Here Comes the Cavalry: Much-Needed Andrew Vaughn to Return to Brewers Lineup Monday

It's not yet clear whether Jackson Chourio will get back into the Brewers lineup Monday night against the Cardinals. He fouled a ball off his foot during a rehab start over the weekend and could be delayed another few days while he shakes off the soreness. However, all systems are go for Andrew Vaughn, who was sidelined by a broken hamate bone on Opening Day and has missed the last five-plus weeks. The Brewers will receive Vaughn gratefully into a lineup that needs more length.

While Vaughn was on the shelf, many of the reps against left-handed pitchers went to Gary Sánchez. The team's backup catcher became its de facto short-side platoon first baseman over the first fortnight. He hasn't played first since April 11, after his defense there proved costly, but he's still been in the lineup often as the designated hitter. At the end of play on April 14, that was fine with everyone: he was batting .259/.412/.815. That was the day Sánchez hit his last home run, though, and in the three weeks since, he's batting .182/.333/.273. Having Vaughn take some playing time from Sánchez is one way the team can get its mojo back offensively.

In selected matchups, Vaughn's at-bats could come at the expense of Jake Bauers, instead. Bauers didn't disappoint during his first month of everyday playing time, but nor did he seize the job in a way that precludes Vaughn shoving him to the bench on occasion over the next few weeks. Bauers is batting a respectable .243/.317/.423 on the season, and his whiff and strikeout rates are down. On the other hand, in a league walking more, he's walking less. He's gotten incrementally but importantly more aggressive early in counts, sometimes getting himself out because he's still trying to avoid getting into a two-strike situation. 

Bauers has strill been fairly productive, though, and on the right days, Vaughn could man first base while Bauers slides to the outfield. Presumably, Chourio will be back within a few days, if not Monday, so the team ought not to need Bauers out there very often. While they do, though, he can be an offensive upgrade in the corners. 

Ultimately, what the team needs is more length in its lineup. That trademark relentlessness that makes the Brewers great when they're going right has shown up only in flashes so far. They're getting a league-worst .239 slugging average from the bottom third of their order. Neither Vaughn nor Chourio can directly replace Joey Ortiz or David Hamilton, two of the key culprits in that lack of power from those spots, but they can lessen the team's need to use Blake Perkins. Even slightly more danger at the bottom of the order could restore the consistency the team has turned into so many wins over the last few years. Vaughn's return engenders that. Chourio's will do so, too. After weeks of waiting, Pat Murphy will have some good dilemmas when filling out his lineup card.