Blake

Perkins

Chourio remains in Milwaukee’s lineup for Thursday night’s potential series-clinching contest at Wrigley Field despite battling a lingering right hamstring issue that hasn’t adversely impacted his availability throughout the best-of-five series. Blake Perkins is back in center field over Brandon Lockridge with Andrew Vaughn at first base over Jake Bauers to face Cubs veteran lefty Matthew Boyd: Here’s the full lineup: Christian Yelich (DH), Chourio (LF), William Contreras (C), Brice Turang (2B), Vaughn (1B), Caleb Durbin (3B), Sal Frelick (RF), Perkins (CF) and Joey Ortiz (SS).

Oddly enough, the Cubs outhomered the Brewers 3-0, but after Michael Busch’s leadoff bomb in the first, it was all Milwaukee. Perkins had the hit of the contest, winning an 11-pitch battle with Matthew Boyd in the bottom of the first to give the Brewers a 4-1 lead and knock Boyd out of the game. The Brewers wound up with six runs that inning and three more in the second. Game 2 will be played Monday in Milwaukee. Neither team has announced its starter, but it’ll probably by Shota Imanaga for the Cubs and either Jose Quintana or Quinn Priester for the Brewers.

Contreras is good to go after missing a handful of games at the conclusion of the regular season with a lingering left hand issue. The other notable development for Milwaukee is manager Pat Murphy sticking with lefties Brice Turang and Christian Yelich near the top of the order with southpaw Matthew Boyd taking the ball for Chicago in this one. Here’s the full lineup: Jackson Chourio (LF), Turang (2B), Contreras (C), Yelich (DH), Andrew Vaughn (1B), Sal Frelick (RF), Caleb Durbin (3B), Blake Perkins (CF) and Joey Ortiz (SS).

Perkins returns from bereavement leave for Sunday’s series finale against the Reds after missing only a pair of contests.

The Brewers are off tonight, so Perkins wasn’t immediately replaced on the roster. Brandon Lockridge will likely start in center on Friday.

The 28-year-old has been functioning as the team’s regular center fielder, but he’ll get a breather in this one after starting each of the team’s previous 10 contests. Brandon Lockridge will start in his place in center field and will bat eighth against Andrew Heaney and the Bucs on Monday evening in Milwaukee.

The newly acquired Brandon Lockridge will take Chourio’s roster spot and join Blake Perkins in helping to cover for him in center. The Brewers have yet to say anything about a timeline for Chourio, but that should happen later today.

Chourio, 21, left Tuesday’s game with what was described as spasming in his right hamstring. The outfielder will get at least one more day off, and the Brewers get an off day Thursday. Blake Perkins will handle center field while Chourio recovers.

The 28-year-old outfielder had been activated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Nashville just before the All-Star break, but with Sal Frelick (hamstring) heading to the injured list, Perkins will get another chance to show what he can do at the big league level. The 28-year-old has hit .273/.429/.364 with one homer, four RBI and three stolen bases over 56 plate appearances in the minor leagues this season.

Time had run out on Perkins’ minor league rehab assignment so they needed to activate him from the 60-day injured list. He’ll remain at Triple-A Nashville, where he had been rehabbing, until the Brewers have a need for an extra outfielder.