Series Preview: Milwaukee Brewers @ Washington Nationals
The Milwaukee Brewers are again on the highway, as they will face their first repeat opponent of the season within the Washington Nationals. Three weekends in the past, the Brewers have been swept by the Nationals at dwelling, as they stretched their shedding streak to 5 after being outscored 18-10 over the three-game set. They’ll look to keep away from a repeat of that sequence this weekend in Washington, DC
Since that sweep just a few weeks in the past, the Brewers have gone 8-7, with sequence wins over the Blue Jays, Marlins, and D-backs however sequence losses to the Tigers and Pirates. They sit at 16-14 on the season. On the opposite aspect, Washington has gone 8-9, with sequence wins over the White Sox and Mets, sequence losses to the Braves and Giants, and a four-game break up with the Pirates. They sit at 15-17 on the season.
Since that final sequence, the Brewers have misplaced just a few extra key gamers to damage. Christian Yelich went down within the sequence finale in opposition to Washington, and he is nonetheless shelved with a groin pressure. Pitchers Angel Zerpa and Brandon Woodruff each went down this week, as Zerpa is reportedly anticipated to overlook a giant chunk of time with forearm tightness, and Woodruff exited his begin early with diminished velocity — it is unknown presently if there’s an damage, however regardless, there’s trigger for concern. Jackson Chourio and Andrew Vaughn are each on rehab assignments with Triple-A Nashville, and the Brewers anticipate them to return to the group on Monday in St. Louis. Quinn Priester, Rob Zastryzny, and Jared Koenig are additionally out, with Priester the closest to returning as he is additionally on a rehab project.
Washington’s IL is stuffed with pitchers, as they’re with out Clayton Beeter, Josiah Gray, DJ Herz, Cole Henry, Trevor Williams, Ken Waldichuk, Travis Sykora, and Jarlin Susana. All of these gamers are out for prolonged durations, with Beeter probably the primary one again. He went on the IL earlier this week as he offers with forearm soreness, however MRI outcomes revealed no structural harm, and the group expects a mid-to-late-May return.
While the Brewers nonetheless have not discovered a real energy stroke over the past couple of weeks, the group discovered a technique to rating 13 runs on each Tuesday and Thursday in wins over Arizona. Brice Turang leads the offense with a .291/.422/.505 line, with 4 homers, eight doubles, 20 RBIs, 26 runs, and 7 steals. Gary Sánchez, Jake Bauers, William Contreras, Sal Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, and the just lately recalled Tyler Black have additionally been key contributors of late. David Hamilton and Luis Rengifo have each proven flashes of potential within the final week, and Greg Jones, Brandon Lockridge, Joey Ortiz, and Blake Perkins spherical out the lively roster. As a group, the Brewers are hitting .241/.338/.364 (.702 OPS ranks twentieth), with 22 homers (twenty eighth), 160 runs (sixth), and 36 steals (tied for first).
The younger Nationals lineup is paced by CJ Abrams and James Wood. Wood leads the group with 10 homers and 7 doubles this 12 months, whereas Abrams leads in most different classes, as he is hitting .296/.405/.556 with eight homers, 4 doubles, 26 RBIs, 16 runs, and 5 steals. Brady House, Keibert Ruiz, Curtis Mead, Daylen Lile, Jacob Young, Luis García, and Nasim Nuñez spherical out the regulars for Washington, with Joey Wiemer, Jorbit Vivas, José Tena, and Drew Millas offering depth. Of be aware: Wiemer remains to be hitting .327/.413/.582 over 23 video games, partially sustaining his numbers after that red-hot begin. As a group, the Nats are hitting .243/.325/.393 (.718 OPS ranks twelfth), with 37 homers (tied for tenth), 175 runs (second), and 32 steals (tied for fourth).
For Milwaukee, Aaron Ashby, Grant Anderson, Abner Uribe, DL Hall, and Trevor Megill are a part of the “winning” bullpen, with Anderson main the group in appearances and Ashby and Hall main in ERA. Ashby additionally leads the bullpen with 30 strikeouts, which ranks tied for second on the group (together with Kyle Harrison) behind solely Jacob Misiorowski. After the Zerpa damage, the remainder of the Brewer bullpen options Jake Woodford and kids Shane Drohan and Brian Fitzpatrick (who I simply discovered I shared a birthday with). As a employees, the Brewers have a 3.74 group ERA (sixth), together with a 3.70 starter ERA (seventh) and a 3.78 bullpen ERA (tenth). They’ve struck out 281 batters (tied for seventh) over 267 1/3 innings.
