MILWAUKEE BREWERS NOTES:
WHAT’S BREWING?
Today’s Transactions
RHP J.C. Mejía has been placed on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, retroactive to August 14…..RHP Trevor Megill has been recalled from Triple-A Nashville.
On the Mend
OF Jesse Winker is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment tonight at Class-A Wisconsin as the team visits Cedar Rapids (Twins)…..Winker has been on the 10-day injured list since July 26 with back spasms.
NL Central Standings
Team Record
Milwaukee ……………………………… 65-54
Chicago …………………………….61-57 (-3.5)
Cincinnati …………………………62-58 (-3.5)
Pittsburgh ……………………..53-66 (-12.0)
St. Louis …………………………53-66 (-12.0)
Note: MIL clinched tie-breaker over CIN
Note: MIL leads CHC in season series (4-3)
Climbing the Charts
The Brewers are looking to improve to a season-high 12 games over .500 tonight…..the team has been 11 games over the .500 mark five times: 54-43, 55-44, 56-45, 57-46 and 65-54.
We’re Going Streaking!
The Brewers enter tonight’s contest on a 4-game winning streak, which is their longest streak since winning 4 straight from July 9-16…..the team last won more than 4 consecutive games from April 1-7, when it had a season-high, 6-game winning streak.
Power & Speed
Christian Yelich recorded his 25th SB of the season on Sunday…..he is one of just seven players with 15+ HR and 25+ SB this season.
Player HR/SB
Ronald Acuña Jr., ATL ……………..26/55
Bobby Witt Jr., KC …………………….22/34
Corbin Carroll, ARI ……………………..21/36
Julio Rodríguez, SEA …………………19/28
Wander Franco, TB …………………… 17/30
Christian Yelich, MIL ………………. 16/25
Ha-Seong Kim, SD…………………….. 15/27
Rebel Yeli
In his last 58 games, Christian Yelich has batted .326 (76-for-233) with 42 runs, 9 HR and 41 RBI while he has a .405 OBP/.536 SLG/.942 OPS.
A Slice of Devin
All-Star Devin Williams is unscored upon in 44 of his 48 appearances this season…..he has not allowed an earned run in 16 consecutive outings (14.2ip)…..Williams is among NL relief leaders the following categories:
Category Rank
ERA (1.36) ……………………………………….2nd
K/9IP (13.60) ………………………………….2nd
AVG (.137) ………………………………………..3rd
Saves (28) ……………………………………….3rd
H/9IP (4.27)…………………………………….3rd
WHIP (0.95) …………………………………….5th
Strikeouts (70) ……………………………..T5th
Most Regular Season Wins
National League – Since 2017
Team Wins
Los Angeles ………………………………..633
Atlanta …………………………………………….559
Milwaukee …………………………………..546
THIS EVENING’S GAME: Is game 4 (3-0) of a 9-game, 10-day trip to Chicago-AL (3-0), Los Angeles-NL (3g) and Texas (3g)…..following this trip and an off day next Monday, the team returns to American Family Field for 5 games in 6 days vs. Minnesota (2g) and San Diego (3g).
IN THE TRAINER’S ROOM: LHP Aaron Ashby (left labrum), RHP J.C. Mejía (right shoulder), OF Garrett Mitchell (left shoulder), OF Blake Perkins (left oblique), 1B Darin Ruf (right knee), RHP Julio Teheran (right hip), 1B Rowdy Tellez (right forearm/left ring finger), LHP Justin Wilson (left lat) and OF Jesse Winker (back) are on the injured list….. Ashby, Mitchell, Ruf and Wilson are on the 60-day IL.
IN THE STANDINGS (138 days): The Brewers have spent the following number of days alone or tied at each position in the NL Central standings: FIRST: 85, SECOND: 51, THIRD: 2, FOURTH: 0, FIFTH: 0…..the team is currently in first place, leading the Cubs and Reds by 3.5 games.
SERIES-LY SPEAKING: The Brewers are 20-16-2 in series play.
Game 1: 19-19, Game 2: 21-17, Game 3: 21-16, Game 4: 4-2
Sweep Wins (6): vs. NYM (3g, 4/3-4/5), at SEA (3g, 4/17-4/19), vs. KC (3g, 5/12-5/14), vs. PIT (3g, 6/16-6/18), at CIN (3g, 7/14-7/16), at CWS (3g, 8/11-8/13)
Sweep Losses (4): at COL (3g, 5/2-5/4), vs. OAK (3g, 6/9-6/11), at MIN (2g, 6/13-6/14), at ATL (3g, 7/28-7/30)
AT HOME: The Brewers are 33-27 at home, going 10-7-2 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 32-27 on the road, going 10-9-0 in series play…..the team went 40-41 on the road last season, going 9-12-5 in series play.
