The Atlanta Braves head to American Family Field in Milwaukee on Friday, August 21, for a 4:10 PM ET first pitch against the Brewers. Chris Sale gets the ball for Atlanta against Milwaukee's Jacob Misiorowski in what shapes up as a compelling pitching matchup. With Ronald Acuña Jr. back at the top of the lineup and a recognizable core surrounding him, the Braves bring legitimate firepower into Wisconsin. This is a regular season contest with real standings implications, and Atlanta will need Sale to be sharp from the jump against a Brewers lineup that can be difficult to put away at home.

Braves vs. Brewers Pitching Matchup: Sale Against Misiorowski

Chris Sale draws the start for Atlanta. The veteran left-hander has been one of the more reliable arms in the Braves rotation, and he'll be tested by a Milwaukee lineup that features Jackson Chourio at the top and William Contreras — a former Brave — hitting third. Sale's ability to generate swing-and-miss with his slider will be critical against a lineup that has multiple dangerous hitters in the middle of the order.

On the other side, Jacob Misiorowski is a hard-throwing right-hander who has generated significant buzz as one of Milwaukee's most intriguing young arms. Without current season stats available, it's difficult to quantify exactly where Misiorowski stands, but the Brewers clearly believe in him enough to hand him this start. Atlanta's lineup will need to be patient and work counts if Misiorowski is bringing the heat he's capable of.

Atlanta Braves Lineup Against the Brewers

• Ronald Acuña Jr. — RF
• Drake Baldwin — C
• Matt Olson — 1B
• Michael Harris II — CF
• Ozzie Albies — 2B
• Mauricio Dubón — SS
• Dominic Smith — DH
• Austin Riley — 3B
• Mike Yastrzemski — LF

Acuña leads off, which is exactly where you want him. Having the right fielder at the top of the order gives the Braves an immediate threat every inning. Matt Olson bats third and provides the kind of power presence that forces opposing pitchers to work carefully. Notice Austin Riley hitting eighth — that's a lineup construction worth watching, as Riley is too dangerous to sleep on regardless of where he slots in the order.

Keys to Watch in Friday's Game

Can Sale Neutralize the Middle of Milwaukee's Order?

William Contreras hitting third for the Brewers is a name Braves fans know well. Andrew Vaughn at cleanup and Jake Bauers at five give Milwaukee legitimate run-producing threats. Sale will need to keep the ball out of the middle of the strike zone and trust his off-speed arsenal.

Atlanta's Approach Against a Power Arm

Misiorowski's profile suggests he can overpower hitters. The Braves will need Acuña, Olson, and Harris to set a disciplined tone early. Working deep counts and forcing Misiorowski out of his rhythm could open the door for the middle of the order to do damage.

Contreras as a Wildcard

Anytime a former Brave is on the other side, there's an added layer of intrigue. Contreras knows Atlanta's pitching tendencies well, and Sale will need to keep him off-balance.

Prediction

This game comes down to whether Sale can match or outpitch Misiorowski through the middle innings. If Sale is on — commanding his fastball and keeping the Brewers from squaring up on his slider — Atlanta has enough offense with Acuña, Olson, and Harris to grind out a win on the road. Braves win, 4-2.