Kyle Ginsbach

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

The Brewers played some of the best teams the National League has to offer last week, and came out looking like a team that belongs. If you missed it here's a quick recap of the past week in Brewers baseball. Image courtesy of © Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 3-3 Runs Scored: 22 Runs Surrendered: 20 Standings: 55-45 (1st in NL Central) *** Game 105 | PHIL 4, MIL 3 Game 106 | MIL 5, PHIL 3 Game 107 | MIL 4, PHIL 0 Game 108 | ATL 6, MIL 4 Game 109 | MIL 4, ATL 3 Game 110 | ATL 4, MIL 2 NEWS AND NOTES It certainly wasn't a busy week on the transaction front, but it was an important one. The shortlist of moves included one of MLB’s top prospects, Sal Frelick, getting the call to the big leagues. And even though the loss of Wade Miley is painful, Brandon Woodruff started to make the final steps on his return by beginning his rehab assignment this week. 07/22/23 - Designated RF Raimel Tapia for assignment. 07/22/23 - Sent RHP Brandon Woodruff on a rehab assignment to Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. 07/22/23 - Selected the contract of OF Sal Frelick from Nashville Sounds. 07/18/23 - Recalled RHP Trevor Megill from Nashville Sounds. 07/17/23 - Placed LHP Wade Miley on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to July 14, 2023) with left elbow discomfort. HIGHLIGHTS In a week where the Brewers ran into the toughest competition the NL East had to offer last week, and even though Sal Frelick played in only two of those games, no one’s light shined brighter. If you somehow missed Frelick's electric debut, the rookie recorded three hits, a sac-fly, 2 RBIs, and two web gem-level catches in the outfield. By the night's end, Frelick had earned the Brewers a win almost single-handedly and a well-deserved Gatorade from Willy Adames and Andruw Monasterio. The Brewers bullpen has been excellent since the All-Star break, with the three-headed monster of Devin Williams, Elvis Peguero, and Joel Payamps handling the late-game innings. However, Abner Uribe and Hoby Millner stepped into the late innings when they needed to last week, which is worth highlighting. If there was any doubt Corbin Burnes was still a Cy-Young caliber pitcher, he’s put it to rest with his past two weeks. He turned in another excellent start this past week, pitching eight strong innings against a solid Phillies offense. TRENDING STORYLINE AND LOOKING AHEAD The trade deadline is quickly approaching, and with the Brewers still lacking offensively at numerous positions, it’s worth noting that some players on the roster might be playing for their job. With the upcoming schedule looking just as brutal as last week, now is a good time to prove you're worth a roster spot heading into the final stretch. MONDAY 7/24: REDS @ BREWERS: RHP Graham Ashcraft vs. RHP Colin Rea TUESDAY 7/25: REDS @ BREWERS: LHP Andrew Abbott vs. RHP Corbin Burnes WEDNESDAY 7/26: REDS @ BREWERS: RHP Blake Lively vs. RHP Freddy Peralta FRIDAY 7/28: BREWERS @ BRAVES: TBD vs. TBD SATURDAY 7/29: BREWERS @ BRAVES: TBD vs. TBD SUNDAY 7/30: BREWERS @ BRAVES: TBD vs. TBD View full article

If nothing else, the Brewers' week leading up to the All-Star break was entertaining. Every game felt close, but the Brewers did manage a successful 4-3 week. If you missed the past week's action, here's what you need to know heading into the break. LOWLIGHTS Despite the successful week, the Brewers let a few games slip away. The first one was the 11-inning loss to the Cubs on Tuesday, where Brewers runners were thrown out at home twice in extras. The Cubs would break the Brewers' hearts again the following day, mounting a comeback against Devin Williams in the 9th to win the game 4-3. Despite the recent improvement, the Brewers offense still ranks (very) low in almost every major offensive category heading into the All-Star break. The trade deadline does loom, but the Brewers are going to need to be better in the second half of the season. TRENDING STORYLINE The All-Star break is coming at the right time for the Brewers pitching staff, and the wrong time for the Brewers hitters. The staff will certainly benefit from the extra couple days' rest, while the hitters will hope their bats don’t cool from the recent hot streak. That said, the Brewers will travel to Cincinnati after the break, to play the Reds again and try to fully catch them in NL Central standings. LOOKING AHEAD FRIDAY, 7/14: BREWERS @ REDS: TBD vs. TBD SATURDAY, 7/15: BREWERS @ REDS: TBD vs. TBD SUNDAY, 7/16: BREWERS @ REDS: TBD vs. TBD View full article

