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Milwaukee Brewers make shocking announcement for NLDS Game 2 starter vs Cubs

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Robin M Adams | Last updated Oct 5, 2025 5:09 PM ET

The Milwaukee Brewers had a plan for their Game One matchup against the Chicago Cubs in the National League Divisional Series and executed it to perfection. Despite giving up two solo home runs, two-time All-Star Freddy Peralta had one of the best postseason starts in franchise history, tying the club record for strikeouts in a game (nine) while going 5.2 innings.

Offensively, the Brewers became the first team in MLB history to put up nine runs in the first two innings of a postseason game, and Jackson Chourio became the first player ever to have three hits in the first two innings of a playoff game.

After the game, and even before the series started, many Brewers fans assumed that they knew Quinn Priester was going to start the second game of the series. However, that is not the case.

Aaron Ashby will start for the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 2 against the Chicago Cubs

Milwaukee Brewers make shocking announcement for NLDS Game 2 starter vs Cubs 1 Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Aaron Ashby (26) enters for Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Freddy Peralta (51) during the sixth inning of their National League Division Series game against the Chicago Cubs on Saturday October 4, 2025 at American Family Field in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

When the Brewers traded for Priester earlier this season, the deal was met with a great deal of criticism from fans. However, the young right-hander quickly won them over, going 13-3 with a 3.32 ERA in 29 appearances (24 starts).

At one point, Milwaukee won 19 consecutive games that Priester pitched, one shy of the all-time record of 20 set by Roger Clemens.

But instead of turning to Priester to start Game Two of the NLDS against the Cubs, the Brewers are using Aaron Ashby, a left-handed pitcher, as an opener:

Opener alert! Aaron Ashby will start Game 2 for the Brewers.

— Adam McCalvy (@AdamMcCalvy) October 5, 2025

Ashby was 5-2 with a 2.16 ERA in 43 games this season.

Of course, using the left-hander as an opener does not mean Priester will not appear in Game Two. It is entirely possible that, after Ashby pitches a couple innings, manager Pat Murphy brings in the right-hander to pitch the bulk of the game.

This is a strategy that Milwaukee deployed multiple times throughout the course of the season, typically using lefty DL Hall as the opener in front for Priester. Hall, though, was not included on the NLDS roster.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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