CINCINNATI -- It was about two hours after signing a Brewers contract that Julio Teheran made his first Major League start in more than two years, so it shouldn’t surprise anyone that he’s fit into Milwaukee’s clubhouse culture with remarkable speed.

“He’s been helping me,” said Freddy Peralta, himself an All-Star but still trying to find the consistency for which Teheran was known over his many years with the Braves. “We have different stuff, different pitches and all that. But mentally. It means a lot for me.

“It’s different to have someone like that, with almost 10 years of service in The Show. He came up to me one of his first days and said, ‘Try this way and I think you’re going to be better.’ It’s very important, the little things. I like him. He’s bringing good things.”

Teheran, unfortunately, couldn’t bring any hits against the latest lefty starter to quiet Brewers hitters, who managed only Joey Wiemer’s double in six innings of at-bats against Reds rookie Andrew Abbott. The 24-year-old southpaw, MLB Pipeline’s No. 95 overall prospect, was a winner in his Major League debut as Milwaukee’s bid for a four-game series sweep was thwarted in a 2-0 loss on Monday night at Great American Ball Park.

While the Brewers work on generating offense against lefties, Teheran has helped them solve another problem: Plugging a starting rotation riddled with injuries. The right-hander signed on May 25 after opting out of a Minor League deal with the Padres and promptly delivered five innings of one-run ball against the Giants in his first MLB start since April 3, 2021 -- before a shoulder injury sent Teheran on a journey that included rehab and humbling stints in the independent Atlantic League and in the Mexican League.

On Wednesday, Teheran pitched six innings for the Brewers at Toronto without allowing an earned run, and he picked up a win.

On Monday, the game’s only runs came on solo home runs from Stuart Fairchild on an 0-2 pitch in the third inning and Tyler Stephenson with two outs in the fourth. Both were mistakes, Teheran said. But he pitched into the seventh inning this time and through three Brewers starts his ERA sits at 1.56.

“I give him a lot of credit for doing what he's doing,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It's put that spot in order for us. He's given us three big performances.”

“I feel really good,” Teheran said. “I’m going out there without expectations. Just every time I get the ball, I try to do my best. It doesn’t matter if I pitch good or bad, just do my best and give the team a chance to win the ballgame.”

Told of Peralta’s high praise, Teheran smiled and said, “That’s good to know. Obviously, I came a couple weeks ago, so to fit in with the guys makes me feel good. … Hopefully, I can keep getting to the same thing that I’ve been doing the last few games.”

Teheran was helped by third baseman Luis Urías’ stellar diving stop in the first inning, when the Reds opened the game with some loud contact. And right fielder Brian Anderson threw out a runner at the plate to end the sixth after a double fell between Brewers defenders.

"I think our pitching and defense played a good game but we couldn't hit," said Urías, who said of the rookie Abbott, "I think that's a moment he won't forget. After the third, fourth inning, he got control of the game."

Including Abbott, southpaw starters own a 2.30 ERA this season against the Brewers, who are last in the Majors with a .617 OPS against left-handed pitching -- 50 points lower than the 29th-ranked Rockies.

An exception to those struggles is Wiemer, who doubled twice on Monday to finish a breakout road trip on which he went 8-for-21 with four doubles and a home run. The return of Urías from a two-month absence for a hamstring injury, should help. He entered the finale with a career .805 OPS against lefties.

“It's the guys that played tonight who are going to have to do a better job creating offense,” Counsell said. “The guys that played tonight, those are the guys that are going to play. It's as simple as that.

“We've got to create more offense and create more pressure with the nine guys tonight.”

Abbott was 11 years old when Teheran made his Major League debut against the Phillies in May 2011 and took a loss.

"It’s been a long time since my debut but it’s always there," Teheran said. "I didn’t get to win like he did or pitch like he did, but I'm happy for him."