Jake McKibbin

When you've been that good at limiting hard contact and striking out so many, you earn that trust I think. Also the high fastball did Garcia so well

Santana was very unlucky not to have multiple extra base hits tonight, and this series to be honest, it just keeps going dow the right fielders throat This is exactly how frustrating that game is, an xBA .100 points better on the day. Dodgers were lucky as balls

Lynn has been lights out since his move too 😬

Might say it's between winker and rowdy but a hot stretch from Hiura could be hard to ignore Tellez has been hitting the ball hard despite poor stat line but the strikeouts are worrying

Currently on holiday in Romania, I can almost watch these games live at 5.10 am 😂

Freddy Peralta leads the rotation in strikeouts and as of late has been exceptional in every sense of the word. Over his last seven games he has a 2.83 ERA with 60 strikeouts over 41 1/3 innings with a 0.94 WHIP. He’s getting very close to being called a viable ace, the question is can he stay consistent? Image courtesy of Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports Peralta has always had the raw stuff to be a top of the rotation starter, generating a huge amount of swing and miss even when inside the strike zone, but his command of his off speed stuff, and in particular when he gets ahead of hitters, has lead to sub-par results this season. The Brewers pitching staff have discussed working on a mental approach to bring out his personality more on the mound, and perhaps creating a deeper level of comfort since the Atlanta Braves game. On top of that, his ability to execute when he gets ahead has markedly improved, even before that game, so let's take a closer look at the results. Less Waste When He Gets Ahead With the way his fastball allows him to attack hitters, he has all the stuff to be an elite top of the rotation arm. Looking at some of the issues from April and May, he seems to have taken sizable strides forwards which have brought about the recent run of form. Early in the year, a big issue Peralta faced was his waste pitches. When ahead in the count, many pitchers throw a waste pitch in the hope of a chase, but more to set up the next sequence of pitches. Peralta however did so in such a wild manner as to allow hitters to get back into counts, leading to him being forced back into the zone, or walking hitters in two strike counts, which invariably came back to bite him. The added downside was it was taking him a lot of pitches to get through innings, preventing him getting deep into games. In 0-2 counts, you almost never expect a pitch in the zone, but it’s the 1-2 and 2-2 counts where Peralta has really let the hitter get back into the at bat. Let’s have a look alterations in how he’s used his pitch mix, particularly the fastball: June July August In Zone % 1-2 Counts (FB) 22.6% 33.3% 40% In Zone % 2-2 Counts (FB) 40% 50% 75% In Zone % 2-2 Counts (CU/SL) 27.6% 41.2% 71.4% Due to how often hitters struggle to square up his fastball at the top of the zone, because of a combination of the velocity, extensions off the mound, and incredible spin rate resulting in extreme induced vertical break, he gets ahead quite regularly. Putting away hitters however was a troublesome task, with the array of uncompetitive pitches. As you can see above, he’s increased significantly the number of fastballs thrown in the zone when he’s ahead in the count, but the key for me is the use of breaking pitches in 2-2 counts. Prior to July, he was throwing about 30% of breaking balls in the strike zone in 2-2 counts. Now he’s challenging hitters to not just sit on the fastball, but to stay on it long enough to foul off or time up the breaking pitch. If you take it, there’s a solid chance of a called strike three. As a result of this he’s been able to put hitters away must more adeptly, usually with the fastball in 1-2 counts (where his in zone swing and miss increased to 50% from 25% in June) but the breaking pitches in two strike counts have a 75% swing and miss in the strike zone in July. In June that figure was down at 11.8%. It can’t be stressed enough how the improved command of his breaking pitches has changed the effectiveness of his fastball. In April and May, the whiff rates were down at 22.2% and 23.8% respectively, because hitters were just sitting on it and doing damage. By June, that figure was up to 32.3%, and in August’s small sample size so far, is up to 47.3%. On top of that, hitters are struggling so much that even when they do make contact, it’s a lot of weak fly balls with an average 25 degree launch angle, and an xWOBA so far this month of just .108. The great thing about this approach is he hasn’t changed much in the pitch usage, he’s simply making hitters respect his entire arsenal a whole lot more, and as a result if he can’t beat you with one weapon, he’ll beat you with the other. Mental Approach In July, Chris Hook mentioned a discussion with Peralta where they sat down and showed him clips of him when not pitching compared to when he is, noting the lack of enjoyment and personality he showed on the mound, almost replaced with a nervier version of himself. They worked on trying to bring that energy with him when he pitches, and it seems to have paid dividends. One thing Peralta was doing early in the season was giving up an inordinate number of big hits of the extra base variety with ducks on the pond, being bitten regularly by a big inning when exposed to powerful hitters. However, since the Atlanta Braves game when they had this discussion, he’s gone 25 innings in four starts, with 22 men getting on base, but only allowing the one solo home run over that span. Being able to find a mindset, in much the same way as Corbin Burnes did before his outstanding Cy Young season in 2021, is of the utmost importance to being able to pitch your way out of trouble. Confidence is paramount, and if Peralta has developed a mindset that allows him to execute in these situations, that ERA is going to continue dropping. Peralta's best season for the Brewers came in 2021, recording a 2.81 ERA with a .174 xBA and xSLG of just .289. He did have a tendency to walk hitters, but his confidence in his swing and miss stuff meant that he could get out of trouble, and he never seemed panicked. At times this season, with men on base especially. In 2021 he had a .646 OPS with men on base, in 2023 that figure is up to an .805 OPS, compared to a .627 OPS with the bases empty. Finding a way to reduce his stress in these moments is key to getting the best out of Peralta. Fastball Freddy still relies upon his fastball enormously, but the support he’s giving it from the rest of the arsenal is making it a pitch as elite as Corbin Burnes' cutter. If he can maintain this improved control for a stretch longer than one month, and remain comfortable when the inevitable baserunners do come around, Peralta will be deserving of recognition as a true ace of the Brewers staff. View full article

