TooLiveBrew

Crap! Thanks.

First-place Brewers won't overlook Cubs Gallardo heads to the hill for Milwaukee; Arrieta starts for Chicago By Daniel Kramer / MLB.com | 8/10/2014 6:30 PM ET The first-place Brewers gained a bit of separation from the teams trailing them in the National League Central on their last homestand after going 4-2 against the Giants and Dodgers. Milwaukee will hope to keep gaining ground in a four-game set at Wrigley Field. Manager Ron Roenicke said he feels confident that his team won't have a drop-off in intensity despite taking on a last-place club. "These guys realize: We have been really good, and we go into Chicago, and we get beat," Roenicke said. "There's no teams you can take lightly. For one, the pitching staffs are too good in baseball now. It's not just the team you're playing. If you face a good pitcher that night and he's on and you don't score, you're going to lose. We realize that if we're not on our game, it doesn't matter who we're playing, we're going to get beat." Emerging ace Jake Arrieta will take the mound for Chicago, bringing with him a 3.00 ERA against the Brewers over three career starts. Arrieta is coming off his worst start of the season -- nine earned runs against the Rockies, which snapped a 10-game streak of consecutive quality starts. "I know their starting staff has changed because they've lost some guys in trades," Roenicke said. "We know that, but I still look at the guys there. They're still capable of shutting you down. They'll stay focused. That's not to say we won't get in there and get beat, but they know what they need to do." The Brewers will counter with Yovani Gallardo, who's also coming off a rough outing. Gallardo allowed four earned runs on nine hits over four innings against the Giants on Wednesday. Gallardo is 8-3 with a 3.12 ERA in 17 career starts against the Cubs, including a 4-1 mark at Wrigley Field. Brewers: Ramirez enters Cubs series on hot streak Former Cub Aramis Ramirez had his 11-game hitting streak snapped on Sunday, but he's still hitting .458/.458/.604 over his last 12 games. Prior to the hot streak, he was batting .213/.247/.263 through the first 22 games of July. "He's locked in, but this is the type of hitter he is," said Roenicke. "I don't think this is like a great streak for him. I think this is what he is. He's a guy that always drives in runs, or at least always has good at-bats with those guys out there. When he had that bad streak two weeks ago, that was really surprising that that lasted as long as it did." Ramirez carries a .307/.373/.533 line at Wrigley Field, where he played from 2003-11. He's hit 127 of his 367 career homers there. Cubs: North Siders downplay intensity The Cubs are 4-5 against the first-place Brewers this year, and 17-30 against NL Central teams -- worst in the Majors against division foes. "I think the whole rest of the season is going to be a pretty good test," manager Rick Renteria said. "We're playing some really good clubs, guys who are in the hunt." Renteria downplayed any mounting intensity of the rivalry. "We're going to play a lot of guys in our division. It's a great test," he said. "We just have to keep grinding and playing. We have to minimize the mistakes we make, mental and physical, and keep trying to get after it." Worth noting • The Cubs will play two teams currently in first place in August, starting with the Brewers. The Cubs will also play the Orioles. • The Brewers have been in first place since April 5.

[igt-2012][game-setup][logo]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2014/logos/brewers.png[/logo][game-info][h1]August 11 | 7:05 P.M.[/h1][h2]Brewers (65-53) | Brewers (50-66)[/h2][h3]FSWI | WTMJ 620[/h3][/game-info][logo]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2014/logos/cubs.png[/logo][/game-setup][pitching-photos]http://i.imgur.com/bRepAOE.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/EIPVSi8.jpg[/pitching-photos][game-matchup][divclass=away][pitcher]Yovani Gallardo[/pitcher][h2]6-6, 3.54 ERA, 1.25 WHIP[/h2][h3]Versus Cubs | Game Log[/h3][h3]Gallardo's 16 2/3-inning scoreless streak vanished quickly Wednesday, as the righty struggled and gave up three first-inning runs against the Giants. He battled command issues and lasted only four innings.[/h3][/divclass][divclass=home][pitcher]Jake Arrieta[/pitcher][h2]6-3, 2.80 ERA, 1.07 WHIP[/h2][h3]Versus Brewers | Game Log[/h3][h3]Arrieta's streak of quality starts ended vs. the Rockies. He gave up a career-high 13 hits and a season-high nine runs over five innings. Arrieta only threw 78 pitches, but Colorado didn't miss many. At home he's 2-0 with a 1.85 ERA in seven starts.[/h3][/divclass][starting-lineup][divclass=away] CF Carlos Gómez C Jonathan Lucroy RF Ryan Braun 3B Aramis Ramírez 2B Scooter Gennett LF Khris Davis 1B Mark Reynolds SS Jean Segura RHP Yovani Gallardo[/divclass][divclass=home] LF Chris Coghlan 2B Javier Báez 1B Anthony Rizzo SS Starlin Castro 3B Luis Valbuena CF Arismendy Alcántara RF Justin Ruggiano C Welington Castillo RHP Jake Arrieta[/divclass][/starting-lineup][/game-matchup][game-links][h3][chat]BrewerFan Chat[/chat] | MLB Gameday[/h3][/game-links][/igt-2012]