LET’S GO TO THE VIDEO TAPE: The Brewers have made 27 replay challenges this season, going 11-16…..their last challenge (lost) came on 8/6 vs. Pittsburgh as an out
call at third base (William Contreras) stood.
TONIGHT’S STARTER: #37 – RHP ADRIAN HOUSER (16g, 14gs, 4-3, 4.38)
HOUSER AT A GLANCE: Adrian Houser, 30, will be making his 17th appearance and 15th start of the season…..Houser last started last Wednesday vs. Colorado and received no decision in the Brewers’ 7-6, 10-inning win (5ip, 5h, 4r, 4er, 1bb, 5k, 1hr, 67 pitches)…..the team is 9-5 in his starts…..he has 5 quality starts…..opponents are batting .290 (91-for-314, 9hr)…..Houser began the season on the 15-day injured list with a right groin strain…..he was sent to Triple-A Nashville on rehab assignment on April 14, where he made 4 starts…..he was acquired from Houston, along with LHP Josh Hader, OF Brett Phillips and OF Domingo Santana, in exchange for OF Carlos Gómez, RHP Mike Fiers and International Signing Bonus Slot #76 on 7/30/15.
LAST SEASON: Houser went 6-10 with a 4.73 ERA in 22 games/21 starts last season…..the team went 9-12 in his starts…..he made 6 quality starts…..opponents batted .258….. he posted a 2.98 ERA over his first 8 starts of the season (42.1ip, 14er) and a 6.17 ERA over his last 13 starts (58.1ip, 40er)…..he was on the 15-day injured list from 7/1-8/23 with a right flexor strain and from 9/28 through the remainder of the season with a right groin strain.
CAREER: Is 27-32 with a 4.04 ERA in 122 games/90 starts (506ip, 227er)…..is in his seventh Major League season, all with the Brewers (2015, 2018-23)…..has gone 22-32 with a 4.35 ERA as a starter (444.2ip, 215er) and 5-0 with a 1.76 ERA in relief (61.1ip, 12er)…..underwent “Tommy John” surgery on his right elbow on 7/21/16.
CAREER AT AMERICAN FAMILY FIELD: Is 10-15 with a 3.57 ERA in 62 games/44 starts (252ip, 100er)…..is 2-1 with a 4.12 ERA in 8 games/7 starts this season (39.1ip, 18er).
CAREER ON THE ROAD: Is 17-17 with a 4.50 ERA in 60 games/46 starts (254ip, 127er)…..is 2-2 with a 4.66 ERA in 8 games/7 starts this season (38.2ip, 20er).
CAREER vs. DODGERS: His only career outing came in a start last season on 8/24 at Dodger Stadium…..he took a 12-6 loss (2.1ip, 5h, 5r, 5er, 4bb, 4k).
LOS ANGELES DODGERS NOTES:
NINE TIMES?: The Dodgers won their season-high eighth consecutive game on Sunday, completing a four-game sweep of the Rockies with an 8-3 victory. Los Angeles is now 12-1 in the month of August and are a Major League best 20-8 (.704) in the second half of the season. This evening, the Boys in Blue can win their ninth straight contest for the first time since winning 12 in-a-row from July 31-Aug. 13, 2022, as they continue their 10-game homestand (4-0) and play the opener of a three-game set with the first-place Milwaukee Brewers at 7:10 p.m. Following Thursday’s finale with Milwaukee, the Dodgers will welcome in the Miami Marlins for three games this weekend (Aug. 18-20). The Dodgers hold a season high 9.0-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the National League West following their four-game sweep of the Rockies and the Giants loss to Tampa Bay last night. The Dodgers improved to 38-20 (.655) at home this season, which is tied with Atlanta for the best home mark in the National League. Los Angeles has won seven games in-a-row at Chavez Ravine. Overall, the Dodgers own the third-best record in baseball (.607), trailing just the Braves (.644) and Orioles (.622). The Dodgers took two of three in Milwaukee from May 8-10 and have won nine of their last 15 games vs. the Brew Crew. Los Angeles is 16-14 vs. the NL Central this season. Tonight is the second and final Mexican Heritage Night, presented by Advance Auto Parts, and those who purchased their seats through a special ticket pack will receive a unique Dodgers Mexican Heritage jersey.
