Week In Review: Finding Other Ways to Win

Weekly Snapshot
Record Last Week: 4-2 (14-6 Overall)
Runs Scored: 23
Runs Surrendered: 19
Standing: 1st NL Central (1 GA)

Game 15 | SD 7, MIL 3
Game 16 | SD 6, MIL 3
Game 17 | MIL 1, SD 0
Game 18 | MIL 2, STL 1
Game 19 | MIL 12, STL 5
Game 20 | MIL 2, STL 0

Transactions

04/21/24 - Placed LHP DL Hall on the 15-day injured list
04/21/24 - Recalled LHP Jared Koenig from Triple-A Nashville
04/19/24 - Placed 1B Jake Bauers on the bereavement list. 
04/19/24 - Activated RHP Trevor Megill from the 7-day injured list. 
04/19/24 - Recalled IF Andruw Monasterio from Nashville Sounds. 
04/18/24 - Sent RHP Kevin Herget outright to Nashville Sounds. 
04/18/24 - Traded RHP Vladimir Gutierrez to Boston Red Sox for cash. 
04/18/24 - Optioned RHP Tobias Myers to Nashville Sounds. 
04/17/24 - Designated RHP Vladimir Gutierrez for assignment. 
04/17/24 - Optioned LHP Jared Koenig to Nashville Sounds. 
04/17/24 - Selected the contract of RHP Tobias Myers from Nashville Sounds. 
04/16/24 - Placed LF Christian Yelich on the 10-day injured list retroactive to April 13, 2024. (Lower back strain)
04/16/24 - Signed free agent RF Justin Dirden to a minor-league contract. 
04/16/24 - Recalled IF Owen Miller from Nashville Sounds.

Breakdown

The offensive torrent couldn’t last forever, but the Brewers hit a wall in their series with the Padres early in the week. It was a six-run fifth inning that sunk the Brewers on Monday, with the San Diego offense using a combination of weak contact and luck to batter starter Joe Ross. Dylan Cease started the following day for the Padres, and again, the Brewers were held to three runs. Milwaukee starter Wade Miley battled through a four-run first inning, but six innings of one-run baseball from Cease shortened the timeframe of the Brewers' would-be comeback. The two losses to the Padres (following a Sunday defeat in Baltimore) were the first times the Brewers had lost back-to-back games all year.

It looked like the Brewers might lose four in a row early Wednesday, with Padres starter Michael King carrying a no-hitter into the seventh inning before Willy Adames broke it up with a two-out single. A Brice Turang single and stolen base followed by a RBI knock from Blake Perkins the following inning delivered the only run the Brewers needed. Bryse Wilson and four other bullpen arms shut the Padres out, capped off by a Joel Payamps save, allowing the Brewers to avoid a sweep.

An off day on Thursday led into a three-game set in St. Louis, with Freddy Peralta getting the start to kick off the series. As Peralta has been doing all year, he gave the Brewers another fantastic start, throwing six innings of scoreless baseball. William Contreras provided all the offense, driving in both runs, including the game-winner in the 10th inning, as the Brewers toppled the Cardinals 2-1. All the close games and scraping runs together must’ve gotten on the team's nerves, as they exploded offensively Saturday, putting together a season-high 18 hits and 12 runs. Starter DL Hall struggled yet again, but the Cardinals offense couldn’t keep pace with the Brewers. Jackson Chourio was on base four times, including a home run, and Milwaukee won 12-5.

The final game of the week brought us back to the trend set early in the week. Cardinals starter Sonny Gray had double-digit strikeouts, but the Brewers were able to push across two runs in the 7th, backed by five scoreless innings from Colin Rea, 2 1/3 of scoreless relief from Bryan Hudson, and another Payamps save.

Highlights

Turang is still hot. Jackson Chourio’s start has been a bit slower, but the two young players provided the spark on Saturday to get the Brewers the lead for good.

William Contreras has been the Brewers' best offensive player. His go-ahead RBI single in the 10th on Friday was the difference maker in that game, but just another clutch hit for Contreras on the season,

Abner Uribe seems to have lost his temporary closer role, but he hasn’t lost his touch with the glove.

Jackson Chourio’s first long ball of the week was a pretty one.

Blake Perkins has been one of the best players on the team this year. His home run robbery of Sunday might have been the play of the year too.

3 Stars of the Week

3rd Star - Colin Rea (5.0 IP, O ER, 3 K)

2nd Star - Freddy Peralta (6.0 IP, 0 ER, 7 K)

1st Star - William Contreras ( 307./357./.392 2 BB, 2B, 5 RBI)

Looking Forward

Monday, 4/22 - Brewers @ Pirates (5:40 pm CDT) - RHP Joe Ross vs. RHP Jared Jones

Tuesday, 4/23 - Brewers @ Pirates (5:40 pm CDT) - LHP Wade Miley vs. LHP Bailey Falter

Wednesday, 4/24 - Brewers @ Pirates (5:40 pm CDT) - TBD vs. RHP Quinn Priester

Thursday, 4/25 - Brewers @ Pirates (11:35 am CDT) - TBD vs. RHP Mitch Keller

Friday, 4/26 - Yankees @ Brewers (7:10 om CDT) - TBD vs. TBD

Saturday, 4/27 - Yankees @ Brewers (6:10 om CDT) - TBD vs. TBD

Sunday, 4/28 - Yankees @ Brewers (1:10 om CDT) - TBD vs. TBD