Kyle Ginsbach

The Brewers played five more games last week, with two home series against American League foes. If you missed any of the action, here's a quick recap of how the Brewers fared in their second week of the 2024 season! Image courtesy of Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 3-2 (6-2) Runs Scored: 27 Runs Surrendered: 23 Standing: 2nd NL Central (1.0 GB) *** Game 4 | MIL 3, MN 2 Game 5 | MN 7, MIL 3 Game 6 | MIL 6, SEA 5 Game 7 | SEA 5, MIL 3 Game 8 | MIL 12, SEA 4 *** Transactions 04/06/24 - Placed RHP Jakob Junis on the 15-day injured list retroactive to April 3, 2024. (Right shoulder impingement) 04/06/24 - Recalled LHP Aaron Ashby from Nashville Sounds. 04/05/24 - Signed free agent C Francisco Mejía to a minor league contract. 04/05/24 - Sent LHP Wade Miley on a rehab assignment to Nashville Sounds. 04/05/24 - Claimed RHP Vladimir Gutierrez off waivers from Miami Marlins. 04/05/24 - Optioned RHP Vladimir Gutierrez to Nashville Sounds. 04/04/24 - Signed free agent RHP Samuel Valerio to a minor league contract. 04/03/24 -Placed RHP Trevor Megill on the 7-day injured list retroactive to March 31, 2024. (Concussion) 04/03/24 - Recalled RHP J.B. Bukauskas from Nashville Sounds. 04/02/24 - Signed free agent RHP Justin Lugo to a minor league contract. 04/01/24 - Signed free agent CF Yhoswar Garcia to a minor league contract. 04/01/24 - Sent C Eric Haase outright to Nashville Sounds. Breakdown After a successful opening series with the Mets, the Brewers faced the Twins in a two-game series, serving as Milwaukee’s home opener for the season. Game 1 was started by Jakob Junis, who threw four innings of one-run ball before giving it away to the bullpen. Christian Yelich added a solo homer, and Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang both drove in runs in the Brewers' eventual 3-2 win. The undefeated season would come to an end the next day, as the Twin used a five-run 7th inning to topple the Brewers. Both Joel Payamps and Bryse Wilson struggled to keep a cold Twin offense from breaking out late in the loss. The Brewers would then have the following Thursday off. The final series of the week saw the Seattle Mariners come to town, who had dropped their first two series of the year to the Red Sox and Guardians respectively. Friday’s game was won by Milwaukee, who used three solo home runs from Oliver Dunn, Willy Adames, and Christian Yelich, who has continued his offensive tear to begin the season. The Brewers won 6-5, but only after Abner Uribe struggled in the 9th, surrendering two runs and recording his first blown save of the season. Luckily for Milwaukee, Mariners closer Andrés Muñoz had his struggles too, walking four batters in the bottom of the 9th while recording only a single out. Seattle's pitching staff bounced back on Saturday though. Mariners starter Bryce Miller tossed seven innings of scoreless baseball, while Brewers starter DL Hall saw his pitch count rise quickly, leaving the game trailing 3-0 in the 6th inning. A Jackson Chourio two-run homer and sac fly from Rhys Hoskins made it 4-3 heading into the 9th. That's when former Brewer Luis Urias homered off of Hoby Milner to make it 5-3. Muñoz entered in the 9th, where he comfortably found the strike zone, and halted the Brewers' comeback. On Sunday, the Brewers were clearly unsatisfied with their offensive performance, as they trounced the Mariners early. They chased Mariners starter Emerson Hancock early, racking up 11 hits and eight runs before chasing the right-hander early in the 4th. They’d lead 10-2 at the end of the frame, and end up winning 12-4. The Brewers ended the week one game behind the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Central, but tied for the second-best record in the National League. They’ll look to find success against the Orioles and Reds on the road next week, who have both gotten off the winning starts. Highlights Jackson Chourio’s had his fair share of uncomfortable plate appearances at the MLB level this year, but the 20-year-old has shown the ability to punish mistakes from pitchers he has never seen before. He deposited his first two major league home runs last week, including the second blast below. Chourio ended the week with a season-slash line of .281/.324/.500. It took Christian Yelich 18 games to hit three home runs last year. I took him seven in 2024. Perhaps the most majestic of the three bombs was the one he hit Friday off of Mariners starter Logan Gilbert. Oliver Dunn has adopted the role of the unheralded rookie, but his consistent play at third base is exactly what the Brewers wanted from the Utah native. His first big-league home run came on Friday, earning a silent treatment from the Brewers dugout. The defense has been a calling card early. Perhaps no play was finer than this gem by Joey Ortiz made last Wednesday. … Or maybe it was this play by Oliver Dunn on Tuesday. You Decide. Although it was an offensive outburst that stole headlines on Sunday, starter Colin Rea continued his strong start to the season, pitching six innings and only surrendering one earned run, all while battling a stomach virus. Thyago Vieira closed the game, earning the rare three-inning save by pitching the final trio of frames. Other Tidbits The Brewers' offense was heavily reliant on the three true outcomes last week. They clubbed 10 home runs, walked 22 times, but stuck out 45 times in five games. The Brewers stole eight bases last week, bringing their season total to 16. Only the Reds have more, with 18. Brice Turang leads all of baseball with seven. His heavy reliance on speed and improved offensive output have been key to Milwaukee's success early. Gary Sanchez and Andruw Monasterio are now the only two players with at least one plate appearance and no hits. Willy Adames’ 165 strikeouts was the 10th most in the NL last year, but the Brewers SS has only struck out 4 times all season. 