Jake McKibbin

They're also likely (now that he can retain rookie eligibility in 2026) to promote Bubba Chandler this weekend against the Chicago Cubs

Since firing Derek Shelton, the Pirates are 39-42

With Senga it all comes down to his forkball. It's rarely in the zone, and he's happy walking guys given he gets a ton of ground balls with it, but if you can force him into the strike zone with either his four seamer or cutter there's damage to be had. Both have been crushed since his return from the IL and he hasn't been commanding them to the edges all that well. If the Brewers can lay off that fork, good things will follow Far easier said than done mind, the spin axis so closely resembles his fastball.

Kenny Fenelon with his fourth home run of this years DSL season

Its my favourite headline this year, beautiful use of language

Much as Adam is a fantastic beat writer, the full credit to this should go to @wiguy94who spotted it roughly 12 nanoseconds after the trade was complete. He's been saying as much for over a month now. Its based on his service time being reduced because of his time in Triple A, and he won't accrue 6 years of service time now until 2027

Image courtesy of © Brett Davis-Imagn Images Freddy Peralta's raw stuff has never been in question, using a low release height with great induced vertical break on his mid-90's fastball that should be devilishly troublesome for hitters to square up. His hammer curveball and slider both grade out well, while his changeup has been devastating thus far in 2025 against both left-handed and right-handed hitters alike. The problem for Peralta has, as always, been that he can get wild with his pitches, especially in two-strike counts where he almost seems to consider it mandatory that he throw some waste pitches to "reset" a hitter's eyeline or hope for a guaranteed out if they do swing. His location on the four-seamer against the Braves on Tuesday was really wild, as noted by Dom Cotroneo: That's certainly a big part of the equation, but there's another problem. Fastball Freddy's pitches are some of the easiest to recognize out of the hand in baseball per Jeremy Maschino's "Match+" metrics, which assess how each pitch blends with its counterparts using all sorts of data from release points, spin and movement profiles: Not a single one of his pitches cracks a league average rating of 100 in the Match+ tracker, with two main offerings in the fastball and curveball sitting comfortably a full standard deviation away from the league average. In layman's terms, this would be a 40 grade or worse on the 20-80 scouting scale for how those pitches blend with the rest of his offerings. The result is that hitters can take pitches out of the strike zone with ease because they can identify each pitch with greater ease than normal. If it's a fastball and looks high, they're not going to mistake it for a curveball that drops into the zone. Thomas Nestico's TJ Stats graphs show that Peralta's chase rates on each pitch are mostly a little below league average, a number that should be in the upper echelon of starting pitchers when you consider the raw stuff and the sheer number of hitters Freddy Peralta finds himself in. His swing and miss rates when hitters chase are absurd, with over 50% of swings on chases outside the zone being missed entirely against each pitch of his curveball (55.7%), changeup (50.5%), and (yes, this is real) his slider (82.4%). In short, if Peralta can induce hitters to chase, he'll often put them away. His arsenal just isn't deceptive enough to do so with any regularity, and as such, Peralta needs to find ways to survive inside the strike zone more often. As much as the slider might be tempting to throw even more often, here's why it won't work: The graph above shows how, when the pitch on the x-axis (bottom) is thrown, it would then tunnel if followed by the pitch on the y-axis (left-hand side). So if a four-seam fastball is thrown, it has an 83 Match+ if followed by a slider, 66 if followed by a curveball, and 95 if followed by a changeup. Changeups and fastballs usually sequence together wonderfully, but Peralta's fastball has limited arm-side movement, and he drops his arm angle by 10° when throwing the changeup, meaning it looks different out of the hand quite quickly compared to most changeup/fastball combinations. That being said, its performance in sequences following the fastball has been notable for the uncomfortable swings it has generated to both right-handed and left-handed hitters. The graph shows that the curveball doesn't play off the fastball at all (almost a 20-grade deception rating) while the slider is better but still not a strong pitch in terms of deception. The problem Peralta has is that he doesn't trust his breaking pitches inside the strike zone at all, as you can see in the TJStats model for 2025, meaning he feels the fastball is the only pitch that can live inside the strike zone. That's not necessarily been the case: As you can see above, if Peralta avoids the middle stripe of the strike zone, his slider and curveball pay quite well in the zone. There are two benefits to this: the first is that he can feel comfortable targeting these earlier in counts and not relying solely on the fastball to pound the strike zone; secondly, when ahead, Peralta doesn't have to be as cautious as he is with his breaking pitches, which often end up as wild, waste offerings. He can afford to aim at the edge of the strike zone, and if he misses by six inches, he'll be just fine from a results standpoint while also being close enough to the zone to get perhaps an actual chase in those 0-2 and 1-2 counts. He'll get more swings, more efficient outs, and, to boot, those pitches have seen far less damage than his fastball, which has been picked out of the hand and squared up with some regularity in 2025 (in part because it only functions well at the top of the strike zone): Incorporating more of his breaking and off-speed pitches earlier in counts, and feeling comfortable with them inside the strike zone, could go a long way to Freddy Peralta being a genuine ace in a rotation that looks stacked with them. They may occasionally get hit hard as hitters hone in on a change in approach, but the benefits for Peralta should far outweigh the negatives. What do you think of Freddy Peralta's recent performances? Would u like to see him be more aggressive inside the strike zone? Or do you think his cat and mouse games are the best way to get consistent performances out of him? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! View full article

