(Photo credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)

Off to an unusual start, the Milwaukee Brewers are set to visit the Miami Marlins for a three-game series that starts on Friday.

Milwaukee is coming off a brutal stretch. The Brewers started 8-2 then lost six straight -- their longest skid since June 2023 -- until winning a pair of 2-1 contests over visiting Toronto on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Brewers won on Thursday in part because they bunted three straight times during their two-run, seventh-inning rally.

'Growing up playing the game, 'small ball' was huge,' Brewers pitcher Brandon Sproat said. 'In the big leagues, you don't see it as much, but it still works.'

Another unusual Brewers note: Aaron Ashby (5-0, 3.21 ERA) leads the majors in wins, yet he's a reliever who has thrown just 14 innings this season.

Milwaukee went to the bullpen six times over the past two days, and those relievers combined to pitch 4 2/3 scoreless innings. Ashby got the victory in both games and will likely rest Friday.

The Brewers, who have yet to announce a starting pitcher for the series opener, had the best record in the National League last season. They are far from that team right now, but it hasn't been wise to bet against them the past few years.

Not counting the COVID year, the Brewers are on a streak of eight straight winning seasons. They have won the NL Central in each of the past three seasons.

The Marlins, meanwhile, last season won 79 games -- 17 more than in 2024.

However, they are coming off a 1-5 road trip. The good news for the Marlins is that they are 7-3 at home. In addition, they were off Thursday, which will give them a more rested bullpen compared to Milwaukee.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough sees some other positives such as DH/catcher Liam Hicks, who has a .900 OPS and enters Friday tied for fifth in the majors with 18 RBIs.

'Liam's at-bat quality has been on display,' McCullough said. 'Seeing him impact the ball has been encouraging.'

More good news for the Marlins could happen soon as 2025 All-Star outfielder Kyle Stowers (strained right hamstring) is on a minor league rehab stint.

Besides Hicks, Miami's leaders in OPS are Otto Lopez (.894), Xavier Edwards (.884), Connor Norby (.852) and Gold Glover Javier Sanoja (.801).

The Marlins enter Friday tied second in the majors in steals (25) but are tied for 26th in homers (14).

Miami on Friday will start right-hander Janson Junk (0-2, 4.32 ERA). He is 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA in his only appearance against Milwaukee, a five-inning start last July 26.

Junk, 30, made his Marlins debut in 2025, going 6-4 with a 4.17 ERA in the best season of his career. He made 21 appearances, including 16 starts. His breakthrough came about when he emphasized sliders and pounded the zone with more strikes.

--Field Level Media