3 Stars of the Week 3rd Star - Willy Adames (.278/.381/.611, 2 HR, 2 RBI, SB) 2nd Star - Oliver Dunn (.333/.412/.667, HR, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 SB) 1st Star - William Contreras (.444/.545/.833, 2 HR, 2B, 6 RBI) Looking Forward Monday, 4/08 - Brewers @ Reds (5:40 pm CDT) - LHP Aaron Ashby vs. RHP Graham Ashcraft Tuesday, 4/09 - Brewers @ Reds (5:40 pm CDT) - RHP Joe Ross vs. RHP Frankie Montas Wednesday, 4/10 - Brewers @ Reds (5:40 pm CDT) - TBD vs. RHP Hunter Greene Thursday, 4/11 - Brewers @ Reds (12:10 pm CDT) - RHP Freddy Peralta vs. RHP Nick Martinez Friday, 4/12 - Brewers @ Orioles (6:05 pm CDT) - TBD vs. TBD Saturday, 4/13 - Brewers @ Orioles (3:05 pm CDT) - TBD vs. TBD Sunday, 4/14 - Brewers @ Orioles (12:35 pm CDT) - TBD vs. TBD View full article

Brewers baseball is back! If you missed any of last week's action, here's a quick recap of how the Brewers fared against the Mets in their opening series of 2024. Image courtesy of © Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 3-0 (3-0 Overall) Runs Scored: 14 Runs Surrendered: 8 Standing: 2nd in NL Central (0.5 GB) *** Game 1 | MIL 3, NYM 1 Game 2 | MIL 7, NYM 6 Game 3 | MIL 4, NYM 1 Transactions 03/28/24 - Designated C Eric Haase for assignment. 03/28/24 - Placed LHP Wade Miley on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 25, 2024. (Left shoulder impingement) 03/28/24 - Placed OF Garrett Mitchell on the 10-day injured list retroactive to March 25, 2024. (Fractured left index finger) 03/28/24 - Placed RHP Devin Williams on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 25, 2024. (Back stress fracture) 03/28/24 - Activated LHP Bryan Hudson. 03/28/24 - Placed RHP Taylor Clarke on the 15-day injured list retroactive to March 25, 2024. (Right meniscus tear) 03/28/24 - Optioned RHP J.B. Bukauskas to Nashville Sounds. 03/28/24 - Recalled 2B Oliver Dunn from Nashville Sounds. Breakdown It was about as good a start as you could draw up. With three road wins to begin the season and good performances across the roster, the Brewers have started 3-0 for the first time since 2018. Despite the delay to Opening Day, the tone was set by Freddy Peralta on Friday, where the newly minted Brewers ace pitched six innings of one run, one hit ball in the Brewers 3-1 victory over the Mets. The offense then generated 16 hits on Saturday, backing up a spotty performance from Brewers starter DL Hall and the bullpen in game two's 7-6 win. Perhaps the most notable event of the weekend was a slide play at second base involving Rhys Hoskins and Mets 2B Jeff McNeil. That slide caused the benches to clear in Friday’s game and the subsequent ejection of Mets pitcher Yohan Ramirez after he threw at Hoskins late in Saturday's game. On Sunday, starter Colin Rea set the tone, throwing five innings of one-run ball, before the bullpen combination of Bryan Hudson and Joel Payamps tossed four scoreless to finish the sweep of the Mets 4-1. The Brewers' offense has generated 33 hits, ten walks, and eight stolen bases through three games. They’ve also hit two home runs and struck out 29 times as a team. The pitching staff is off to arguably a better start, with an ERA of 2.47 and a 0.96 WHIP. Highlights Brice Turang continues to dazzle with both the glove and his speed. He’s the first Brewer to steal more than three bases in the first three games of the season in franchise history. Christian Yelich was the first Brewers to gather at least five hits in the first two games of a season since Lorenzo Cain. He also hit the first Brewers homer of the season and finished the first series with a slash line of .455/.538/.727. He even recorded an outfield assist, throwing out Harison Bader at second base during Saturday's game. Jackson Chourio was the first major league player to debut was born in the year 2004. In his first three games, he showed why he was one of the top prospects in the game, turning in highlights with his bat, glove, and speed. Bryan Hudson waited until Sunday to make his season debut but made the most of his first opportunity on the young season. The left-hander entered the game in relief of starter Colin Rea, pitching three scoreless innings, recording four strikeouts, and surrendering only two hits. Oliver Dunn's debut was lost behind the noise of Chourio’s, but the rookie was impressive in his first series, too. Dunn collected his first big league hit and RBI on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, and he played a great defensive third base. Joel Payamps and Abner Uribe covered well for the injured Devin Williams in the relief department, converting three saves in three opportunities. Other Tidbits: There are currently six qualified Brewers with an OPS over .850. The Brewers have stolen eight bases in three games. No runner was caught stealing. The Brewers' pitching staff ended the week with a 2.47 ERA, allowing only six walks and recording 23 strikeouts. However, they did surrender four home runs. 3 Stars of the Week 3rd Star - Brice Turang (.455/.455/.545, 4 SB) 2nd Star - Freddy Peralta (6.0 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 8K) 1st Star - Christian Yelich (.455/.538/.727, 2 RBI, HR, 2 SB) Looking Forward Tuesday, 4/02 - Twins @ Brewers (3:10 pm CDT) - RHP Louie Varland vs. RHP Jakob Junis Wednesday, 4/03 - Twins @ Brewers (12:10 pm CDT) - RHP Chris Paddack vs. RHP Joe Ross Friday, 4/05 - Mariners @ Brewers (7:10 pm CDT) - TBD vs. TBD Saturday, 4/06 - Mariners @ Brewers (6:10 pm CDT) - TBD vs. TBD Sunday, 4/07 - Mariners @ Brewers (1:10 pm CDT) - TBD vs. TBD View full article