This is filthy stuff indeed Joseph. That sweeper, from that arm slot.. wow! The fact that only five of 17 pitches were inside the strike zone may make them request another outing in Triple A, but that's the only drawback I can see. The arm seems to be in perfect working order

Josh Adamczewski, 2B, Milwaukee Brewers, 20 Adamczewski made some noise last year on the complex when he put together an impressive 142 plate appearances before getting promoted to Single-A. He was good last year in Single-A, but Adamczewski has taken a big step forward this year. After running a ground ball rate of 52 percent last season, he currently sits at 38 percent in 2025. The air rate is good, and Adamczewski has pulled the ball more consistently this season. Adamczewski is in a better spot to hit than he was last year. The vertical bat angle looks so much better. Adamczewski’s hands are slightly lower during his load, and he is doing a great job of staying inside the ball more. A lot of things look similar here, but the minor tweaks might be paying off for Adamczewski. The contact and approach are fine, but given the .350 batting average makes it appear the hit tool is much better than it is. Adamczewski has the batted ball angles to help get to power, and lets his exit velocities play up. He likely will have average game power, but don’t expect stolen bases to be a part of his game for fantasy purposes.

Ethan Dorchies, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers, 18 The Brewers snagged Dorchies in the tenth round of the 2024 draft, giving him a bonus right around slot. Not a highly regarded prep arm, Dorchies was committed to the University of Illinois-Chicago, but the 6’5” righty is showing that more schools and pro teams should have been in on him. A dominant stint at the complex level earned Dorchies a promotion to Single-A. Between both levels, he has tossed 56.1 innings and has a 1.92 ERA with a 30 percent strikeout rate. Dorchies' worst start of the season came when I saw him, as he allowed four earned runs over five innings of work. It was more runs than his previous eight starts combined. Dorchies has seen solid improvement on his fastball over the last few years. While he sits 92-94 mph, the four-seam reaches 95 mph. It does not have standout traits, averaging around 15 inches of IVB from a 5’5” release height, but it does come in with a solid VAA and nearly seven feet of extension. Dorchies can also mix in a sinker with good running life. There is still plenty of projection on his frame as well to add velocity. From a secondary standpoint, Dorchies throws a solid slider and splitter. The slider sits in the low-80s with around seven inches of horizontal break and late depth. From the lower release height, it is a tough pitch for hitters to pick up. The split shows solid fade, but big-time depth to it. Dorchies will even mix a cutter and a two-plane curveball.

