Week in Review: Through the Mud

Weekly Snapshot

Record Last Week: 3-4 (28-25 Overall)

Runs Scored: 21

Runs Surrendered: 40

Standing: 1st in NL Central (0.5 GA)

***

Game 47 | HOU 12, MIL 2

Game 48 | MIL 6, HOU 0

Game 49 | MIL 4, HOU 0

Game 50 | SF 5, MIL 0

Game 51 | SF 15, MIL 1

Game 52 | SF 3, MIL 1

Game 53 | MIL 7, SF 5

NEWS AND NOTES

Much like last week, the Brewers were active on the transaction front, including:

• Eric Lauer placed on 15-day injured list with right shoulder impingement

• Luis Urias began his rehab assignment with the Nashville Sounds

• Signed Free Agent OF Roman Quinn to a minor-league contract

• Optioned RHP Jake Cousins (5/25) and recalled Cousins (5/27)

• Signed Free Agent SP Julio Teheran to a major-league contract

• Recalled LHP Ethan Small (5/26) and optioned Small (5/27)

• Optioned RHP Tyson Miller

• Placed SS Willy Adames on 7-day injured list with a concussion. 

• Designated LHP Alex Claudio for assignment

• Recalled SS Andruw Manasterio

Most notably, the Adames injury news is almost a relief, all things considered. The Brewers' star was struck with a line drive while sitting in the dugout on Friday. 

The Brewers remain in first place in the NL Central, as the division continues to struggle. The Brewers and Pirates remain the only teams above or at .500, but the NL-worst Cubs find themselves within 5 games of the first place Brewers.

HIGHLIGHTS

Colin Rea was easily the Brewers' best player this past week, turning in two quality starts and picking up two of the three Brewers wins. Those victories were the first for Rea in MLB in seven years. Adrian Houser picked up the other win, in a dominant start against the defending champion Astros. Combined this week, the unlikely dynamic duo pitched 16 2/3 innings, allowing just four runs. 

https://twitter.com/AdamMcCalvy/status/1661194930428182528

In two of those starts, the Brewers shut out the Astros in back-to-back games to take the series. The Astros had only been shutout one other time on the season.

Joel Payamps was key in the Brewers' two victories over Houston, pitching in the highest-leverage situation in both games and allowing no runners to score.

https://twitter.com/BallySportWI/status/1661440084837629963

Andruw Monasterio made his major-league debut at 2B in Sunday's game against the Giants, and logged his first major-league at-bat, striking out. Monasterio had logged 680 minor-league games prior to his first MLB appearance.

https://twitter.com/Brewers/status/1662916713145352192

Julio Teheran was solid in his first start as a Brewer, pitching five innings and only allowing one run. Teheran was saddled with the loss, but did record 5 strikeouts.

Owen Miller has continued to swing a hot bat this week, including playing some solid defense. Miller's recent hot streak has garnered him some national attention as well, which landed him an appearance on MLB Network earlier in the week.

https://twitter.com/MLBNetwork/status/1661422384451026978

LOWLIGHTS

The Brewers offense was dead quiet in all four losses this week, scoring just four runs in those games. Among the struggling hitters are Jesse Winker and Tyrone Taylor, whose seasonal numbers have dipped dreadfully low. Joey Wiemer and Brice Turang have also cooled from their hot starts, and their offensive numbers are well below average, too.

This week, in particular, included an inability to score against the Astro and Giant bullpens, including failing to score a single run off the Giants bullpen in the four-game series.

Taylor: .171/.192/.257

Winker: .204/.315/.231

Turang: .219/.269/.322

Wiemer: .192/.255/.338

The pitching staff struggled this week, despite logging those shutouts against the Astros. They surrendered 10 or more runs two times this week, and recorded a staff ERA of 4.71. 

The lowest point of the week was undoubtedly the Adames injury, on a day where the Brewers were crushed by the Giants 15-1. Adames was hospitalized after a line drive struck him in the dugout, and was placed on the injured list the following day. Freddy Peralta was wildly ineffective in the start, surrendering 10 runs (eight of them earned) in just 2 1/3 innings. Ethan Small surrendered the other five runs in the game, and was optioned back to Nashville following the game. 

TRENDING STORYLINE

The health of the Brewers remains the main concern, followed closely by the struggling offense. It’s no coincidence that they both have something to do with each other, but the imminent return of Luis Urias will boost the anemic offense.

The Brewers have developed a theme of winning games when they have early offensive success, as Milwaukee is 22-5 when they score first.

LOOKING AHEAD

The Brewers get a much-needed off day Monday, before traveling to Toronto to face the Blue Jays.

TUESDAY, 5/30: BREWERS @ BLUE JAYS: RHP Adrian Houser vs. LHP Yusei Kikuchi

WEDNESDAY, 5/31: BREWERS @ BLUE JAYS: RHP Julio Teheran vs. RHP Alek Manoah

THURSDAY, 6/1: BREWERS @ BLUE JAYS: RHP Freddy Peralta vs. RHP Kevin Gausman

FRIDAY, 6/2: BREWERS @ REDS TBD vs. TBD

SATURDAY, 6/3: BREWERS @ REDS TBD vs. TBD

SUNDAY, 6/4: BREWERS @ REDS TBD vs. TBD