The MLB offseason is far from over, but one of the Brewers' division rivals is rumored to have finished building their team. The question is; are the Reds the biggest threat in the NL Central? Image courtesy of © Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports The NL Central has been in a constant state of flux, with experts and fans alike having trouble picking a winner of the division for the past handful of years. No one has repeated as the division winner since the Cubs in 2017, so a Brewers repeat is anything but guaranteed. As it stands now, every team in the Central has a chance to dethrone Milwaukee, but perhaps no team has a better chance than the Cincinnati Reds. The Reds had an interesting 2023 campaign. They got off to a slow start, before enjoying a red-hot June and July, then cooling off down the stretch. They enjoyed breakout seasons from T.J. Friedl, Matt McLain, and Spencer Steer, and had an electrifying debut from then-top prospect Elly De La Cruz that made Cincinnati the hottest baseball town in America for two summer months. They struggled to find reliable starting pitching and consistent bullpen work, despite good seasons from closer Alexis Diaz and starter Andrew Abbott. Notably, the Reds struggled to beat the Brewers last year, ending with a 3-10 record against Milwaukee. They would finish the season 82-80, but are undoubtedly aiming for a higher win total this year. So that begs the question: Where will Cincinnati's improvement come from? Offseason Additions The Reds haven’t made the big splash some expected, but they have added to a weak pitching staff with some proven major leaguers. They first padded their bullpen by adding pitchers Emilio Pagan (2.99 ERA in 69 1/3 IP in 2023) and Nick Martinez (3.43 ERA in 110 1/3 IP), both of whom found success in their roles last year. They also added veteran starter Frankie Montas, who only pitched a third of an inning last year, but did finish sixth in the Cy Young voting as recently as 2021. Perhaps their biggest splash was signing infielder Jeimer Candelario to a three-year, $45-million contract after his breakout season in 2023, wherein he slashed .251/.336/.471 with the Nationals and Cubs. In total, the Reds have committed $105.25 million to their roster for 2024, a number nearly $10 million higher than the Brewers' projected payroll. By adding Pagán and Martinez, the Reds are aiming to find some consistency behind their star closer, Díaz, and with the addition of Montas they are hoping for a dependable back-end rotation arm, with a high ceiling. The signing of Candelario, while expensive, raises their offensive ceiling, and gives the team flexibility within their infield, as Candelario can play both third and first base. To hear the team tell it, they're essentially done making other major additions. Better Health and Internal Improvements There was no player the Reds missed more last year than Hunter Greene, who pitched in only 112 innings due to a hip injury. Despite never putting together an above-average season, Greene's raw pitching talent is Cy Young-caliber. The Reds expect Greene to be their ace, and a fully healthy season will be the first step in that process. Their other starters battled injuries, as they had no pitcher eclipse 150 innings, and only four got past the century mark in innings. The additions of Montas, Pagán, and Martinez will take some of the workload off the depth-challenged 2023 pitching staff, so the team should be able to find more consistency in 2024. The Reds will also count on the further development of their young stars, specifically De La Cruz, who has obvious All-Star potential. Bounce-back seasons from Jonathan India and Tyler Stephenson could make a difference for them. Players like Will Benson and Noelvi Marte will benefit from more playing time next year, too, while McLain, Steer, and Friedl will aim to continue to build on their impressive 2023 campaigns. Obviously, they'll need the largest improvements is in starting pitching. Greene, Graham Ashcraft, and Nick Lodolo will all have to perform better next year, while Montas and Martinez will need to be consistent in their rotation spots, as well. All five men have the talent to form a good rotation, but that remains to be seen. Conclusion The seeds of improvement have already been planted in Cincinnati, but will it be enough to contend for a division title? Simply put, yes. There’s no reason the Reds won’t be in the hunt. They’ve made the most substantial additions in the offseason, and despite losing former MVP Joey Votto, the Reds arguably didn't lose any real value on their roster. Like Milwaukee, Chicago, and Pittsburgh, they have numerous promising young players who will improve as they spend more time in the league. Overall, they might be in the best position to succeed. There’s no other team in the NL Central that has greater potential to improve during the coming season than the Reds. They may have finished 10 games behind Milwaukee, but they’ve done more than enough to help close that gap. With the Cubs still yet to make offseason upgrades to their roster, the Reds might just be that single biggest threat to Milwaukee in the division. Do you believe Cincinnati can seriously challenge the Crew in 2024? View full article

