Kyle & Brust

Ben and Kyle open Friday’s show with CKatt wearing a Bears jersey on his final day before leaving for ESPN 1000, which only makes the goodbye more hostile. Ben then spirals after his daughter’s two-and-a-half-year appointment, using her height projection to investigate which sports might give her the best chance at a college scholarship. The Miz takes over as Jacob Misiorowski prepares to face Chris Sale in a huge Brewers-Braves matchup, with Ben and Kyle debating whether the focus should be strikeouts, efficiency, long balls or simply Milwaukee winning every time Miz pitches. Kyle’s rant about pathetic Bears fans gets a response from ESPN Chicago’s Pat the Designer, giving the guys another chance to argue that Chicago fans are fragile after years of Packers trauma. The hour closes with Jesse Nelson getting roasted again for his old Trevor McGill and Abner Uribe bullpen panic, especially after McGill’s dominant stretch made the take look even worse.

Hour 2 shifts to the Packers’ second preseason game against Denver, with Kyle locked in on Trey Smack, the offensive line and avoiding injuries. Ben admits Smack’s big Pittsburgh debut probably did matter for his confidence, even if none of the preseason kicks count in the record book. Gabe Neitzel stops by to call Kyle the No. 1 Packers “toad” for being more excited about Smack in a preseason game than Jacob Misiorowski pitching against Chris Sale in a real Brewers game. The guys still preview what they want to see from Green Bay’s depth, Marshawn Lloyd, the receivers and the defense before Tori Lowe joins for Guess Who. The hour ends with Tori finally revealing Kyle’s wedding-gift T-shirts, complete with a personal vows photo and scripture, before CKatt gets one last round of abuse for using ESPN Wisconsin as a stepping stone to Chicago.

With Kyle out, Ben and Homer open Thursday’s show with a winding debate over baby names, family names, Catholic confirmation names and whether anyone should care what Homer thinks. Brewers talk takes over as Ben asks whether Milwaukee’s playoff ceiling is more likely to be limited by inexperienced starting pitching or a lineup that may not hit enough in October. Homer argues the Brewers have enough offense if they keep scoring any way they can, while Ben worries that playoff pitching can expose teams that cannot change games with one swing. The guys also debate whether Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson, Kyle Harrison and Robert Gasser are ready for the moment, with Homer saying Milwaukee should win a World Series within the next three years because of its young pitching and prospect depth. The hour derails late when Ron in the Key baits them into another Wilt Chamberlain versus Giannis argument, ending with AI declaring Wilt the winner and Ben rejecting the machine.

Hour 2 starts with Adam Schefter’s latest on Tucker Kraft’s contract situation, leading Ben and Homer to debate whether Kraft is being admirable or irresponsible by practicing before a long-term Packers deal is finished. Jason Wilde joins and says he expects a deal to get done before the season, but also believes Kraft would be justified in drawing a line before risking more full-team work. Wilde explains that Kraft and Zaire Franklin really do share a competitive edge, and he mostly agrees with Homer that their practice barking was at least partly about injecting energy into the team. The conversation then turns to Jordan Love’s personality, with Wilde saying Love is authentic, respected and steady, even if he is not nearly as entertaining publicly as Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre. Ben and Homer close the hour by hearing Love tell Rich Eisen that winning the NFC North is the Packers’ first goal, which fits their larger argument that Green Bay has to stop living as a seven seed.

The 414 Hour opens with Garrett Mitchell adding insurance in the Brewers’ win over Seattle, sending Ben and Homer back into a larger conversation about Milwaukee’s lineup, the NL standings and why the Braves series matters even if Homer refuses to overreact to any one stretch. The Miz becomes the main event as Ben plays Jacob Misiorowski explaining the first time he saw 100 on a radar gun and whether the Brewers might eventually limit him to keep him fresh for October. Homer still wants every promotion centered only on “The Miz is pitching,” while Ben points out that a matchup with Chris Sale is a legitimate draw too. Joey Ortiz’s post-July 4 surge gets a full spotlight after Gabe Neitzel compared his production to 2018 Christian Yelich, leading Homer to jokingly call for Ortiz to hit cleanup. Catastrophic includes CKatt’s second-to-last day, a Timber Rattlers prospect whose dad caught his first pro homer, and South Carolina quarterback LaNorris Sellers skipping fall classes for a golf-range internship before Bryan Bulaga joins late to say the Packers’ offensive line remains hard to trust until the starting five is actually settled.