What would Kirk Gibson say? He wouldn't say a word. ... Just kidding. http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--n7_qVQJa--/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_636/18xf848idk0e2jpg.jpg

The only park Estrada might not allow homers in is Yellowstone. http://img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120410231906/muppet/images/thumb/b/b5/Fozzie2.jpg/300px-Fozzie2.jpg But seriously, I do love your joke

Going for sweep, Brewers take on Kershaw Dodgers' ace has a 1.82 ERA; rookie Nelson starts for Milwaukee By Caitlin Swieca / MLB.com | 8/10/2014 12:17 AM ET Looking to earn a win in their weekend series against the first-place Brewers, the Dodgers will send their most reliable arm to the mound Sunday when Clayton Kershaw takes the bump at Miller Park. Kershaw, the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, has a 1.82 ERA this season, including a 1.01 mark over his past 10 starts. He hasn't lost since May 28. While Kershaw has been a steady presence for most of the season, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly noted on Saturday that he's been encouraged with the recent play of first baseman Adrian Gonzalez, who has hit home runs in the first two games of this series. "His swing is so good you don't notice when he's not hitting," Mattingly said. "Guys like him, it's a feel thing. I think the shifts they were using against him, he tinkers with his swing and he was tinkering too much. The danger is that if you do it enough, you do it three or four times and it doesn't work, you're lost and you've got to get back to square one, and that's what happened." The Brewers will counter with rookie Jimmy Nelson, who's had three straight quality starts since a rough outing against St. Louis in his first start after joining the Milwaukee rotation in July. So far he's faced off against some impressive starters -- Adam Wainwright, Homer Bailey, Jacob deGrom and Tim Lincecum were his first four opponents -- and things won't get much easier as he's projected to face Kershaw in his next two starts. Is Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke concerned about the young pitcher going up against the ace? "No. I think Jimmy, he's at a point where he wants to continue to do better than what he's been doing," Roenicke said. "He's been doing fine. His outings, he's been one inning or one batter away from doing really well. I think his concern is more that than worrying about who he's facing." Dodgers: Hanley likely headed to DL with oblique injury Still awaiting results of an MRI, the Dodgers on Saturday seemed resigned to the fact that Hanley Ramirez will require a stint on the disabled list due to a right oblique injury. Mattingly said the pregame injury that forced Ramirez from Friday night's game "doesn't sound good." The MRI was scheduled in the late afternoon, apparently only to confirm the original diagnosis. Ramirez, eligible for free agency after this season, has been determined to stay off the disabled list this year despite shoulder and calf injuries. Nonetheless, he has missed 25 starts. Brewers: Injured Garza exercising, not throwing One week after losing Matt Garza to a rib-cage injury, Roenicke said he's operating under the assumption that Garza will spend only the minimum 15 days on the disabled list. "That's what I'm going off of right now," Roenicke said. "Until something happens where I'm led to believe that's not the case, that's my assumption." Whether that assumption is realistic depends on Garza's progress in the coming days. He has yet to throw a baseball since feeling a muscle grab on the next-to-last pitch of his Aug. 3 start in St. Louis. Worth noting • TBS will carry Sunday's game. The telecast will be available in the Dodgers' broadcast territory. • The Dodgers lead the Majors with a .590 winning percentage on the road (36-25). • At 16-6, the Brewers own the best record of any NL team against the NL West this season. • Aramis Ramirez enters Sunday with an 11-game hitting streak.