Throughout the season, the Brewers received both consistent and excellent play from their newly-acquired catcher. Congratulations to William Contreras for being unanimously named our MVP of the Brewers' 2023 season! It’s nearly done to death at this point, but the Brewers acquiring William Contreras in a three-team trade with Oakland and Atlanta may have been one of the greatest trade steals in recent memory. And in his first season in a Brewer uniform, not only did Contreras not disappoint, but he was their best player. Contreras’ 2023 Season Stats: .291/.369/.459 over 611 PA, 17 HR, 78 RBI, 5.4 fWAR Contreras led the Brewers in many offensive categories, including perhaps the most important one; Wins Above Replacement. His 5.4 fWAR was more than one point higher than anyone else on the team, and 15th best in all of baseball this year. Perhaps more importantly, Contreras played 141 games as a catcher, a rare feat for the modern game Contreras also led the team in batting average, on-base plus slugging, hits, total bases, and doubles. He finished second in both runs and runs batted in and placed third in walks and home runs. He also recorded a season-best 18-game hit streak for the Brewers, just one of his four double-digit game hit streaks on the season. Not only was Contreras one of the Brewers best offensive weapons, he was also one of their greatest defensive players. Both his catcher framing and block above-average stats place him comfortably in the top 10 among all MLB catchers, and he caught baserunners at an average clip, including two in the playoffs. Runner Up: Christian Yelich 2023 Stats: .278/.370/.447 over 632 PA, 19 HR, 76 RBI, 4.1 fWAR It was a bounce-back year for Yelich, who was the choice for runner-up. Yelich found himself hitting for a bit more power, getting on base consistently, and playing good defense while he was healthy this year. His importance was second only to Contreras, and he rightfully earned the runner-up spot. What do you think? Was Contreras the right pick? Please share your thoughts and comments below! View full article

The Brewers kept pace in the NL playoff race this past week, but let a few wins slip through their hands. Here's a quick recap if you missed the action. Image courtesy of © Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 3-3 (79-63) Runs Scored: 33 Runs Surrendered: 20 Standing: 1st in NL Central (3.0 GA) *** Game 137 | PIT 4, MIL 2 Game 138 | MIL 7, PIT 3 Game 139 | PIT 5, MIL 4 Game 140 | MIL 8, NYY 2 Game 141 | MIL 9, NYY 2 Game 142 | NYY 4, MIL 3 NEWS AND NOTES The Brewers have maintained their steady lead in the NL Central but suffered a few painful losses last week. The offense has struggled in games they’ve lost, with their runs coming in bunches last week. Particularly, the Brewers could not score through 9 innings while the pitching staff did more than their part, holding the Yankees hitless into the 11th inning. The Brewers would end up losing that game 4-3. The recent acquisition of Josh Donaldson is likely weighing on the Brewers' minds, and his call-up seems imminent with the inconsistent offense. Don’t be surprised if Donaldson debuts for the Brewers sometime next week. Here’s the list of the other transactions last week: 09/06/23 - Selected the contract of RHP Thyago Vieira from Nashville Sounds. 09/06/23 - Optioned LHP Clayton Andrews to Nashville Sounds. 09/02/23 - Sent LHP Aaron Ashby on a rehab assignment to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. 09/02/23 - Optioned RHP J.B. Bukauskas to Nashville Sounds. 09/02/23 - Recalled RHP Colin Rea from Nashville Sounds. HIGHLIGHTS Corbin Burnes, Devin Williams, and Abner Uribe combined for ten no-hit innings in the loss to the Yankees on Sunday. It was the first time a Brewers pitching staff had recorded more than nine innings of no-hit baseball. The Brewers offense, while inconsistent, recorded 16 hits in the victory over the Yankees on Friday. It was the third time they’ve recorded that many hits in a single game this season. Willy Adames had the chance to meet his childhood idol, Derek Jeter, when the Brewers were in New York. He then proceeded to record a little league home run later in the day. Who said you shouldn’t meet your idols? TRENDING STORYLINE/LOOKING AHEAD The Brewers will continue to face teams with worse records than they boast the rest of the season, and with a three-game lead in the division, the playoff hopes remain solely in their hands. MONDAY 9/11: MARLINS @ BREWERS: LHP Jesus Luzardo vs. RHP Brandon Woodruff TUESDAY 9/12: MARLINS @ BREWERS: TBD vs. RHP Freddy Peralta WEDNESDAY 9/13: MARLINS @ BREWERS: LHP Braxton Garrett vs. TBD THURSDAY 9/14: MARLINS @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD FRIDAY 9/15: NATIONALS @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD SATURDAY 9/16: NATIONALS @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD SUNDAY 9/17: NATIONALS @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD View full article

