MILWAUKEE BREWERS NOTES:
TODAY’S GAME: Is game 3 (1-1) of a 10-game road trip to Arizona (1-1), San Diego (4g) and Seattle (3g)…..following this trip and an off day on April 20, the team returns to American Family Field for a 9-game homestand against Boston (3g), Detroit (3g) and Los Angeles-AL (3g).
CURRENT ROSTER (bold indicates not on Opening Day roster):
PITCHERS (13) – RH Corbin Burnes, RH Matt Bush, RH Javy Guerra, RH Janson Junk, LH Eric Lauer, LH Wade Miley, LH Hoby Milner, RH Joel Payamps, RH Freddy Peralta, RH Peter Strzelecki, RH Gus Varland, RH Devin Williams, RH Bryse Wilson
CATCHERS (2) – Victor Caratini, William Contreras
INFIELDERS (7) – Willy Adames, Brian Anderson, Mike Brosseau, Owen Miller, Rowdy Tellez, Brice Turang, Luke Voit
OUTFIELDERS (4) – Garrett Mitchell, Joey Wiemer, Jesse Winker, Christian Yelich
IN THE TRAINER’S ROOM: RHP Jason Alexander (right rotator cuff), LHP Aaron Ashby (left labrum), RHP Adrian Houser (right groin), OF Tyrone Taylor (right elbow), INF Luis Urías (left hamstring), LHP Justin Wilson (left elbow) and RHP Brandon Woodruff (right shoulder) are on the IL…..Alexander, Ashby and Wilson are on the 60-day IL.
IN THE STANDINGS (13 days): The Brewers have spent the following number of days alone or tied at each position in the NL Central standings: FIRST: 11, SECOND: 0, THIRD: 2, FOURTH: 0, FIFTH: 0…..the team is currently in first place, leading the second-place Pirates by 1.0 game.
SERIES-LY SPEAKING: The Brewers are 3-0-0 in series play. Game 1: 2-2, Game 2: 3-1, Game 3: 3-0, Game 4: 0-0 Sweep Wins (1): vs. NYM (3g, 4/3-4/5) Sweep Losses (-): None
AT HOME: The Brewers are 5-1 at home, going 2-0-0 in series play…..the team went 46-35 at home last season, going 15-8-4 in series play.
ON THE ROAD: The Brewers are 3-2 on the road, going 1-0-0 in series play…..the team went 40-41 on the road last season, going 9-12-5 in series play.
MANAGER: Craig Counsell – the longest-tenured active manager in the National League and third in the majors – is in his ninth season as Brewers manager (623-558) and eighth full season…..he has the most wins (623) and games managed (1,181) of any manager in franchise history…..Counsell was named the 19th manager in franchise history on 5/4/15, replacing Ron Roenicke…..he is signed through the 2023 season.
COACHES: First base coach Quintin Berry (3rd season), hitting coach Connor Dawson (2nd season), bullpen coach Jim Henderson (2nd season), pitching coach Chris Hook (5th season), third base coach Jason Lane (8th season, 3rd as 3B coach), associate pitching, catching and strategy coach Walker McKinven (4th season), bench coach Pat Murphy (8th season) and hitting coach Ozzie Timmons (2nd season) all returned from the 2022 staff…..Néstor Corredor, who had previously been bullpen catcher (2021-22), is now a coach.
2022 IN REVIEW: The Brewers went 86-76 last season, missing the postseason for the first time since 2017…..the team was eliminated from NL Central contention on September 27 and eliminated from postseason contention on October 3, snapping their franchise-record four consecutive years of making the playoffs…..the team won at least 86 games for the fifth consecutive full season (since 2017), joining the Dodgers (since 2012), Astros (since 2017) and Yankees (since 2017) as the only teams to accomplish the feat during this stretch (does not include 2020).
LET’S GO TO THE VIDEO TAPE: The Brewers have made one replay challenge this season, going 0-1…..the challenge came on Opening Day at Chicago-NL as a safe call at first base (Dansby Swanson) on a pickoff attempt stood.
TODAY’S STARTER: #66 – RHP JANSON JUNK
JUNK AT A GLANCE: Janson Junk, 27, will be making his first start of the season and Brewers debut…..Junk joins the team from Triple-A Nashville, where he was 1-0 with a 0.90 ERA in 2 games/1 start (10ip, 5h, 1r, 1er, 3bb, 7k)…..opponents batted .143 (5-for-35, 0hr)…..he was acquired from Los Angeles-AL, along with RHP Elvis Peguero and LHP Adam Seminaris, in exchange for OF Hunter Renfroe on November 22.
LAST SEASON: Junk went 1-1 with a 6.48 ERA in 3 games/2 starts during three stints with the Angels (5/28, 6/20-6/24 and 7/27-8/4)…..he earned his first Major League win in a 4-0 victory on 7/27 at Kansas City as he tossed 5.0 scoreless innings, allowing 4 hits (1bb, 8k)…..Junk also appeared in 16 games/15 starts at Triple-A Salt Lake, where he went 1-7 with a 4.64 ERA.
CAREER: Is 1-2 with a 4.74 ERA in 7 games/6 starts (24.2ip, 13er) with Los Angeles-AL (2021-22)…..Junk was originally selected by New York-AL in the 22nd round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Seattle University…..he was traded to the Angels, along with RHP Elvis Peguero, in exchange for LHP Andrew Heaney and cash on 7/30/21.
CAREER AT AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD: Junk has never pitched in Milwaukee.
CAREER ON THE ROAD: Is 1-0 with a 1.98 ERA in 3 starts (13.2ip, 3er).
CAREER vs. DIAMONDBACKS: Junk has never faced the D-backs.
