Brewcrew82

If the Dodgers lose tonight, the Brewers will be as close to the Dodgers as the Cubs are to the Brewers. Granted, we're done with the Dodgers and they have the season series over us, but still.

If I was a Cubs fan, the division would be the least of my concerns right now.

Hoping we can get the sweep. I actually think the Cardinals series might be a little tough for us. Like maybe a split. Just as long as Wainwright doesn’t get 200 against us.

Dominant.

Joey....

Haha. I doubt it, though. He's been in the lineup pretty much every day.

Santana might be going on one of those hot streaks again!

Do cool how Bill was visualizing that and then follows through on the first pitch.

Do Tyler Black for my sanity lol

Bill and Carlos on Roberto Clemente Day!

Tyler Black is red hot in AAA...

Funny. This team is ice cold, and all of a sudden they're ripping the ball on pitches way out of the strike zone.

Brewer killer.

I’m honestly shocked it took this long for them to get a patch. Free money.

In summary, here's my projected playoff roster as of now: Catchers: Contreras, Caratini IFs: Santana, Monasterio, Adames, Donaldson, Turang, Tellez OFs: Yelich, Frelick, Canha, Taylor, Mitchell SPs: Burnes (Game 1), Woodruff (Game 2), Peralta (Game 3), Miley (emergency/long relief) RPs: Williams, Payamps, Milner, Uribe, Megill, Peguero, Wilson, Vieira, Houser

With the Brewers' playoff odds now above 99% (99.9% per fangraphs, to be precise), we can start to think about who will ultimately make up the 26 man playoff roster. This will obviously be the Brewers' first experience in the new 3 game Wild Card round format, but I think we can expect it to look similar in shape to the 2021 NLDS roster vs the Braves, with 4th/5th starters such as Miley, Houser, and Rea potentially getting the short end of the stick due to the lesser # of games. The following are locks imo provided they are healthy: Position Players: Contreras, Caratini, Santana, Adames, Monasterio, Turang, Yelich, Frelick, Canha, Taylor (10) Pitchers: Burnes, Woodruff, Peralta, Williams, Payamps, Milner, Uribe, Megill, Peguero, Wilson (10) That makes 20 spots completely accounted for, with the remaining 6 up for grabs among the following: Position Players: Donaldson, Tellez, Wiemer, Anderson, Perkins, Mitchell?, Miller, Toro, Ruf, Winker, Allen?, Black?? Pitchers: Miley, Houser, Rea, Chafin, Vieira, Lauer, Teheran, Bukauskas, Gasser?? For position players, I would easily pencil Donaldson in so long as he stays healthy and keeps getting on base/tearing the cover off the ball. He should start at 3B/DH imo. That gets you to 21. Another outfielder would certainly be well-advised, particularly one who can be substituted in late in games for defensive and pinch running purposes. Wiemer, Perkins, and Mitchell would be the clear candidates, all elite fielders and baserunners. Wiemer has been healthy and played the most, but he has completely lost it at the plate and is showing zero signs of figuring it out. Perkins has played second most after Wiemer and is currently in AAA on rehab. He has less power than Wiemer, but gets on base and gives you more competitive at-bats. And then there's Mitchell, who has been on the IL for most of the season, but is nearing a return, though he'll be cutting it awfully close and will have minimal time to readjust. If he does manage to make it back in time and is showing no ill-effects, then I think you would have to go with him as he offers the best combination with the bat, glove, and on the basepaths. For the final spot, you could go for more positional versatility with a guy like Owen Miller or Brian Anderson (or even Tyler Black), or you could opt for more of a power punch off the bench with someone like Rowdy Tellez. Right now, I'd go with Rowdy, but I am getting close to thinking otherwise. As for pitchers, you only need three starters, so the spots of Miley, Houser, Rea, etc. would be up in the air. I would have an emergency starter ready in case you decide to use a guy like Freddy Peralta out of the pen in one of the first two games or have to pitch the Big 3 to clinch the division against the Cubs. That gives Miley a place on the roster imo and gets you to 24. Vieira has playoff-type stuff, so if he continues to pitch like he did last Friday, I think you give him a spot. Which leaves the final spot to be decided between Houser, Chafin, Rea, etc. Are you okay with only one lefty in the pen (ignoring Miley)? If not, then you would imagine Chafin gets it by default, unless the Brewers actually listen to me and decide to finish the year with Gasser in the pen. If you are, then it's between Houser and Rea. I think you would have to go with Houser due to his experience and at the expense of Chafin and a second lefty.

We cannot let that MU post go unchecked.

Hopefully Canha to follow him shortly thereafter.

You're correct. For some reason I thought he was 2020. So, yeah that would be a good reason.

You may be right. I just don't see any reason to keep him if he continues to flop with the bat. Black could have serious value on a playoff team with his ability to get on base and run.

I don't see what's stopping them right now. Black has to be on the 40 man anyway this offseason.

107.1 off the bat on that groundball DP from Donaldson. Continues to hit the ball hard.

Wonder if/when a Black for Rowdy swap happens.

Impossible to strike Arraez out.