Per Ken Rosenthal, the Brewers are interested in acquiring former Yankee 3B Josh Donaldson for the stretch run. Here's why that's a terrible idea. Image courtesy of © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports It was rumored this morning that the Brewers were interested in acquiring Josh Donaldson after the Yankees released him on Wednesday. Donaldson is a former American League MVP winner and veteran who could replace 3B Andruw Monasterio, who cooled significantly in August. The only problem is adding Donaldson isn't nearly as good as it may seem. Donaldson’s Yankee tenure ended with an injury-filled 2023 season and fans celebrating his subsequent release. Donaldson’s current campaign has been limited to just 33 games, where he slashed a measly .142/.225/.434 while battling both hamstring and calf injuries, which date back to his time in Minnesota. And while Donaldson never really had Yankee fans in his corner, he’s solely to blame for his struggles. Donaldson, 37, has battled a reputation as a clubhouse cancer going back to his time as a Minnesota Twin, which also followed him to New York. Not even Atlanta opted to keep Donaldson, a franchise who’s garnered a reputation for maximizing veterans such as Nick Markakis, which allowed the initial move to Minnesota. It was with the Twins that his poor reputation among his teammates began to become more public. With last year’s Josh Hader trade having a deep effect on the clubhouse and the off-season trade of Hunter Renfroe rumored to be to clubhouse issues, adding an injury-riddled, toxic personality in Donaldson doesn’t seem just like a bad idea; it’d be completely illogical. Bringing in Donaldson wouldn’t even have an immediate impact either, as he’s currently sitting on the 60-day IL and isn’t even eligible to play until the middle of September. Whether or not he’d be healthy by the time he is eligible is a whole other question, and should he come back in a timely fashion, the Brewers would need immediate results. While it’s not impossible that the Brewers could acquire Donaldson and have him recapture his previous success for a postseason run, for a team that’s battled issues with clubhouse morale in recent memory, it’s not a good idea to add Josh Donaldson, the person, to the clubhouse, much less the player. View full article

If there was any week you didn't want to miss in Brewers baseball, it was this one. The Brewers won all five of their games, and carry an eight-game winning streak into next week's action. Here's a quick recap to Milwaukees red-hot run. Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 5-0 (73-57 overall) Runs Scored: 37 Runs Surrendered: 23 Standing: 1st in NL Central (4.0 GA) *** Game 126 | MIL 7, MIN 3 Game 127 | MIL 8, MIN 7 Game 128 | MIL 7, SD 3 Game 129 | MIL 5, SD 4 Game 130 | MIL 10, SD 6 NEWS AND NOTES The Brewers continued their streak of hot play this past week, sweeping series against both the Twins and the Padres. They’ve pushed their win streak to a season-high eight games, and have widened the gap in the division. This past week saw contributions from the whole roster, and the whole team managed to stay healthy. They're so healthy, in fact, that the Brewers only made two separate transactions last week--one sending Jesse Winker on a rehab assignment, and another signing free-agent pitcher Fernando Abad to a minor-league contract. HIGHLIGHTS The Brewers' winning formula this past week was the big inning. They scored five or more runs in four separate innings, across four different games. William Contreras has been the Crew's hottest hitter over the past two weeks, during which time he’s generated a wRC+ of 155. Oh, and he also clobbered a baseball Sunday that landed as the Brewers farthest home run of the year. Perhaps the biggest highlight of the week happened before the games, when both CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets, who have gone down as two of the most legendary pitchers in club history, were feted on the field before the games against the Padres. If you need something else to chew on, here's two defensive gems from Brice Turang and Christian Yelich. TRENDING STORYLINE The Brewers offense is finally clicking, and whether it's the result of a changed approach or some better luck, they’ll hope to continue their hitting ways against the Cubs next week. With a good series in Chicago, the Brewers can widen their gap in the Central to a comfortable margin. LOOKING AHEAD MONDAY 8/28: BREWERS @ CUBS: LHP Wade Miley vs. RHP Jameson Taillon TUESDAY 8/29: BREWERS @ CUBS: RHP Corbin Burnes vs. LHP Justin Steele WEDNESDAY 8/30: BREWERS @ CUBS: RHP Brandon Woodruff vs. RHP Kyle Hendricks FRIDAY 9/01: PHILLIES @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD SATURDAY 8/02: PHILLIES @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD SUNDAY 9/03: PHILLIES @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD View full article

After beginning the week by getting swept by the Dodgers, the Brewers found a way to sweep one of the AL's best teams to salvage a 3-3 week. They'll be back in Milwaukee next week, but if you missed any of last week's action, here's a quick recap. Image courtesy of © Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 3-3 Runs Scored: 24 Runs Surrendered: 25 Standing: 1st in NL Central (3.0 GA) *** Game 120 | LAD 6, MIL Game 121 | LAD 7, MIL 1 Game 122 | LAD 1, MIL 0Game 123 | MIL 9, TEX 8 Game 124 | MIL 6, TEX 1 Game 125 | MIL 6, TEX 2 NEWS AND NOTES It was a tale of the two series last week, as the Brewers found themselves getting rolled over by the Dodgers before flipping the script and sweeping the Rangers the following series. They did so by getting offensive contributions from some of their coldest bats while their hot pitching stayed hot. The Brewers had an interesting week last week but stayed almost entirely healthy. Rowdy Tellez returned to the big league club after a surprisingly lengthy injured list stint, and Jesse Winker began his minor league rehab. Sal Frelick was out of the lineup Sunday, dealing with a hamstring injury. He was available to pinch-hit in the game, and the concern level is supposedly low. Here’s the complete list of the transactions last week: 08/19/23 - Activated 1B Rowdy Tellez from the 10-day injured list. 08/19/23 - Optioned 3B Abraham Toro to Nashville Sounds. 