Cubs Pivot as Brewers Start Opener in Game 2 of NLDS

The Milwaukee Brewers cruised to a 9-3 win over the Chicago Cubs to begin the NLDS and Pat Murphy quickly named left-handed pitcher Aaron Ashby as Milwaukee’s Game 2 starter. Ashby, who has been one of the best relievers in the Brewers’ bullpen for the past two years, is expected to be the opener Monday night before Murphy hands the ball over to a bulk pitcher. Craig Counsell has countered by not starting Michael Busch and instead going with right-handed hitting veteran Justin Turner.

Busch, who has looked great this postseason and began Saturday’s series opener with a leadoff home run, has been handcuffed against left-handed pitching throughout his career. In 2025, Busch was limited to 95 plate appearances against lefties as he slashed .207/.274/.368, against them. Meanwhile, Turner finished the year with a slash line of .276/.330/429, in 109 plate appearances vs. left-handers with three home runs.

Ashby made 43 appearances in the regular season for the Brewers and recorded a 2.16 ERA in 66.2 innings. The lefty struck out 76 batters. He pitched 1.1 innings in Game 1 against the Cubs, striking out one and allowing no one to reach base.

Meanwhile, Quinn Priester, is expected to be Milwaukee’s bulk pitcher following Ashby’s outing. Priester recorded a 3.32 ERA in 157.1 innings in the regular season with the Brewers. Busch, Nico Hoerner and Seiya Suzuki have all homered against Priester in their careers, so that also plays into Murphy’s decision to limit the starting pitcher’s matchups against those Cubs’ hitters in Game 2.

The Cubs will have Shōta Imanaga on the mound to start on Monday night. The lefty allowed a two-run homer to Manny Machado in four innings of work in the Wild Card series. Imanaga started three times against the Brewers in 2025. The Cubs’ lefty had a combined 3.57 ERA in 17.2 innings in those three starts against Milwaukee.