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS NOTES:
HERE’S THE STORY
♦ The D-backs are 4-2 in their opening homestand of the 2023 season vs. Dodgers (3-1) and Brewers (1-1)…it marks Arizona’s first homestand win since Aug. 29-Sept. 4, 2022 vs. Phillies and Brewers (5-2) and first Opening Week homestand win since 2018 (5-1; vs. Rockies and Dodgers).
♦ With a victory this afternoon, the D-backs will win their second straight series as well as their second consecutive vs. Brewers @ Chase Field (last: 3-1 from Sept. 1-4).
♦ The D-backs are tied with the Padres for first place in the NL West, 1.0 game ahead of the Dodgers, and have found them in or tied for first place since April 8.
♦ Geraldo Perdomo, in 8 games this season, is batting .368 (7-for-19)/.500 OBP with 3 doubles, 1 home run and a team-leading 8 RBI and 4 walks.
♦ Drey Jameson is making his first start of the season (fifth career start) after making 3 relief appearances to begin the year.
ROSTER MOVES
♦ The D-backs made the following roster moves:
Reinstated RHP Scott McGough from the Paternity List.
Optioned RHP Carlos Vargas to Triple-A Reno following last night’s game.
BABY BOY MCGOUGH!
♦ Yesterday, just before first pitch of the game vs. Brewers, Scott McGough and his wife, Lauren, welcomed their second child and fi rst baby boy, Griffin.
♦ Congratulations to the McGough Family!
RUN AT YOUR OWN RISK
♦ Gabriel Moreno’s 4 caught stealings (CS) this season is tied for the most in the Majors (also: Willson Contreras/STL and J.T. Realmuto/PHI) while his 80.0 pct. caught stealing pct. is highest among catchers with at least 3 CS.
CAUGHT STEALING PERCENTAGE (MIN. 3 CS): 80.0 pct
(4-5) – Gabriel Moreno/AZ; 75.0 pct. (3-4) – Elias Diaz/ COL; 66.7 pct. (4-6) – Willson Contreras/STL; 60.0 pct. (3-5) – Ryan Jeff ers/MIN; 33.3 pct. (4-12) – J.T. Realmuto/PHI
2-OUT SUPPORT
♦ Arizona’s .367 average (18-for-49) with 2 outs and runners in scoring position leads the Majors, ahead of the Rangers (.341), Dodgers (.340), Rays (.333) and Astros (.328).
SWIPIN’ BAGS
♦ The D-backs’ 17 stolen bases rank tied for second in the Majors (also: Orioles), behind the Guardians (19).
♦ Corbin Carroll leads all MLB rookies with 5 stolen bases and is just 1 of 2 players in the Majors this season to have 2+ stolen bases in multiple games (2 games – also: Jorge Mateo/BAL).
FOR THE TAKING
♦ The D-backs 64 pct. extra bases taken percentage leads the Majors, ahead of the Braves (56 pct.), Orioles (52 pct.) and Red Sox (51 pct.).
Percentage runner advanced more than 1 base on single or 2+ bases on a double.
ON DECK: MIAMI MARLINS
♦ The D-backs begin their second road trip of the season with 3 games @ Marlins from April 14-16.
♦ In 2022, Arizona swept its 3-game series @ Marlins Park from May 2-4.
♦ Christian Walker, over 6 games vs. Marlins in 2022, batted .357 (6-for-17)/1.206 OPS with 3 doubles, 1 home run, 4 RBI and 5 walks.
RHP DREY JAMESON ♦ #99
AT A GLANCE: Selected by the D-backs as a compensatory round selection in First-Year Player Draft (June 15, 2019).
• Attended Ball State University from 2018-19 where he was named 2019 MAC Pitcher of the Year after going 6-3 with a 3.24 ERA (33 ER in 91.2 IP) and single-season MAC record 146 strikeouts in 16 starts.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Is making his first start of the season (fifth career start) and first since Oct. 1, 2022 @ Giants.
• Made his first Opening Day roster and began the season in the bullpen.
• Recorded his first career win as a reliever (March 31 @ Dodgers) and first save (April, 4 @ Padres).
• Enters 2023 as the D-backs’ No. 7 prospect by The Athletic and No. 9 by MLB Pipeline.
VS. BREWERS: Will be making his first career appearance.
DYNAMITE DEBUT: Tied the D-backs record for most scoreless innings (7.0) in a Major League debut (also: Ryne Nelson) on Sept. 5.
• The 7.0 innings were also the second most innings, behind Geraldo Guzmán on July 6, 2000 @ Astros (8.0).
• Jameson’s 2 hits allowed is tied for the second fewest allowed in a Major League debut by a D-back (also: Chase Anderson on May 11, 2014 @ White Sox).
UNFAMILIAR WATERS: In his 7 career games, has never faced a Major League club outside of the NL West.
THE RIGHT STUFF: Is limiting righties to a .125 average (2-for16) with 7 strikeouts this season. 2022 REVIEW: Went 3-0 with a 1.48 ERA (4 ER in 24.1 IP), 24 strikeouts and .222 opponent avg. in 4 starts in his first Major League season.
• Was 5-12 with a 6.95 ERA (88 ER in 114.0 IP) in 22 games (21 starts) with Triple-A Reno.
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
4/12 Scott McGough Reinstated from the Paternity List
Carlos Vargas Optioned to Triple-A Reno (post-game)
4/11 José Ruiz Activated
Scott McGough Placed on the Paternity List
INJURED LIST
10-DAY IL: C Carson Kelly (right forearm fracture), OF Kyle Lewis (illness)
15-DAY IL: LHP Joe Mantiply (left shoulder infl ammation), RHP Zach Davies (strained left oblique)
60-DAY IL: RHP Corbin Martin (right lat tendon avulsion), RHP Mark Melancon (strained right shoulder), RHP Cole Sulser (strained right shoulder)