Jayden Dubanewicz, RHP, Milwaukee Brewers, 19 Dubanewicz was drafted in the 16th round last summer by the Brewers as a relatively young 18-year-old out of Stoneman Douglas High School. The Brewers gave Dubanewicz a $665k bonus, over $500k above slot, to keep him away from his commitment to Florida. Listed at 6’3, Dubanewicz has plenty of projection on his frame and loose and whippy arm action, but has solid command. He impressed me in my looks and showed a solid arsenal of pitches that could lead to him being a solid starting pitcher with the command he brings to the table. The fastball that presently works around 92-94 mph can touch 95, and it comes from a funky slot which gives hitters tough looks. Dubanewicz creates good sinking action and plenty of arm-side run. He will mix a four-seam that has 15.5 inches of IVB from a 5’7” release height, which is a couple of inches higher than his sinker that gets more run. Mixing in a slider, curveball, and changeup, Dubanewicz has a deep arsenal of pitches. The slider is the primary secondary that sits 81-84 mph with around six inches of sweeping action. The changeup sits at 85-87 mph, but has around 16 inches of fade and late depth. I know you can look at the strikeout rate and be concerned, but the stuff is there for Dubanewicz to miss plenty of bats.

José Anderson, OF, Milwaukee Brewers, 18 Anderson was among the strong Brewers DSL crew last summer, breaking out and mashing eight home runs with 20 extra-base hits while slashing .283/.403/.512. The centerfielder received just a $60k bonus when he signed, but is already proving his worth as he showed strong contact and solid power. Taking some aggressive swings, Anderson has shown the ability to hit the ball hard, having exit velocities that are well above-average for his age. It plays up due to the fact that he puts the ball in the air over 65 percent of the time and has shown strong pull rates. There are traits here that could make Anderson a solid prospect, but there is also a ton of whiff. Breaking balls ate Anderson up this week, so it will be something to watch, but given the tools, if Anderson hits, he could be a fun player

Luis Peña, INF, Milwaukee Brewers, 18 Peña looked much more comfortable this week than when I saw him in April, when he was dealing with a lower-body injury. The clock times were much better as I got a home-to-first sprint at 3.97 seconds, showing incredible speed. While he did not do anything that necessarily stood out in a big way, Peña put a ton of balls in play and showed improved speed. The contact rates have trended in the wrong direction all year, but Peña is still limiting strikeouts, which is the important thing. Much like Made, there is still a lot of work to do, but that is okay, given Peña is 18 years old. The exit velocities have been strong, the foot speed is there, and Peña is still running respectable contact rates. He is a fun prospect with plenty to dream on.

Chris Clegg is a dynasty guy with some brilliant insight into players and he went to watch the mudcats last week, so here are a couple of his write-ups (from his free email) Jesús Made, SS, Carolina Mudcats, 18 Made just looks the part. A young 18-year-old, Made had a high Baseball IQ and great instincts. Freshly promoted to High-A, there are questions surrounding Made’s surface numbers this year in Single-A. Leaving the Mudcats with a .267/.373/.388 slash line with just four home runs, some have jumped off the Made bandwagon. That’s okay, I would buy the shares. At the plate, I got multiple swings from both the left and right sides of the plate, and the swings are smooth and fast. The bat speed is electric, and Made makes loud contact. Every day that passes, Made looks more comfortable in the box, and his contact rates are steadily rising. He has actually surpassed Luis Peña in contact rate at this point and Made has a stellar approach. Since the start of July, Made has an 82 percent contact rate with the approach looking good. The exit velocities are still strong, with Made running a 90th percentile exit velocity north of 105 mph. The average for an 18-year-old is closer to 97 mph. The swing could use some tweaks, and that will probably take place during the offseason. The biggest change that needs to happen is to shorten the swing and get a tad more loft. His clock times are above-average, but his instincts on the base paths are good. Made has all the intangibles. He is incredibly young and being pushed rather aggressively. The Brewers believe in him and you should too

Old friend Mason Molina on the bump today against the Wisconsin debutants

For me it should be Drake Baldwin. Catcher with an .807 OPS, crushing baseballs with great underlying metrics and average defense. Its tough to accumulate WAR the same way as a catcher when you have more rest days than every other hitter, but Baldwin has been awesome and has been there all season.

