(Photo credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images)

Sitting at opposite ends of the National League Central, the visiting Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds will meet for the first time this year in the opener of a three-game set on Monday.

Despite dropping three of its last four, Milwaukee holds a five-game lead on the second-place St. Louis Cardinals, while owning a 9 -game edge on the last-place Reds.

As the Brewers look to bolster their divisional cushion, Brandon Woodruff (2-1, 3.60 ERA) is set to make his long-awaited return from the injured list on Monday. Woodruff last pitched on April 30, when he lasted just 1 1/3 innings against the Arizona Diamondbacks before being pulled. He was placed on the IL with right shoulder inflammation.

After two minor league rehab starts, the two-time All-Star is eager to help the rotation.

'I'm sick and tired of watching,' Woodruff said. 'That's been the hardest thing for me, because I want to be in the fight with them. I'm excited and I'm ready to do this.'

Woodruff scuffled in his two minor league appearances, posting a 6.00 ERA at the Arizona Complex League and with the High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Nonetheless, the veteran right-hander thinks the major league club is where belongs.

'There was a possibility to come back the one before the last rehab start,' said Woodruff, 33. 'But I think just sitting back and having a good chat with (manager Pat) Murphy, I realized I needed to run through this full buildup and give myself the best chance when I get out here in the big leagues.'

Woodruff missed all of 2024 after undergoing shoulder surgery and made just 12 starts in his return last year. The nine-year veteran is 7-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 15 career appearances (13 starts) against the Reds.

Cincinnati is coming off a pair of series wins against the New York Mets and New York Yankees. The Reds' pitching staff allowed just three total runs in the club's last two road wins over the Yankees -- a much-needed development for the struggling unit. Cincinnati's 4.58 team ERA ranks 13th in the National League.

Amid a forgettable first two months of his second season with the Reds, Monday's scheduled starter, Brady Singer (3-6, 5.32 ERA), hopes a promising start to June is a sign of things to come. After going 0-4 with a 7.77 ERA in May, Singer has allowed a total of just four earned runs across three June outings.

The 29-year-old right-hander threw five innings of one-run, three-hit ball, while striking out five and walking three in a 5-3 victory over the Mets on Tuesday.

'I felt my command was good,' said Singer, who earned his first win since April 25. 'Giving up the free bags kind of affected the pitch count a little bit, but I'm happy with the result. I wish I could have gone deeper in the game, but I'm happy with it.'

Singer will be searching for consecutive wins for the first time since Aug. 31-Sept. 6 of last season. He's 2-2 with a 4.82 ERA in four career starts against the Brewers.

--Field Level Media