08/15/23 - Sent LF Jesse Winker on a rehab assignment to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. 08/15/23 - Placed RHP J.C. Mejía on the 15-day injured list retroactive to August 14, 2023, with right shoulder inflammation. HIGHLIGHTS Willy Adames and Tyrone Taylor have had seasons to forget, but both men found themselves swinging hot bats in Texas. Adames collected seven hits in the series, while Taylor added five more in the sweep of the Rangers. Freddy Peralta turned in yet another fantastic outing this past week, turning in another double-digit strikeout performance against the Rangers. Peralta now leads all pitchers in fWAR in the second half. Perhaps the only player who could say they had a complete week is newcomer Carlos Santana, who collected 10 RBIs and four home runs on the Brewers' latest road trip. TRENDING STORYLINE The Brewers finally return home next week to face the Twins and Padres. They’ll also have two off days on the schedule, which Craig Counsell will use to help the pitching staff recover going into the stretch. Both the Cubs and Reds remain within reach of the division, with the Cubs playing better baseball as of late. LOOKING AHEAD TUESDAY 8/22: TWINS @ BREWERS: RHP Bailey Ober vs LHP Wade Miley WEDNESDAY 8/23: TWINS @ BREWERS: RHP Kenta Maeda vs. RHP Corbin Burnes FRIDAY 8/25: PADRES @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD SATURDAY 8/26: PADRES @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD SUNDAY 8/27: PADRES @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD View full article

The Brewers found a way to pick up wins in five of their six games against lackluster opponents last week, widening their NL Central lead. Here's a quick recap if you missed the action. Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 5-1 (65-54) Runs Scored: 39 Runs Surrendered: 25 Standing: 1st in NL Central (3.5 GA) *** Game 114 | MIL 12, COL 1 Game 115 | COL 7, MIL 3 Game 116 | MIL 7, COL 6 Game 117 | MIL 7, CHW 6 Game 118 | MIL 3, CHW 2 Game 119 | MIL 7, CHW 3 NEWS AND NOTES The Brewers didn’t have a very busy week on the injury or transaction front, as they continue to monitor the health of players like Jesse Winker and Rowdy Tellez, who’ve both yet to return from the injured list. If you want to keep up some of the minor moves made last week, here’s the comprehensive list of transactions: 08/11/23 - Placed CF Blake Perkins on the 10-day injured list retroactive to August 10, 2023 with a left oblique strain. 08/11/23 - Recalled 3B Abraham Toro from Nashville Sounds. 08/08/23 - Sent 1B Rowdy Tellez on a rehab assignment to Nashville Sounds. 08/07/23 - Activated LHP Bennett Sousa from the 60-day injured list, and optioned him to Nashville 08/07/23 - Transferred LHP Justin Wilson from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list with a left lat strain. HIGHLIGHTS Andruw Monasterio just keeps on hitting. The Rookie collected eight hits this past week, including two home runs and a stolen base. Mark Cahna hasn’t had the start for which he might have hoped with the Brewers, but he did deliver in the clutch on two separate occasions last week. Both hits were go-ahead doubles in extra innings, and the Brewers ended up winning both games. Not bad for timely hitting. TRENDING STORYLINE The Brewers currently sit at their largest division lead of the season heading into their off-day Monday, with both the Cubs and Reds 3.5 games back. They’ll finish up their long road trip with sets against two of the top teams in baseball this year, the Dodgers and Rangers. The schedule will loosen up again after that, as they return home to face the Twins in the following week, but the Brewers will look to keep the streak of good play going against stronger teams. LOOKING AHEAD TUESDAY 8/15: BREWERS @ DODGERS: RHP Adrian Houser vs. RHP Bobby Miller WEDNESDAY 8/16: BREWERS @ DODGERS: LHP Wade Miley vs. LHP Clayton Kershaw THURSDAY 8/17: BREWERS @ DODGERS: RHP Corbin Burnes vs. RHP Lance Lynn FRIDAY 8/18: BREWERS @ RANGERS: TBD vs. TBD SATURDAY 8/19: BREWERS @ RANGERS: TBD vs. TBD SUNDAY 8/20: BREWERS @ RANGERS: TBD vs. TBD View full article

The Brewers need bats, and the Chicago White Sox find themselves out of the race in the league's worst division. Let's make a deal. Image courtesy of © Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports With the Chicago White Sox 21 games under .500, they've already begun trading away their rentable assets. Lucas Giolito, Joe Kelly, Reynaldo Lopez, Kendall Graveman and Lance Lynn have already been moved. Names like Dylan Cease and Eloy Jimenez have been rampant in rumors lately, too. It's no secret that the Brewers have needed an offensive boost all year, and there may be no better team to trade with than the White Sox. Tim Anderson 2023: .245/.286/.293 (-0.7 fWAR) Anderson is 30 years old and is having the worst offensive season of his career. He's in the final year of his contract, with a $14-million club option for 2024 that is no longer looking very team-friendly. His power has all but disappeared, and his on-base ability was always dependent on making at least some solid contact. The good news is, it really