Outstanding

Given his PA total, I wonder if injury issues have played a role this season, but Mark Trumbo has been a disaster for the D-Backs so far. .219/.264/.388/.652 coming into play tonight. Brutal.

Ain't it a beautiful thing?

El Caballo!

Heyyyyyyy!!! What a win! Thank you, Mike Fiers!

They shipped Logan Schafer back down to AAA

I was thinking the same thing. It's nice to be on this end of it.

Looks like Jerry Narron might have gotten the day off on the lineup card -- link http://i.imgur.com/HhNi1ZH.jpg

Luc's response, via Twitter:

From the John & Cait... Plus Nine blog, former Brewers minor leaguer Josh Murray issues "The Ice Bucket Challenge" to Ryan Braun to raise awareness for ALS/Lou Gherig's Disease. Direct link to the video on MLB.com http://i.imgur.com/ckkc7ju.jpg Ryan Braun prepares for the Ice Bucket Challenge.

Brewers with a charitable event at today's game:

Watching NBCSN's "Premier League Countdown", & they just showed an interview clip with Brendan Rodgers where he compares Suárez's departure to Carlos Tevez's departure from Man City. Uhhh, just no, Brendan. No. "I remember Manchester City, when they lost Carlos Tevez, who was supposedly their top striker. And he moved to Italy, and everyone talked about... that that can really affect... and Manchester City, the following season, they won the league." I get that he has to big-up his own players, but to imply there's a relevant comparison in the cases of Tevez & Suárez is pretty disingenuous.

Caitlin's reply to my inquiry:

And if I remember correctly, Mike Fiers got the win in that game (albeit in relief of Hiram Burgos). Ding ding ding! Box score link. Tell him what he's won! ... Well, ... nothing.

He made 23 starts at Miller Park as a Brewer, & has 25 overall appearances (24 starts) at MP, per Baseball-Reference. The MLB.com writeup (& blurb from the Game day preview that we use in the IGT lead posts), however, appear to be wrong. 25-2 in games Greinke starts at Miller Park... in 24 career MP starts. And the Gameday blurb further attributes the (seemingly incorrect) 25-2 mark as Greinke's W-L record, & not his teams' record in games he'd started. I've tweeted to Caitlin Swieca for clarification, & will post here if I hear back. -- EDIT: I missed ZG's two postseason starts at Miller Park in 2011. The 25-2 record cited is in his 27 total career appearances (not just starts) in Miller Park.

Greinke, Fiers both making returns to Milwaukee By Caitlin Swieca / MLB.com | 8/9/2014 2:11 AM ET It'll be one old face and one new face on the Miller Park mound on Saturday, when Dodgers ace Zack Greinke takes on Brewers newcomer Mike Fiers in the second game of the weekend set between the first-place clubs. Greinke, who pitched for the Brewers in 2011 and part of 2012 before being traded to the Angels, should feel right at home. His teams have a 25-2 record when he starts at Miller Park, though the Dodgers did lose his most recent start there, in 2013. Still, his 15-1 record and 3.10 career ERA in 25 regular-season appearances at the park aren't likely to give the Crew much confidence as they seek to defeat the Dodgers for the second straight night. Greinke is coming off a start in which he allowed five runs to the Angels, though only three of them were earned. The Dodgers, though, took three of four from their crosstown rival and are looking to keep that trend going. "We just had a good series against the Angels, and this is what we preach -- keep marching and turn the page," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. "We can't have a letdown and get swept. The Brewers were one of the hottest teams early, had a lull, but rebounded. They showed they're not going anywhere. They come to L.A. on the next homestand, so we should have a nice home-and-home series." The Brewers, meanwhile, will turn to Mike Fiers to fill the rotation spot vacated by Matt Garza, who is on the disabled list with a strained left oblique. Fiers made 22 starts with the Brewers in 2012 and three in 2013, and he's 8-5 this season in Triple-A Nashville, with a 2.55 ERA. He's recorded 129 strikeouts against only 17 walks. "He's been pitching really well," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. "When we brought him up a couple years ago, he was doing this. It's a different look. It's a guy that's got deception, got command, and his walk/strikeout rate is back to ridiculous." Those numbers are what prompted the Brewers to bring up Fiers rather than call on Marco Estrada, who was in the rotation until being moved to the bullpen right before the All-Star break. They're hoping Fiers can recapture his early form of 2012, when he threw six or more innings while allowing two runs or fewer in 10 of his first 12 starts. Dodgers: Beckett lands on disabled list again Josh Beckett was placed on the 15-day DL on Friday because of a left hip impingement that has resulted in a torn labrum and two cysts. Beckett went on the DL on July 7 for a stretch of rest, but since his return, the discomfort has prevented him from making quality pitches. The only cure for a torn labrum is season-ending surgery and a three-month rehab. Mattingly put the most optimistic spin on the injury, comparing it with a minor hip impingement that cost Clayton Kershaw one start in 2012. Beckett's latest setback triggered the acquisition of Roberto Hernandez, who took Beckett's Friday start against the Brewers and allowed two runs over six innings. Brewers: Crew being cautious with Lucroy's hamstring Add catcher Jonathan Lucroy to the Brewers' list of walking wounded. Lucroy is battling a minor strain of his right hamstring, an injury troubling enough to Roenicke and the team's medical staff that Lucroy was out of the opener of the weekend showdown. "We were going to give him a day somewhere," Roenicke said. "He's got a little bit of a hamstring issue. It's there. I'm being cautious with it. I don't want him to miss time." Worth noting • At 15-6, the Brewers have the best record of any NL team against the NL West. • Hanley Ramirez ranks fourth on the list of active batting leaders against Milwaukee who have at least 75 plate appearances. He's hitting .367 against the Crew lifetime. • Over their past 17 starts, Brewers starting pitchers have put together a 2.58 ERA, with 14 quality outings. • Aramis Ramirez enters Saturday with a 10-game hitting streak.