Jackson ChourioJeferson QueroSal FrelickJacob MisiorowskiTyler BlackRobert GasserAbner UribeCarlos F RodriguezBrock WilkenMike BoeveCooper PrattLogan HendersonEric Brown JrJosh KnothEric BitontiYophery RodriguezLuke AdamsLuis LaraDylan O'RaeDaniel Guilarte

One thing is he has been ripping balls, the loft will change everything fast but he's had a fair few balls over 105 mph. Winkers barely done that all year but they'll definitely be hoping one of them forces their hand

He does, he loves the versatility! They will have to be on the 40 man. Your point actually makes me remember something else that was mentioned, they may consider Garrett Mitchell purely as pinch runner in late September which could be interesting

They do like giving quality starters a cup of coffee historically as a reliever which I think makes it more viable They give them multi innings roles, and they can also use either Lauer or Gasser as starters and push Houser to the pen That being said the length this rotation can provide maybe makes the multi innings role less useful, especially with Wilson fulfilling that quite well so far this year

We already had a look at the hot bats that are pushing for a role in the expanded September squad. Now let's see if there are any pitchers demanding to be added. Image courtesy of © Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. / USA TODAY NETWORK As previously mentioned, Craig Counsell will likely want to add one pitcher and one hitter to his roster for the 28-man roster, and he's known for the value he puts on versatility. The Brewers' pitching staff, as it stands, is one of the most dangerous in the major leagues, both the starting rotation and the potential of the bullpen. Can any of these players lay claim to improving this even further? Pitching Robert Gasser Looking at the history of Brewers call-ups this time of year, the ability to give length out of the bullpen is seen as a big plus. Gasser has been the premium starting pitcher at Nashville, especially of late. His overall 3.91 ERA doesn’t appear all that impressive, but since reining in his command and reducing his walks, he has been lights out. He tossed six innings and had ten strikeouts in his most recent start. Only five men reached base. He was muddled a little by an unusually high BABIP in July (.384) but has looked very much ready of late, if occasionally still losing his command a little. Not a high-velocity pitcher, his fastball is in the low-to-mid-90s range, but his command of an average-to-plus fastball, slider, changeup, and curveball has given him a lot of swing and miss potential. His best pitch is a wipeout slider that has been given a 60 grade by MLB and has proven effective against both left and right-handers. He is also a left-handed pitcher, giving the Brewers another lefty option in their pen to go with Andrew Chafin and Hoby Milner. He could also make spot starts or even full starts in place of Adrian Houser, should the Brewers decide to go in that direction. Again, his versatility brings with it a lot of bonuses for manager Craig Counsell. Eric Lauer Another name almost drifting from people’s minds due to his long, hitherto unexplained absence, Lauer has been much more of what we would come to expect since his return. He has allowed three hits and one earned run across seven innings of work, including 11 strikeouts. Again, a lefty pitcher with the ability to go multiple innings, he may be ahead of Gasser should he lengthen out with these results. In addition, he is a known commodity in the clubhouse who could take off. If an in-form Lauer is your fifth starting pitcher, you will have a great rotation through September. He's being stretched out currently, up to three innings in his last outing, and demonstrating the swing-and-miss stuff is back. Lauer is being built up slowly, with a lot of care taken, but he has the ability to generate an inordinate amount of swing and miss on his “zoom ball.” We shouldn’t forget just how dominant he was to start the 2022 season, recording a 1.93 ERA in April and a 2.96 ERA in May with 61 strikeouts. He struggled in June before excelling again in July and August last