can’t get worse, and the Brewers would be buying low on the erstwhile All-Star. Why Anderson? Like I mentioned, the Brewers would be buying low. He's proven he can be a capable hitter, and has had his fair share of clutch hits. However, the Brewers may also be looking to take some burden off the shoulders of Willy Adames, who's struggled offensively. Anderson wouldn't be brought in a replacement, but he could play shortstop if Adames needs some time off. On days they'd both play, expect to see Anderson as a DH or at second base, as he's seen time at both in the past. It may not be far-fetched to imagine Anderson could play third base in a pinch, either, but it's unlikely he'd see time at the hot corner primarily. It is worth noting that Anderson has been heating up offensively in the second half, where he boasts a .351/.413/.439 slash line, good for a wRC+ of 142. During that 14-game stretch, Anderson has cut down on the strikeouts, too, fanning less than 18 percent of the time. Of course, the sample there is small, but no team is trading for the player Anderson was in the first half of the season. So would the White Sox be willing to part ways with Anderson? It’s hard to tell. From a purely baseball standpoint, Anderson is a tradeable asset that an underperforming team would seem wise to move at the deadline. However, the White Sox could feasibly compete in the AL Central as early as next year, and they might view Anderson as a valuable part of their plans. On the other hand, they may simply see the writing on the wall, and move Anderson for a younger player they can pair with star outfielder Luis Robert Jr. in a few years. Brewers Receive: SS Tim Anderson (2025 UFA) White Sox Receive: SS Freddy Zamora (MIL #20 prospect) For my trade, I’m proposing a one-for-one swap. The Brewers receive Anderson, and the White Sox receive 24-year-old infielder Freddy Zamora. Zamora's age might seem high for a Double-A player, but he’s been battling injuries his whole career. In 2023, he’s managed to stay healthy, and a call-up to Triple A could come quickly if he's traded to a new organization. His game is similar to Anderson’s as well, but he’s six years younger and is much more controllable. Jake Burger 2023: .216/.279/.533 (1.4 fWAR) Jake Burger has enjoyed a bit of an offensive breakout with the White Sox this year, but he does come with some concerns. While Burger has shown excellent power, hitting 25 home runs, he’s also hit for a low average and gotten on base at a clip below .300. Burger would likely man the hot corner and assume some DH duties for the Brewers, but could also play first and second base in a pinch. Burger is only 27 years old, and comes with five more years of control. He may very well be an untouchable player in Chicago's mind, but they may also believe they're selling high on Burger. Should his power decrease significantly, Burger would just be a below-average bat and defender, a risk the Brewers would need to be willing to take. Brewers Receive: 3B/DH Jake Burger (ARB eligible 2026) White Sox Receive: SS Eric Brown Jr. (MIL #6 prospect) SS Daniel Guilarte (MIL #14 prospect) OF Hedbert Perez (MIL #16 prospect) Eric Brown Jr. is the highest-rated prospect in this potential deal; the Brewers' 2022 first-round draft pick has excellent contact skills and good speed. His power tool remains the biggest question, but if Brown keeps hitting, he could be in the big leagues as early as late 2024. Daniel Guilarte’s signing may have been eclipsed by the rise of Jackson Chourio, but his talents haven’t gone unnoticed. At a young age, he’s already showing a keen eye at the plate, with good contact skills. The promising part of Guilarte is his seemingly high floor, and he wouldn’t represent much of a risk for the White Sox. Hedbert Perez signed as an international prospect at a young age, and hasn’t developed like the Brewers may have hoped. He still boasts incredible raw power, but there are concerns that both his speed and fielding ability have already started to regress. If Perez is able to live up to his potential, he could become a star, but he’s very much a lottery ticket in this deal. The fact is, the White Sox don't really have a good reason to trade Burger unless they believe he's at his peak. He's a controllable asset in every sense of the word, but if the White Sox are looking to inflate the farm system, a 27-year-old Burger doesn't exactly fit the bill. Eloy Jimenez 2023: .285/.330/.477 (0.8 fWAR) We’ve already covered the topic of acquiring Jimenez extensively here, but the quick rundown is this: He can hit when he’s healthy. He doesn’t play much defense, and likely would be a DH-only player if he was a Brewer. His moderately expensive contract hurts his value, but it does come with team options for the next two years. Again, there’s already a potential offer we’ve written about here, but the Brewers could want to acquire more than just Jimenez in the trade. The Blockbuster What if the Brewers went out of their way to acquire all three? It's unlikely, but here’s what the trade could look like. Brewers Receive: 3B/DH Jake Burger (ARB eligible 2026) SS Tim Anderson (UFA 2025) OF/DH Eloy Jiminez (2027 UFA) White Sox Receive: C Jefferson Quero (MIL #3 prospect) SS Eric Brown Jr. (MIL #6 prospect) SS Daniel Guilarte (MIL #14 prospect) SS Freddy Zamora (MIL #20 prospect) It’s hard to pinpoint the value of each individual player, but together it’s near impossible. It’s almost certain the White Sox would ask for one of the Brewers' top prospects in a deal like