The Milwaukee Brewers aim to clinch the season series against the Atlanta Braves at the 2026 Little League Classic.
Back in 2017, Major League Baseball took a chance on a wild vision that would bring an MLB game to the home of the Little League World Series.
Since that game between the National League Central's Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals, the Little League Classic has been an annual tradition that the Milwaukee Brewers haven't been able to take part in.
Here in 2026, that will change. Their opponent, the Atlanta Braves, will also be making their first appearance in front of what's set to be a rowdy crowd of 2,000+ Little Leaguers.
Sunday, Aug. 23, will see the Brewers and Braves do battle in Journey Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Brewers take season series with a win
It's worth noting Milwaukee lost a home game to participate in this, and while the Braves took two of three against the Brewers back in mid-June, this is a Brewers team that has now won three straight against the NL East division leaders.
Both of these teams should make the playoffs, and there's a chance a late surge for the Braves or skid for the Brewers would make things interesting. If the Brewers come out on top in the 2026 Little League Classic, they will officially clinch the season series against the Braves, four games to two.
Shane Drohan vs. Tyler Mahle
At 31 years old, Tyler Mahle brings his 4-10 record and 4.53 ERA to Williamsport for a crucial showdown against someone the Brewers are currently considering their sixth starter, Shane Drohan.
Drohan, 27, is 6-4 with a 3.86 ERA. This will mark his 15th start in 26 games played this season, but it's worth noting he made a two-inning relief appearance earlier in the week.
Regardless, this will be Drohan's first career appearance against the Braves. As for Mahle, he's coming off a six-inning gem against the Brewers back on July 27 in a scoreless appearance that saw him allow just three hits, though it's worth noting that's when he was still with the San Francisco Giants.
Still, it's notable that one of Mahle's four wins this season has come against the Brewers. It's been less than a month since they last saw him.
Prior to that, the last time Mahle pitched against the Brewers was on May 3, 2022. The California native needed 92 pitches to record 10 outs in an appearance that saw him walk three batters compared to the two he struck out, and he gave up four earned runs on four hits.