season. Lauer is a proven performer (albeit an up-and-down one) who can dominate an opposing pitching staff. If he’s stretched out and the Brewers consider him ready, he’ll be getting the call. Out-of-Left-Field Options Trevor Megill Another member of the current taxi squad, Megill, has a big fastball and slider that can get him outs. He also has the propensity to lose command and leave pitches in the middle of the zone, and when that is the case, he has been hit hard. That said, he’s the member of the taxi squad with the most big-league outs this season, and his high-profile stuff could make him an option for the Brewers, who may consider him a known quantity at this point. Clayton Andrews Another player with a few appearances so far on the roster this year, Andrews has come from nowhere in the early part of the season. He has utilized his devastating changeup to mow down hitters at all levels of the minor leagues. He did stumble during his first appearance in the big leagues, which is not unusual, but the struggles continued for a while in Triple-A after his demotion. He appears to be back on track, with 54 strikeouts in 41 innings of work on the year. He has a 2.63 ERA, but his 1.29 WHIP may cause concern. He issues a lot of walks (5.5 BB/9), but he has the stuff to get out of trouble if he can get comfortable at the major-league level. He had a batting average against of .133 in April, .143 in May, .152 in June, and .200 so far in August; this is a pitcher who can miss bats while also providing that lefty angle for Counsell to toy about with. Aaron Ashby Ashby hasn't started his rehab assignment just yet but is close to doing so. He has demonstrated the stuff to be elite in whatever role the Brewers need when healthy. The management team confirmed that he will be prepping for a bullpen role, if needed, rather than stretched out as a starter. He recorded a 2.79 ERA last season as a relief pitcher with a staggering abundance of ground balls producing a GO/AO of 3.57. He has the stuff. If he's healthy, expect him to play some role in this Brewers pen. Jacob Misiorowski With the best pure stuff in the Brewers system, the 2022 second-round pick may seem like a reasonable outside option to get a call-up. However, despite his wipeout pitches, his control has really let him down since his promotion to Double-A, with a seismic increase in wild pitches, hit batters, and walks accompanying the huge strikeout totals. He’s not ready yet, but the Brewers can dream of his stuff playing next year. So which pitcher would get the call if you were in charge, and why? Are there other pitchers that should be considered too? View full article

He may have saved a crucial run with his range last night, the 3-4-3 put out. A little lucky with the deflection but no other first base is getting a hand on that

Have to say Taylor's AB's of late have looked much more like Tyrone of last year, an Andover average OPS with limited OBP and can slug a little more gan average. I like this move

No you can continue to interchange them, so you'll likely see players being optioned and called up through September depending on form, fatigue etc

I'm guessing changing an approach is going to be much simpler than changing his whole swing, especially to a more aggressive version. Of course everyone gets fooled every now and then by a hanger but I've a feeling we'll know by this time next year if A) he can dominate when he gets ahead B) he can cover the outer third of the zone If he can, holy mother of jingle bells

Anyone can get hot... We gave Jon Singleton less, and he's just had a multi homer game and looked hot with the Astros. It's too small a sample size but I'd definitely say both Santana and Canha early on (more Canha) hit into some hard luck. A foot either side and Santana doubles in Contreras with a rocket in the first today for instance Also I remember something Adam Frazier said about Santana making the rookies hit better last year when he joined the mariners. Said he's an incredible hitting coach still playing and was heavily involved in their hot offensive streak. *Cough* Brice Turang has looked good recently hasn't he?