The Brewers found a way to win this past week, largely because they found themselves matched up with two teams slumping worse than the Brewers themselves. Wins are wins, though, and the Brewers find themselves back in first place again, along with the Reds. Here's a quick recap of the action. Devin Williams was leaned on heavily in the Brewers' close games this week, where the closer converted on all four of his save opportunities. LOWLIGHTS In what was the most successful week in some time, the Brewers lost the chance to sweep the Pirates by blowing a late lead in game one of the series. Two of the three pitchers from the game, Matt Bush and Thomas Pannone, were DFA’d the following day. Luis Urias was sent down to AAA, following his struggles to begin his season. He was slashing .145/.299/.236 in 20 games this season. Brice Turang, who hadn't been much better except with his glove, returned to take his place. TRENDING STORYLINE The Brewers don’t have an off day until the All-Star break, so continuing to manage the bullpen and the rotation will be at the forefront of the team's cluster of concerns, much like last week. Their upcoming opponents are of note, too, with the two division rivals in the Cubs and Reds coming to Milwaukee. LOOKING AHEAD MONDAY, 7/3: CUBS @ BREWERS: LHP Drew Smyly vs. RHP Julio Tehran TUESDAY, 7/4: CUBS @ BREWERS: RHP Kyle Hendricks vs. LHP Wade Miley WEDNESDAY, 7/5: CUBS @ BREWERS: LHP Justin Steele vs. RHP Adrian Houser THURSDAY 7/6: CUBS @ BREWERS: RHP Marcus Stroman vs. RHP Freddy Peralta FRIDAY, 7/7: REDS @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD SATURDAY, 7/8: REDS @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD SUNDAY, 7/9: REDS @ BREWERS: TBD vs. TBD View full article

The Brewers maintained a winning pace this past week, but it wasn't necessarily pretty. Milwaukee has a long stretch of baseball ahead of them, but lets get you caught up on the past week. Image courtesy of © Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports Weekly Snapshot Record Last Week: 3-3 (40-37 overall) Runs Scored: 23 Runs Surrendered: 28 Standing: 2nd in NL Central (0.5 GB) *** Game 72 | AZ 9, MIL 1 Game 73 | MIL 7, AZ 5 Game 74 | AZ 5, MIL 1 Game 75 | MIL 7, CLE 1 Game 75 | CLE 4, MIL 2 Game 76 | MIL 5, CLE 4 NEWS AND NOTES Between the sudden surge of the Cincinnati Reds and other big news floating around baseball, the Brewers had a week where they finally stayed healthy. In fact, the transaction list might be the shortest of the season. If you missed the couple of moves, here they are: 06/23/23 - Activated RHP Matt Bush from the 15-day injured list. 06/22/23 Optioned RHP Trevor Megill to Nashville Sounds. 06/21/23 - Sent 1B Jon Singleton outright to Nashville Sounds. 06/20/23 - Sent RHP Jason Alexander on a rehab assignment to Biloxi Shuckers. HIGHLIGHTS The top performance of the week certainly belongs to Willy Adames when he collected four hits, batted in 5 runs, and hit two homers in the first game of the Guardians series. Adames has been looking to get going offensively since returning from the injured list, and his game against the Guardians might be the best single game offensive performance from a Brewer this season. https://twitter.com/Brewers/status/1672424207144083456 Elvis Peguero recorded his first major league save by shutting down the Guardians in the tenth inning of Sunday's contest. Pegueoro was impressive, notably striking out both Josh Naylor and Jose Ramirez before getting Myles Straw to fly out to complete the Brewers win. Ramiel Tapia has been hitting into some poor luck early on into his Brewer tenure, but did manage to hit his first Brewers home run against Diamondbacks ace Zac Gallen earlier in the week. Even Jesse Winker (finally) got in on the home run fun, when he hit his first as a Brewer as well. LOWLIGHTS The Diamondbacks handled Corbin Burnes with ease during his start against them Monday, scoring seven times, including six runs in the first inning. It was the most runs Burnes has given up in a single start in his career, and matched a career high for most runs given up in a single inning. The Brewers offense has continued to struggle to put runs on the board consistently, and they now rank in the bottom 5 in numerous major offensive categories. Players like Jesse Winker, Luis Urias, and Rowdy Tellez have struggled to find offensive consistency this season, and the Brewers have yet to get top tier production out of anyone not named Christain Yelich or Owen Miller. Last week, the Brewers less than four runs in all three of their losses, and the magic number of 4 continues to follow the Brewers. TRENDING STORYLINE The Cincinnati Reds rattled off twelve straight wins before losing the final two games of their series to the Atlanta Braves, and have captured the lead in the NL Central. The Pirates have struggled as of late, while the Cubs are beginning to get healthier, and are playing better baseball. The NL Central is looking more hotly contested than ever, and the Brewers are going to need to step up their game. LOOKING AHEAD MONDAY, 6/26: BREWERS @ METS: RHP Colin Rea vs. RHP Justin Verlander TUESDAY, 6/27: BREWERS @ METS: RHP Julio Teheran vs. LHP David Peterson WEDNESDAY, 6/28: BREWERS @ METS: TBD vs. RHP Kodai Senga THURSDAY 6/29: BREWERS @ METS: TBD vs. RHP Max Scherzer FRIDAY, 6/30: BREWERS @ PIRATES: TBD vs. TBD SATURDAY, 7/01: BREWERS @ PIRATES: TBD vs. TBD SUNDAY, 7/02: BREWERS @ PIRATES: TBD vs. TBD View full article