this, and Jeferson Quero fits the bill perfectly. William Contreras looks to be the Brewers' catcher for the foreseeable future, while the White Sox have an aging Yasmani Grandal who would be a natural transfer to first base. Trading for the three young shortstops would almost guarantee to fill the void at short left by Anderson, and free up potential options for future infield spots as well. If the White Sox are looking for pitching, their options could include RHP Jacob Misiorowski (MIL #4), but it’s hard to imagine the Brewers would be willing to part ways with the young flamethrower. Other options could include fringe MLB players like Keston Hiura or Ethan Small, depending on what the White Sox are looking for. If the Brewers want to do even more of their shopping in one stop, reliever Keynan Middleton could come right along with any of the Chicago hitters. Again, it's hard to imagine a trade of this magnitude happening between these two teams, and it's even harder to imagine exactly what it might look like. What do you think of the White Sox as a potential trade partner? What do you think it would cost? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! View full article

It was a tough week for the Brewers, facing two of the hottest teams the NL has to offer. They found success against their division rival but burnt out when it came time to face the Braves. Here's a quick recap if you missed some of the action. Image courtesy of © Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 2-4 (57-49) Runs Scored: 27 Runs Surrendered: 35 Standing: 1st in NL Central (Tied w/ CIN) *** Game 111 | MIL 3, CIN 2 Game 112 | CIN 4, MIL 3 Game 113 | MIL 3, CIN 0 Game 114 | ATL 10, MIL 7 Game 115 | ATL 11, MIL 5 Game 116 | ATL 8, MIL 6 NEWS AND NOTES Like all teams, the trade deadline is time for shuffling assets and adjusting rosters. The Brewers made their first trade of the deadline season, acquiring first baseman Carlos Santana from the Pirates this week, but also shuffled some familiar names back to the major league roster this week. 07/30/23 - Placed RHP Julio Teheran on the 15-day injured list with right hip impingement. 07/30/23 - Recalled RHP Peter Strzelecki from Nashville Sounds. 07/29/23 - Placed LHP Justin Wilson on the 15-day injured list with a left lat strain. 07/29/23 - Activated 1B Carlos Santana. 07/29/23 - Optioned CF Jahmai Jones to Nashville Sounds. 07/29/23 - Recalled RHP Trevor Megill from Nashville Sounds. 07/28/23 - Sent LHP Bennett Sousa on a rehab assignment to ACL Brewers. 07/28/23 - Activated LHP Justin Wilson from the 60-day injured list. 07/28/23 - Transferred LHP Bennett Sousa from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list with left shoulder nerve irritation. 07/27/23 - Optioned RHP Trevor Megill to Nashville Sounds. 07/27/23 - Pittsburgh Pirates traded 1B Carlos Santana to Milwaukee Brewers for SS Jhonny Severino. 07/26/23 - Placed LF Jesse Winker on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 25, 2023) with back spasms. 07/26/23 - Recalled 3B Abraham Toro from Nashville Sounds. The injury was particularly disheartening for Justin Wilson, and the left-hander was primed to make his season debut after a long rehab before injuring himself while warming up. HIGHLIGHTS It was a week of defensive highlights for Milwaukee, who’ve relied on their gloves to pick up the pitching this past week. Joey Wiemer, Carlos Santana, and others all made excellent plays with the glove, but none was better than this catch from Sal Frelick. William Contreras has all but capped off his great month by staying hot with the bat. The Brewers catcher has recorded 33 hits and 13 multi-hit games and continued to play excellent defense behind the plate. Brewers pitching may not have had the best performance in Atlanta, but they did continue their dominance of the Cincinnati Reds. The Brewers will finish the year with an 8-2 record against their division rival, thanks in part to Freddy Peralta and company's performance in the series finale against the Reds last week. TRENDING STORYLINE It was an ugly-looking series against the Braves, with the pitching staff getting knocked around badly. The Braves are baseball's best offense, but the Brewers' offense did their best to keep pace, scoring at least five runs in all three games. It was a much-needed boost for the bats and a concerning step back for the pitching. The trade deadline is right around the corner, and the Brewers' path to the playoffs could look drastically different in a few days' time. Milwaukee has already added Carlos Santana, but don’t be surprised if the Brewers add another bat before the deadline. It may also be a good idea to keep an eye on the Cubs and Reds, as both teams could also be looking to add at the deadline. Both the Cardinals and Pirates will likely sell some of their assets too. If you would like more trade deadline coverage, you can visit here. LOOKING AHEAD The Brewers have finally made it out of the woods. After going through the gauntlet of six games against the Reds and Braves, the Brewers started a stretch of four straight series against teams below .500. MONDAY 7/31: BREWERS @ NATIONALS: RHP Corbin Burnes vs. RHP Cole Irvin TUESDAY 8/01: BREWERS @ NATIONALS: RHP Freddy Peralta vs. RHP Josiah Gray WEDNESDAY 8/02: BREWERS @ NATIONALS: LHP Wade Miley vs. LHP MacKenzie Gore THURSDAY 8/03: BREWERS @ PIRATES: TBD vs. TBD FRIDAY 8/04: BREWERS @ PIRATES: TBD vs. TBD SATURDAY 8/05: BREWERS @ PIRATES: TBD vs. TBD SUNDAY 8/06: BREWERS @ PIRATES: TBD vs. TBD View full article