They're just screenshots from Savant which orders them depending on usage

The way the Yankees are sequencing for Williams makes absolutely no sense to me Here's how the Brewers used him last year: High up and away to right handers with more fastballs than changeups, and when he dropped that changeup in there off the same tunnel, it finishes in the low and in portion of the strike zone. he could manoeuvre that fastball around the top of the zone, but he needed it to set the tone for him. Now the Yankees: Four seamer predominantly up and in to right handers, up and away left handers which wouldn't tunnel at all with his changeup when he's locating it down on the opposite side of the zone. If I had to hazard a guess, hitters are picking up which pitch is which really early because they just aren't tunnelling at all, and its causing any contact against him to be loud. Williams had one of the best average exit velocities from 2022-24, but he's getting barrelled up at a big rate this year. Surely the Yankees are smarter than that?

Image courtesy of © Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images Anthony Seigler is a canonically Brewers hitter, showcasing elite bat-to-ball skills and plate discipline without a lot of raw power. He's slashing just .188/.250/.188, which begs the question as to why Seigler is getting continued opportunities on the strong side of the platoon compared to Caleb Durbin. The simplistic reason is that his slash line is a result of a small sample size of batted balls, and his expected numbers are .280/.333/.419, but that doesn't quite tell the whole story. Seigler's plate appearances have been long, drawn-out affairs that often precipitate perfect launch angles and balls into the outfield grass, and he has been unfortunate with how many of these have been directed right at fielders. He lacks the power to clear the fences with any regularity, but he does spray the ball around quite effectively as a left-handed hitter. To add to this, Seigler's performance at Triple A provided a larger sample of at-bats. It produced a profile that isn't often seen, with incredible consistency of good exit velocities without high-end, booming contact. Most hitters with a high average exit velocity are skewed by their volume of batted balls at 112 mph+, whereas Seigler just seems to find the barrel of the bat with a smooth, easy swing over and over again. Here are his stats as a left-handed hitter (from Eli-Ben Porat) in Triple A before he got called up: The big thing to note here is that no pitch gave Seigler any real concern in terms of chase rates or in-zone contact, while he slugged well when swinging in the strike zone on nearly all offerings. That's changed very slightly in the majors, where he has struggled to catch up to some of the velocity on show. Pitchers are pounding him with fastballs on the outer third, and Seigler hasn't quite adjusted. He hasn't been able to get to the pull side, and it's holding him back just a little. The swing decisions have been impressive, but he hasn't been walking much (as pitchers haven't found much to fear in his profile yet), and he's not quite contacting the ball with the same authority as he did in Nashville. All of that is perfectly normal for any hitter given the big jump in quality from Triple A to the majors; however, the Brewers don't have a lot of time for Seigler to figure it out, perhaps a couple of weeks. That's not to say he'll be demoted, but he might see far less frequent playing time after that point. The other issue the Brewers have is that Caleb Durbin is looking more and more impressive against right-handers of late, with month-by-month production boosting since May: While his season-long splits haven't been amazing, Durbin's relentless tenacity has far surpassed expectations with the glove at third base. More importantly, Durbin has already gone through the process of adjusting to big league pitching that Seigler just hasn't. Seigler's underlying performance looks fantastic, and his at-bats are great to the naked eye, but there's only so long that can hold up when the Brewers are chasing every little win around the margins to keep their hot stretch going. There's every reason to believe that Anthony Seigler's luck can turn at any point, but that point needs to come sooner rather than later. What do you think of the Anthony Siegler and Caleb Durbin platoon used by the Brewers of late? Do you trust Seigler's surface performance or his quality of contact more in the early going? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! View full article

I just came here to share this. It was posted 13 minutes ago. This is incredible levels of on the ball my good sir

One other interesting thing is that turang has been standing closer to the plate than usualy through July and the start of August The outer third has given him problems all year with weak contact and rolled over ground balls, so I wonder if that's going to help him once his timing and swing decisions adjust to cover the whole plate better

Hey Jack! Just curious on this, to your trained eye, do you think Turang's just adjusting to his new approach at the plate or is there an issue with that approach that's causing the struggles with any non fastballs?

Let's keep nationalism out of it. I'm from a place where that hasn't historically been a great thing