Ben and Kyle open Wednesday’s show reacting to the Brewers’ 22-0 destruction of the Mariners, including Luis Lara’s first career home run coming off a position player. The guys debate whether Lara should fully claim the milestone, while Kyle says he would have to lie to his grandkids about the details if it were him. The conversation shifts to Tucker Kraft practicing without a new contract, with Kyle defending Kraft’s team-first mentality and comparing it to his past criticism of Jordan Love sitting out during contract talks. Ben argues Kraft is taking a dangerous risk because one injury could change his value before the Packers pay him. The hour closes with the news that Matt Lepay is joining ESPN Wisconsin, plus a Badgers discussion about Sean Eichorst making a strong first impression compared to Chris McIntosh.

Hour 2 opens with Brewers legend Nyjer Morgan joining the Yuengling Legends Line after Milwaukee’s 22-run eruption and strong series against the Dodgers. T-Plush says Luis Lara’s first homer absolutely counts, argues the Brewers have enough to make a World Series push, and says October will come down to timely hitting, defense, health and staying “plush.” He backs Jake Bauers, Jackson Chourio and Joey Ortiz as hitters he would trust in big moments, while also saying Christian Yelich still deserves belief because veterans can change a game with one swing. Packers talk takes over after Cubs and White Sox fans break into a “Green Bay sucks” chant, sending Kyle into a full rant about Chicago sports fans being obsessed with the Packers. The hour closes with another round of national Packers disrespect after Colin Cowherd predicts Green Bay will finish last in the NFC North, with Kyle firing back that Jordan Love, Matt LaFleur and the Packers should be competing with the Lions for the division.

The 414 Hour opens with Ben offering Kyle a piece of his Brewers over-85.5 wins bet, giving the guys another reason to track Milwaukee’s push toward the NL Central crown. They revisit how the Brewers have continued to beat preseason expectations, why Craig Counsell in Cubs gear still feels wrong to Ben, and why Nyjer Morgan’s comments about rest and health stood out during the stretch run. Jordan Love then joins the conversation after telling Rich Eisen the Packers need to “handle business” in the NFC North, which leads Ben and Kyle to debate whether Green Bay, Detroit and Chicago all belong in the division race. Kyle refuses to fully buy the Bears after one strong season, while Ben argues Chicago has at least done enough to be taken seriously. Catastrophic closes with CKatt’s dark-room exile, Jen, Gabe and Chewy calling Kyle the No. 1 Packers “toad,” a Cubs fan waving a Packers flag during a “Green Bay sucks” chant, and Homer judging potential baby names before the Homer Hour.

Ben and Kyle open Tuesday’s show still unloading on CKatt after he revealed he is leaving ESPN Wisconsin for ESPN Chicago and admitted he roots against the Packers. The guys accuse him of hiding his true feelings from the K&B family, while callers and texters pile on with goodbye messages for the “snake” in the producer chair. Packers disrespect returns when Unsportsmanlike calls Green Bay overhyped, leading Kyle and Ben to push back on the idea that Jordan Love, Matt LaFleur and the Packers are getting too much national love. They argue the offensive line is the real concern, but the defense, healthy weapons and eventual return of Micah Parsons make Green Bay a much different team than the one that faded late last season. Mark Tauscher joins to dismiss the overhyped label, explain that training-camp competition is just NFL business, and call for an end to the “I’m not saying, but I’m saying” hedge across ESPN Wisconsin.

Hour 2 begins with Chad in Fitchburg beating Ben in Are You Smarter Than Ben Brust, thanks in part to questions about Mark Twain, Aerosmith, Baby Shark, Istanbul, stamps and CKatt’s short stay with Kyle and Brust. The guys then turn to Green Bay Props and Preview, breaking down Jordan Love’s passing total and where the yards could go among Tucker Kraft, Christian Watson, Matthew Golden and Jayden Reed. Kyle likes the idea of Love throwing more and believes Golden, Kraft and Watson can all clear their numbers, while Ben sees Jayden Reed’s lower total as the safest value. The conversation also hits Rashan Gary’s sack total, Brandon Cissé’s Defensive Rookie of the Year odds and whether the Packers’ wide receiver room is being undervalued because no single target is projected like a true No. 1. Later, Ben and Kyle react to Mark DeRosa calling Jake Bauers Milwaukee’s offensive MVP, debating whether Bauers’ consistency is a great story or a warning sign for the Brewers if William Contreras, Bryce Turang, Jackson Chourio and Christian Yelich do not heat up before October.