Unlike last season, the Brewers have plenty of reinforcements ready in the upper levels of their farm system. Their lineup needs a boost. These hitters are ready for the September call. Image courtesy of Mike Krebs, Biloxi Shuckers Assuming Craig Counsell will be adding one pitcher and one hitter when the schedule rolls into September, there are a plethora of options available to him. Below we will consider the players battling for a spot, but also include a few long-shot bets as well. Certainly, much strategy will be used to determine which players can add a dimension for the team that it needs. Hitters IF Abraham Toro One thing Counsell values is versatility, and for that reason, as well as several positive experiences so far with the big league club, Toro should be the frontrunner to get the call. Having hit two home runs in his 18 at-bats so far with the Brewers, while performing above expectations at first base, and the ability to adequately play at second or third base, he fits the usual profile of a Brewers late-season callup. He isn’t a quality defender at either of the latter positions, but he is passable, on top of which he’s a switch hitter which opens up a myriad of opportunities in late-game situations to use his bat off the bench. The Brewers roster currently features a lot of outfielders, so it makes sense that an infielder is the likely addition, and Toro’s versatility, on top of his torrid run of form in July where he hit .386/.443/.700, should give him the nod. It may not be the most exciting of picks, but it does just… fit. Tyler Black Tyler Black was only recently promoted to Triple-A Nashville, but he is one of the most exciting hitters in the Brewers system. He has demonstrated outstanding plate discipline and quality bat-to-ball skills. That can be shown in his results. He has a 19.7% strikeout rate and a 15.9% walk rate. The 2021 top pick has also displayed a notable increase in his power production. At the same time, he has maintained his great speed. He had eight triples and a massive 47 stolen bases at Double-A Biloxi prior to his promotion. Coming into the season, he was very raw at the hot corner, but throughout the year, has improved to the point that he is now making difficult plays look routine. He may never be a plus-defender, but he can definitely handle himself just fine at third base. He has spent some time at first base as well. He has shown good range and hands so far in his limited action there. For Black to get the nod, he will have to show his above-average bat translates easily and quickly to Triple-A pitching. His plate discipline should provide a good floor for his production, but it is his power potential that could make the difference between him and Toro. He’ll have a month or so to show he can make a difference at the plate in Nashville. That is where the Brewers need the most help. If his bat plays, he’ll play. Out-of-Left-Field Options Patrick Dorrian Dorrian is unlikely to be the first name on many people’s lists, but he provides something the others may not: Raw Power. He has been hot of late. He hit .286/.391/.571 in July with the Sounds and gone bananas to start August with five home runs so far, hitting .393/.433/1.036 for a monstrous OPS. When he hits balls, they stay hit, and the Brewers could really do with some middle-of-the-order punch to help them put up crooked numbers. Jackson Chourio As mentioned previously, the outfield is filled to the brim in the current roster makeup. However, if he gets a promotion to Triple-A, the organization's top prospect has the ability to be a true difference-maker. He’ll have less time at the top level of the minors compared to Tyler Black, and the power has cooled off a little bit in August, but he could be the type of player that carries the team. He’s that good. Keston Hiura I’d be remiss not to at least mention Hiura, although with Canha, Santana and soon, Rowdy Tellez covering first base, and the outfield sorted, it may be tough to get playing time without the aforementioned players getting DFA’d. His bat has been very different since his return from injury, lacking the power he had to start the season. However, his strikeout rate has stayed low while hitting .278/.394/.442. Of note, that OBP is fueled by a lot of hit by pitches. If he finds the timing he had in April and May, he can carry an offense. If not, it’ll be next year for dear Keston. Are there other hitters that you think warrant consideration for a September call-up? Which of the above names do you think could make the biggest difference to a struggling lineup in September? View full article

Yophery Rodriguez definitely hasn't been as metronomic as he started the year, 2 K's to open the game today. Anthony Flores with seven strikeouts through five innings of work, giving up just two hits and a HBP

While I definitely don't see this happening currently, especially with time dwindling on a promotion to Triple A in time to push his case, this is an unlikely scenario. However he does have the raw ability to force the team's hand, and in a close division race he could be the difference maker. He has that in him, and the energy he'll bring alongside him could change everything this season, like Arozarena did for a pitch first Tampa Bay Rays team That being said, I do agree the Brewers value their 40 man spots, it's potentially a reason why Jarvis was traded given he'd need protection from the rule five draft this year. So we'll see, but if they genuinely think he could make a difference, and he forces their hand, I don't believe the Brewers will stand in his way

As long as he doesn't pass 130 regular season plate appearances, he is in fact still eligible for it next year. Corbin Carroll came up in September last season and is likely to win the title this season