[igt-2012][game-setup][logo]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2014/logos/dodgers.png[/logo][game-info][h1]August 9 | 6:10 P.M.[/h1][h2]Dodgers (66-51) | Brewers (64-52)[/h2][h3]FSWI, MLBN | WTMJ 620[/h3][/game-info][logo]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/20589901/BrewerFan/2014/logos/brewers.png[/logo][/game-setup][pitching-photos]http://i.imgur.com/DD4GNTk.jpghttp://i.imgur.com/2exhOFU.jpg[/pitching-photos][game-matchup][divclass=away][pitcher]Zack Greinke[/pitcher][h2]12-7, 2.71 ERA, 1.14 WHIP[/h2][h3]Versus Brewers | Game Log[/h3][h3]Greinke has lost three of his last four decisions, but he's 16-1 at Miller Park. The Angels ambushed him for four runs in the first inning, but he then allowed one hit in the next six innings.[/h3][/divclass][divclass=home][pitcher]Mike Fiers[/pitcher][h2]0-1, 2.57 ERA, 1.29 WHIP[/h2][h3]Versus Dodgers | Game Log[/h3][h3]Fiers will make his first Major League start of the season after accumulating a 9-5 record and 2.55 ERA in 17 starts at Triple-A Nashville. Fiers has 25 starts for Milwaukee over the past two seasons.[/h3][/divclass][starting-lineup][divclass=away] 2B Dee Gordon CF Yasiel Puig 1B Adrian Gonzalez RF Matt Kemp LF Carl Crawford 3B Juan Uribe C A.J. Ellis SS Miguel Rojas RHP Zack Greinke[/divclass][divclass=home] CF Carlos Gómez C Jonathan Lucroy RF Ryan Braun 3B Aramis Ramírez 2B Scooter Gennett LF Khris Davis 1B Mark Reynolds SS Jean Segura RHP Mike Fiers[/divclass][/starting-lineup][/game-matchup][game-links][h3][chat]BrewerFan Chat[/chat] | MLB Gameday[/h3][/game-links][/igt-2012]

Thanks sdcheezhd -- good catch! Fixed.

