson (no appearances). As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.47 team ERA (second), including a 3.46 starter ERA (third) and a 3.49 bullpen ERA (fourth). They’ve struck out 1,156 batters (second) over 1,055 2/3 innings.

Closer Mason Miller (0.91 ERA, 29-for-30 in save opportunities) anchors San Diego’s bullpen, with Adrian Morejon (2.89 ERA) also starring. Wandy Peralta (3.45 ERA), Bradgley Rodriguez (2.21 ERA), Yuki Matsui (2.40 ERA), and Jeremiah Estrada (3.55 ERA) have also been solid, with Kyle Hart (4.18 ERA) and Griffin Canning (6.65 ERA) rounding things out. As a staff, the Padres have a 4.18 team ERA (17th), including a 4.69 starter ERA (27th) and a 3.68 bullpen ERA (fifth). They’ve struck out 956 batters (20th) over 1,041 innings.

Monday, August 10 @ 8:40 p.m.: RHP Logan Henderson (6-1, 2.70 ERA, 3.09 FIP) vs. RHP Casey Mize (4-7, 3.40 ERA, 2.81 FIP)

Henderson has made 10 starts for Milwaukee in year No. 2, totaling 50 innings with a 2.70 ERA, 3.09 FIP, and 62 strikeouts. He’s coming off his third consecutive winning performance, as he went six innings on 83 pitches, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk while striking out eight. The right-hander has never pitched against San Diego.

Mize, the No. 1 overall pick by the Tigers back in 2018, was acquired by the Padres at the trade deadline. While he has a solid 3.40 ERA, 2.81 FIP, and 86 strikeouts across 90 innings this season, he got roughed up in his San Diego debut last week, allowing eight runs on nine hits and three walks over just 3 1/3 innings in a loss to the D-backs. Mize has made two starts against Milwaukee, with a 1-1 record, 3.18 ERA, and eight strikeouts over 11 1/3 innings. That includes a winning performance this year, as he went six frames with one run allowed and seven strikeouts.

Tuesday, August 11 @ 8:40 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (9-2, 2.84 ERA, 2.90 FIP) vs. RHP Walker Buehler (6-5, 5.07 ERA, 4.37 FIP)

Harrison, who made his return from the IL last week, has made 18 starts for Milwaukee this season, totaling 88 2/3 innings with a 2.84 ERA, 2.90 FIP, and 111 strikeouts, good for second on the team behind Jacob Misiorowski’s 204. Harrison went five scoreless innings before being pulled due to calf cramps in his return from the IL, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out 10 on 69 pitches. The left-hander has made four career starts against San Diego, with a 5.57 ERA and 20 strikeouts over 21 innings, though his best outing came as a Brewer back in May, when he went five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts to pick up the win.

Buehler, a former star with the Dodgers, has struggled since missing the entire 2023 season due to injury. He’s made 23 starts for San Diego this year, with a 5.07 ERA, 4.37 FIP, and 95 strikeouts across 108 1/3 innings pitched. The 32-year-old righty went four innings against Arizona his last time out, allowing one run on six hits and a walk while striking out three. Buehler has made three regular season appearances against Milwaukee in his career, all while with Los Angeles. In those games, he’s 1-1 with a 2.93 ERA and 21 strikeouts across 15 1/3 innings.

Wednesday, August 12 @ 3:10 p.m.: RHP Dustin May (6-7, 4.30 ERA, 3.26 FIP) vs. LHP Robbie Ray (10-7, 3.24 ERA, 4.49 FIP)

May, who was acquired at last week’s trade deadline from the Cardinals, has a 4.30 ERA, 3.26 FIP, and 111 strikeouts across 115 innings this season. He made his Brewer debut against the Pirates last week, spinning six innings with two runs allowed on three hits and three walks, striking out five en route to his first win in a Milwaukee uniform. The right-hander is a familiar foe of the Padres from his time with the Dodgers, as he’s made 15 appearances (12 starts) totaling 79 innings with a 3-5 record, 3.30 ERA, and 69 strikeouts. That includes two starts while with the Cardinals this season, totaling 15 innings with three runs allowed (two earned) and 16 strikeouts, including a complete game, one-hit, one-walk shutout in June.

Ray, another trade deadline acquisition (from the Giants), has also made one start since joining the Padres. He wet five innings, allowing four runs on seven hits and five walks, striking out two in a loss. The left-hander has 23 appearances (22 starts) this season, with a 3.24 ERA, 4.49 FIP, and 109 strikeouts over 127 2/3 innings, and he also has a league-worst 62 walks issued (he led the NL with 73 a year ago). Ray has made six starts against Milwaukee, with a 3-1 record, 2.62 ERA, and 42 strikeouts over 34 1/3 innings, including a pair of no-decisions while with San Francisco last year (10 innings, five earned runs, four strikeouts).

Monday, August 10: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Tuesday, August 11: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

Wednesday, August 12: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)

The Padres have played better in recent weeks, especially on offense, but the Brewers are still the better team. Give me Milwaukee to eke out two of three.