Three years ago, a rookie outfielder who arrived in September became the linchpin of a pennant-winning Rays team. Could the Brewers reprise that drama, with a younger and even more dynamic talent? Image courtesy of © Curt Hogg / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK When rosters expand in September, it isn’t uncommon for top prospects to arrive and grab a cup of coffee in the majors. In this case, however, the Milwaukee Brewers are in a tight playoff run, and anyone they promote needs to be ready to contribute immediately. Still, their outfield has struggled to consistently produce outside of Christian Yelich and Sal Frelick, meaning there is a spot open for Jackson Chourio--should the Brewers feel sure that he’s ready. Here are a few reason to believe that he is:. Chourio’s strikeout rate has decreased over the course of the year, beginning to allay the biggest concern most scouting evaluators have had about his future production. Even against the stickier ball the Southern League used in the first half, he was steadily improving, and he really took off in July, recording a strikeout rate of 10% while winning Minor League Player of the Month honors with a 1.164 OPS; more extra-base hits than strikeouts (just nine in all of July); and a whopping nine stolen bases. In other words, he took off. He’s hitting .323 in August, as well, so the hit tool seems to be seriously improved. He also checks a box the Brewers consider non-negotiable, in that he plays premium defense in center field, or any part of the outfield for that matter. He’s produced an array of highlight-reel catches, and he's developed his arm to the point that he’s recorded four outfield assists from center so far this year. His speed and his excellent routes have been a huge plus, giving him a high floor as a defender. That, along with a 17.1% strikeout rate over the last 90 days, gives an idea of the minimum impact he could have. His ceiling, however, is Sistinesque. He recently set the record for home runs by a teenager in Double A (previously owned by star sluggers Giancarlo Stanton and Fernando Tatis Jr., and has been pummeling balls all season to all parts of the ballpark. It’s truly astonishing the number of line drive home runs he’s hit to the opposite field, and just how hard he hits the ball. Here are his splits over the year: The question, then, becomes how he would handle himself at Triple-A Nashville, where a spot may just have opened up with the trade of Tyler Naquin to the Chicago White Sox. With a ball that was being tested, resulting in MLB-caliber movement on pitches (fastballs were recording almost 20 percent extra induced vertical break), you could say Chourio faced his toughest challenge yet, but it’s also fair to say that while he improved against these tacky balls, he didn’t dominate against them. That brings us to the issues that make it harder to believe in Chourio's instant-impact potential. His biggest weakness is his pitch recognition, not in terms of getting bat to ball, but in terms of making weak contact with pitches that he should be laying off of. He sometimes neglects to work for a pitch on which his terrific bat speed can do more serious damage. This issue was highlighted against the tacky ball, where pitchers got more movement but less control than they were used to, resulting in players like Tyler Black and Jeferson Quero taking a lot of walks, something Chourio didn’t do. Elly de la Cruz spoke of a similar process he underwent at Triple A this year, and it’s probably the perfect spot for Chourio to develop this side of his game, against pitchers with more nous and better control than you’d find at Double A. He has 32 walks and 77 strikeouts so far on the year, good for just a 7.5% walk rate. This has continued in August, with just one walk in 43 plate appearances, compared to seven strikeouts. At the beginning of the year, several teams took the unusual step of promoting prospects straight from Double A, including the Yankees' Anthony Volpe and the Cardinals' Jordan Walker--neither of whom really succeeded in their first turns. Walker got some extreme BABIP luck early on, but was demoted later, before returning as a better hitter. Volpe has struggled most of the season, en route to a .660 OPS. Chourio’s issues with chasing pitches he shouldn’t will be tested and best developed against Triple-A pitchers, and with such a prized asset, it’s unlikely the Brewers will promote him unless he’s in a position where no challenges remain in the minor leagues. With all of this, it’s likely he’ll spend at least a month or so in Triple A, and any promotion thereafter would depend on the results he’s getting at that level. While Chourio is a uniquely exciting prospect, it’s important to remember that there are holes in his approach at the plate that the likes of Tyler Black simply don’t have. That’s a big reason why Black has been promoted ahead of him. Black’s bat and control of the strike zone is next level, and perhaps he looks better poised for a September callup. Chourio’s remaining developmental needs are substantial enough that he would likely be exposed to some extent against the cream of the crop pitchers, and while it may help his development in the long run to get that failure under his belt early, it may not help the Brewers in the short term to let him do so. Much will depend on how he does at Nashville. If he spits on pitches on the edges of the strike zone early in the count, then he could provide the same boost Randy Arozarena gave the Rays in 2020, especially in October. As was true of Arozarena, the power in Chourio's bat is truly astonishing. He's scorching line drives, rather than fly balls, out of the park, and his bat-to-ball skills and defense render him a true star in the making. Let's face it: With this pitching staff, an on-fire Chourio can be the difference-maker the lineup needs. If he has a walk rate of over 10% when his promotion comes, then a further promotion is very much in play, but it’s unlikely he’ll be able to make this adjustment overnight. He’s already doing that so quickly for a 19-year-old, and it’s important to remember his age in this context. The Brewers front office won’t unleash Chourio until he’s ready to take the league by storm. Do you think he’ll be ready by the middle of September? View full article