Hernandez slated to face Brewers in Dodgers debut In matchup of first-place clubs, Milwaukee turns to Lohse in opener By Caitlin Swieca / MLB.com | 8/8/2014 2:39 AM ET It looks like the Dodgers won't waste any time putting their newest acquisition to work. After trading for Roberto Hernandez on Thursday, Los Angeles apparently will send the righty to the Miller Park mound in the series opener against the Brewers on Friday. The struggling Josh Beckett, who has been trying to pitch through a hip impingement that needs season-ending surgery, was originally scheduled for Friday's start. But Hernandez told reporters in Philadelphia that he would be taking over starting duties in the opener. "It's the first time that I've been traded," Hernandez said through a translator. "Obviously it's a nice feeling going to a team that has a chance. I'm really nervous right now. I wasn't expecting this. I'm excited, but at the same time, I'm nervous." Hernandez's start could be spell trouble for the Brewers, who were defeated by the right-hander on July 9 when he hurled eight innings of one-run ball, allowing only three hits. Hernandez has won his past three decisions, pitching at least seven innings in three of his past five starts. Facing tough pitching has become the norm for the Brewers, who will face pitchers with a combined six Cy Young Awards and four no-hitters on this six-game homestand. There's not much relief in sight as the Dodgers will follow Hernandez with co-aces Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw. "We've got a lot of good pitchers we've faced and we're going to face," said Brewers manager Ron Roenicke. "That's why it's so nice to have the offense feel like we're coming around. We're starting to swing the bat again. Those guys are going to shut you down if they're on, so you need to figure out how to get some runs." Indeed, since July 30, the Brewers handed losses to David Price and Adam Wainwright and earned a win in a game that Tim Lincecum started. Is there something about the Milwaukee lineup that's allowed it to step up against tougher pitching? "If you can figure it out, you guys let me know," said Roenicke. "You know you've really got to bear down, but these guys bear down pretty well every at-bat." While Milwaukee's offense tries to break through against Hernandez, the club will send Kyle Lohse to the mound hoping for a rebound. Lohse lasted only four innings Saturday against the Cardinals, surrendering nine runs in an uncharacteristically rough outing. Coming off that start, Lohse was asked whether he approached his between-outings bullpen session any differently. "No, it's way too late in the season to start doing stuff like that," he said. "It was just one of those games where nothing went right." Brewers: Kintzler seeks more prominent bullpen role Roenicke says he's waiting for a right-hander to step up in the eighth inning. Despite a tough outing Wednesday, and conceding his signature sinker has not been as consistently sharp as a season ago, Brandon Kintzler believes he's done enough to earn the job. "I don't know, he never throws me in there," Kintzler said. "I threw well all of July, I never got a hold situation the whole time. I felt like I've done my job whatever they've asked me to do." Kintzler, who has been off the disabled list since April 24, has appeared in every inning from the fifth to the ninth and has eight holds with a 3.76 ERA in 42 appearances. Last season, he had 26 holds with a 2.69 ERA in a career-high 71 appearances. "He was really consistent last year," Roenicke said. "It's a lot -- it's confidence. His stuff seems to be fine. He's fine. It's the confidence that it gives you to relax and let your body work by and hit spots, and he's not doing that. If you look at just velocity and things like that, it's fine. "He'll throw some good breaking balls, but consistently he doesn't, and he's not getting the sinker down and in like he usually does. We always talk about confidence in this game. When it's not there and it's not there really well, you're a little bit short." Dodgers: Beckett knocked out of rotation Right-hander Josh Beckett will not make his next start on Friday and could be headed to the disabled list, depending on the results of Thursday's MRI. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Beckett felt discomfort playing catch on Wednesday and is slated to see Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Beckett was on the disabled list from July 8 to July 22 with a left hip impingement and is 0-1 with an 8.25 ERA in the three starts since his return. The exact nature of the injury has not yet been disclosed. "I guess they'll wait for the MRI," Mattingly said. "I'm assuming it's got something to do with his hip in some relation. But it's a different area that was hurting him." Right-hander Roberto Hernandez -- acquired Thursday from the Phillies, will start Friday in Milwaukee in Beckett's stead. General manager Ned Colletti said he had been looking at Hernandez for a couple of weeks, but talks with Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro heightened after Beckett's injury. Rookie right-hander Carlos Frias would have gotten the ball Friday if the Dodgers had not traded for Hernandez. "Well, Josh has been battling some things lately, and it came to the point where we had the chance to get Roberto," Colletti said. "And this time of year, as I've said many times, you better have enough of everything to get you through it." Worth noting • Hernandez has been sizzling as of late. He's posted a 3-0 record with a 1.88 ERA in his past four starts. • The Brewers have had at least a share of the National League Central lead since April 5. • Milwaukee starters have 13 quality starts over the team's last 16 games, though the team is 9-7 in that stretch.