After his Milwaukee Brewers swept the Chicago White Sox to run their winning streak to five games, manager Pat Murphy said his team is still evolving.
"We're under construction. We're a work in progress, for sure," Murphy said. "Look at the number of pitchers that have saved a game. Look at the number of pitchers that have started a game. We're a work in progress."
The Brewers face a tougher stress test when they visit the National League East-leading Phillies in a three-game series starting Monday night.
Milwaukee solidified its standing atop the NL Central by winning six of seven games in a homestand against the two Chicago teams.
Meanwhile, the Phillies aided the Brewers in their division race by taking two of three games from the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend.
"Guys are getting comfortable in their roles, and we've battled some injuries and gotten through it, for the most part," Murphy said. "And we'll battle again. We're set up now to understand how the season is going to be. It's not going to be easy. It's going to be a struggle. Whoever we play, it's going to be a struggle."
The Brewers did not immediately list a starting pitcher for Monday, but it's expected to be right-hander Bryse Wilson (3-1, 3.19 ERA), perhaps following an opener if not the outright starter. He started the season in the bullpen and moved into the rotation as an injury replacement.
Wilson is coming off his worst start of the season. He allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits and two walks in four-plus innings against the Cubs, but he escaped with a no-decision as Milwaukee eventually won 10-6 on May 29.
Wilson is 1-1 with a 7.15 ERA in four career games against the Phillies, including three starts.
Brewers slugger Rhys Hoskins came off the injured list in the White Sox series, so he is primed to face his former team for the first time. Hoskins hit 30 homers and drove in 79 runs for the Phillies on their 2022 NL pennant team.
"He should get a huge ovation," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. "And I'm sure he will. He's such a great guy. Such a big part of what we did in '22. And even with him on the injured list last year, he was a leader in the clubhouse. And a leader in the community, too."
The Phillies will open the series with Zack Wheeler (6-3, 2.32), who has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his past eight starts.
Wheeler pitched six shutout innings at San Francisco in his last start on May 28. He held the Giants to two hits while striking out nine and walking two.
He is 3-2 with a 2.68 ERA in nine career starts against the Brewers.
The Phillies sustained another injury hit during their 5-4 loss in 10 innings to the Cardinals on Sunday. Outfielder Brandon Marsh strained his right hamstring muscle while running the bases in the eighth inning.
Thomson said the team will know more about Marsh's injury on Monday.
Infielders Kody Clemens and Edmundo Sosa are also questionable for Monday's game. Clemens was scratched from his scheduled start at second base Sunday due to back spasms, while Sosa was unavailable due to a sore left hamstring.
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