Brewers Pitcher Brandon Sproat Aims to Extend White Sox Woes

Sproat makes his debut against a struggling Chicago lineup that has struck out 31 times in the first two games.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 1:22pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting in muted tones depicts a baseball pitcher's windup and delivery, breaking down the motion into sharp, overlapping planes to conceptually represent the strategic battle between the two teams.A deconstructed, cubist-inspired illustration captures the complex mechanics of a pitcher's delivery, reflecting the strategic chess match between the Brewers and White Sox.Chicago Today

The Milwaukee Brewers will turn to right-hander Brandon Sproat on Sunday to try to complete a season-opening sweep of the visiting Chicago White Sox, who will counter with left-hander Anthony Kay in a matchup of pitchers making their debuts for their new teams. The Brewers have won 14 of the past 16 games against the White Sox, who have struggled mightily at the plate so far, striking out 31 times and going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position in the first two games.

Why it matters

The Brewers are looking to continue their recent dominance over the White Sox and build momentum for their quest to win a fourth consecutive NL Central title. Meanwhile, the White Sox are searching for answers as their high-powered offense has sputtered out of the gate, raising early concerns about their ability to compete in the AL Central.

The details

Sproat, acquired from the Mets in the offseason, will be making his MLB debut after posting a 4.24 ERA in 26 games (25 starts) at Triple-A last year. The White Sox will counter with Kay, who last pitched in the majors in 2023 with the Mets and is making his first start since 2021 with the Blue Jays. The White Sox have struggled mightily at the plate, striking out 31 times and going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position in the first two games.

  • The series opener was on Thursday, March 28, 2026.
  • The second game of the series was on Saturday, March 30, 2026.

The players

Brandon Sproat

A right-handed pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers who is making his MLB debut after being acquired from the Mets in the offseason.

Anthony Kay

A left-handed pitcher for the Chicago White Sox who last pitched in the majors in 2023 with the Mets and is making his first start since 2021 with the Blue Jays.

Garrett Mitchell

An outfielder for the Milwaukee Brewers who has emphasized the team's aggressive base running as a key part of their identity.

Will Venable

The manager of the Chicago White Sox, who has acknowledged his team needs to clean up some of their early-season struggles.

Munetaka Murakami

A first baseman for the Chicago White Sox who has homered in each of the first two games, becoming the third player in franchise history to do so in his first two games.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“That's kind of been a big part of our identity over the last few years. Putting that type of pressure on teams, whether we go or don't is what it is. But I think more of the can we go, or will they go — I think that puts more pressure on them than anything else.”

— Garrett Mitchell, Outfielder

“These guys, they're playing hard, but we've got to clean up some of this stuff. These guys can do a better job of it, for sure.”

— Will Venable, Manager

“He looks great. He's controlling the zone. The damage is there. We've just got to keep him out there, get some guys on base for him, and keep going.”

— Will Venable, Manager

What’s next

The Brewers will look to complete the sweep on Sunday, March 31, 2026, with Sproat making his MLB debut against Kay, who is also making his first start for the White Sox.

The takeaway

The Brewers' aggressive base running and dominant pitching have overwhelmed the White Sox so far, and Sproat's debut provides an opportunity for Milwaukee to extend its recent success against Chicago and build momentum for the season ahead.