JULIO COMES THROUGH: The Dodgers downed the Rockies, 8-3 on Sunday and Julio Urías was fantastic outside of a two-run homer allowed in the fourth inning. The left-hander went 6.0 innings, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out a Dodger season-high 12 batters. The 12 punchouts also tied his own career best for the second time (last: June 26, 2021 vs. CHC). Urias is now 3-0 with a 2.35 ERA (6 ER/23.0 IP) in his last four starts. At the plate, Miguel Rojas went 1-for-2 with a season-high four RBI and also ripped his second homer of the season, a solo shot in the fourth frame. In addition, Mookie Betts has two hits and two RBI while Amed Rosario went 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored. Since joining the Dodgers on July 28, Rosario is hitting .289 (13-for-45) with three homers, three doubles and 11 RBI in 14 games.
MILLER TIME: Dodger rookie starter Bobby Miller gets the ball tonight and is set to make his 14th start of the season, which ranks fourth on the team. Miller has posted a 2.84 ERA (8 ER/25.1 IP) in five second half starts while striking out 24. Dodger starters have posted a 2.22 ERA (17 ER/69.0 IP) this month, which ranks second in baseball, trailing only the Texas Rangers (2.19). In August, the starters’ WHIP in 1.00, which leads the National League. The Dodger bullpen has fired 16.0 consecutive scoreless innings over its last five games.
SUPERMAN: Dodger first baseman Freddie Freeman went 0-for-4 with a walk on Sunday and is slashing .430/.500/.740 with 11 doubles, six homers and 20 RBI in his last 25 games since July 17. Freeman was the first player in Dodger history with at least 20 homers and 35 doubles before the end of July and ranks second in the Majors with 101 runs scored, trailing only Ronald Acuña Jr. (107). He also leads the Majors with 43 doubles is tied for first with 68 extra-base hits. Freeman ranks third in hits (158) and second in average. His career best in runs scored is 120, established in 2021. The All-Star is one of three players in the Major Leagues with a .300+ batting average, .400+ on-base percentage and a .500+ slugging percentage, along with Ronald Acuña Jr and Shohei Ohtani.
THE MAN: All-Star Mookie Betts went 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI on Sunday and is now slashing .360/.468/.741 with 12 homers, 33 RBI, 37 runs scored and 28 walks in his lst 36 games since June 28. Betts ranks third in the NL in home runs with 31 while ranking third in slugging (.579), fourth in OPS (.968), tied for third in runs (94) and fifth in walks (69). Since May 1, the 2018 American League MVP is hitting .303 (101-for-333) with 27 homers, 69 RBI and a 1.025 OPS. During that span, he is third in the Majors in homers, third in runs (77), fourth in OPS and third in both RBI and extra-base hits (52).
GET ON THE BUS, GUS: Prior to the game, the Dodgers purchased the contract of right-handed pitcher Gus Varland and moved outfielder Jake Marisnick to the 60-day IL. Varland, 26, appeared in 30 games for Triple-A Oklahoma City, going 2-1 with a 2.16 ERA (8 ER/33.1 IP) and 39 strikeouts. He started the season in the Milwaukee organization after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft by the Brewers on December 7, 2022. In his five combined minor league seasons, he is 9-13 with a 4.14 ERA (96 ER/208.2 IP) and 226 strikeouts in 110 games. He was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics in 14th round of the 2018 First Year Player Draft out of Concordia University.
TONIGHT’S STARTER vs. BREWERS: RHP BOBBY MILLER (6-2, 3.89 ERA in 13 GS)
2023 SEASON NOTES:
- In his last start on August 9 against the Diamondbacks, he hurled 6.0 scoreless innings, giving up four hits and four walks while punching out four in the no decision
- Had the longest scoreless innings streak for the club this season with 20 consecutive innings (May 29-June 17)…it was snapped on the 17th against the Giants
- Became the first Dodger pitcher since at least 1901 with a 6.0+ IP scoreless start allowing one hit or fewer within his first three appearances (ESPN Stats)
- First Dodgers rookie starting pitcher to earn the win in his first two career starts since Jose De Leon (9/04/16 vs. SD and 9/12/16 at NYY)
- Illinois native picked up the win in his Major League debut against Atlanta May 23 after spinning five innings and giving up four hits, one run and one walk while striking out five
- Owns a 1-1 record across four starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City with a 5.65 ERA (9 ER/14.1 IP) with 12 strikeouts and just 6 issued walks…has limited the opposition to a .212/.295/.385 slashline
- Was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training…did not appear
VS. BREWERS:
- Will face Milwaukee for the first time in his career
