MLB Central crew to call Brewers-Cubs Showcase Game Wednesday

For the third consecutive season, the hosts of MLB Network’s MLB Central morning show will call an MLB Network Showcase game when the Brewers and Cubs face off in a National League Central showdown on Wednesday at 7:40 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field.

After debuting with a contest between the Phillies and Royals in 2024, and then calling an NL East battle between the Braves and Phillies last year, the trio of Robert Flores, Lauren Shehadi and Mark DeRosa will bring fans the action from the infamous “Red Velvet Couch” in Studio 21 of the MLB Network studios in Secaucus, N.J.

Flores, Shehadi and DeRosa have done more than 1,000 shows together since they began co-hosting MLB Central together in 2018. They were nominated for a national sports Emmy Award for “Outstanding Daily Studio Show” in 2025, and through Aug. 30 of this year, the show’s average viewership is up 57% over last year.

The trio, which has broadcasted from sites such as Yankee Stadium, Citi Field, Citizens Bank Park, Truist Park, Bristol Motor Speedway, Fanatics Fest, the London Series and MLB at Field of Dreams, is excited to be once again calling a Network Showcase game, especially one featuring the top two teams in the NL Central.

“The Brewers are one of the powerhouses in the National League, and they are capable of making it to the World Series and winning, and I would put the Chicago Cubs in that category,” Flores said. “The Brewers more than likely are going to win the division, but both of these teams are capable of making deep runs.”

Not only are these clubs potential World Series contenders, but Wednesday's matchup will pit the most dominant pitcher in the NL against the game's hottest offense -- flamethrowing right-hander Jacob Misiorowski is slated to face a Cubs lineup that has been on a historic run.

Now that Flores, Shehadi and DeRosa have some experience in calling games, they say the key to a good broadcast is their unique chemistry, which flows naturally from MLB Central in the mornings right into live game coverage.

While at first, the three didn’t know what to expect, now they’re well aware of how each host’s strengths play into an entertaining telecast.

“I was nervous about the first game we called together just because I’ve never called a game in any capacity,” Shehadi said. “I’m usually in the reporter role, and it was as Central is -- just chemistry-driven and very, very natural. That’s kind of what we’ve created.”

“I feel the first time we did it when we were in Kansas City, I was nervous,” Flores said. “But as soon as we started, it felt familiar and natural. Just like when we did the Braves and Phillies last year. It was the same thing, so I feel so comfortable next to them no matter what the capacity is.”

Not that the transition from studio show to live play-by-play is simple. It is definitely different, but “RoFlo,” Shehadi and “DeRo” have a way of bridging that difference with aplomb thanks to a fun dynamic that includes witty and insightful dialogue.

“This will be solely about the Brewers and the Cubs and what place they are in the National League Central, how they meet seven times over the next ten days, and there will be a very NL focus on this,” Shehadi said.

“With MLB Central, we highlight every team and we look back on the day as well as looking forward. This will be game-focused, game-specific.”

With his inimitable style of delivering insight that can only come from someone who played the game at the highest level, DeRosa talked about what it means to the three hosts individually and collectively to call games together.

It’s about the team, and that’s what makes it so good.

“Lauren always talks about team building, so this is an opportunity to spread our wings a little bit and do something different,” DeRosa said. “I’m looking forward to breaking down this game with two of my closest friends.”