PJ Poulin leads the Nationals with 16 appearances this season, though that features 4 “starts,” as he has a 4.11 ERA over 15 1/3 innings. Washington does not have a traditional nearer, as Gus Varland leads the group with three saves, however Beeter has a pair of saves, and Paxton Schultz and Orlando Ribalta even have a save apiece. Longtime Oriole Cionel Pérez has struggled with the Nats, pitching to a 7.07 ERA over 14 innings. Brad Lord, Schultz, and Richard Lovelady have been stable, however Mitchell Parker (4.76 ERA) and Andre Granillo (8.53 ERA) have struggled. As a employees, the Nationals have a 5.08 group ERA (twenty ninth), together with a 5.33 starter ERA (twenty eighth) and a 4.90 bullpen ERA (twenty third). They’ve struck out 249 batters (tied for twenty first) over 289 innings.
Friday, May 1 @ 5:45 pm: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (1-2, 3.31 ERA, 3.24 FIP) vs. RHP Jake Irvin (1-3, 4.85 ERA, 4.10 FIP)
Misiorowski has now made six begins this season, and he nonetheless has a combined bag. He leads the NL with 51 strikeouts over his 32 2/3 innings, however he is additionally walked 13 and leads the majors with 5 hit batters. He appeared fairly good however not nice final Saturday in opposition to the Pirates, as he allowed three runs on six hits, a stroll, and two hit batters over six innings, hanging out 9 in a no-decision because the Brewers would in the end lose in extras. This will mark Miz’s first profession look in opposition to Washington.
In his fourth season with the Nationals, Irvin, 29, nonetheless hasn’t discovered a lot main league success. After main the NL in losses in 2024, he led the majors in earned runs and homers allowed final season, delivering -0.4 bWAR over 33 begins. He’s been a bit higher this season, with a 4.85 ERA and 4.10 FIP over 29 2/3 innings, permitting simply 4 homers whereas hanging out 34. Irvin’s final look came visiting the weekend, when he went 5 2/3 scoreless innings in opposition to the White Sox, hanging out 9 as he allowed simply 4 hits and successful batter. Now a well-recognized opponent for the Brewers, Irvin went 5 innings with three runs allowed and 5 strikeouts in opposition to Milwaukee on April 10. In seven profession begins in opposition to Milwaukee, he is 0-5 with a 6.42 ERA and 27 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings.
Saturday, May 2 @ 3:05 pm: LHP Kyle Harrison (2-1, 2.28 ERA, 3.08 FIP) vs. LHP Foster Griffin (3-0, 2.67 ERA, 4.34 FIP)
Harrison, who appeared shaky in Detroit final week, bounced again final weekend in his finest begin as a Brewer and possibly the most effective begin of his MLB profession. Over six scoreless innings, he allowed only one hit and one stroll whereas hanging out 12, reducing his ERA to 2.28 via 5 begins. Harrison began in opposition to the Nationals again on April 11, taking the loss after being hit within the knee by a throw to first on the sport’s first play. He went 4 1/3 innings in that one, permitting two runs and hanging out one. For his profession, he is 0-2 with a 4.26 ERA and 16 strikeouts over 19 innings in opposition to the Nats.
Griffin, 30, is in his first season again within the majors after spending the final three years in Japan. He’s quietly discovered success with Washington this 12 months, with a 2.67 ERA, 4.34 FIP, and 30 strikeouts over 33 2/3 innings pitched throughout six begins. Griffin’s final outing was additionally a very good one, as he went seven scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in opposition to the White Sox, permitting simply two hits, two walks, and successful batter. The former first-round choose made his first and solely look in opposition to the Brewers again on April 11, when he went 5 1/3 scoreless innings with one strikeout in a successful efficiency.
Sunday, May 3 @ 12:35 pm: RHP Chad Patrick (2-1, 2.57 ERA, 4.30 FIP) vs. RHP Zack Littell (0-4, 7.85 ERA, 9.05 FIP)
Patrick has turn out to be a constant piece of Milwaukee’s rotation over the past season-plus, as he is made six appearances (4 begins) this season, with a 2.57 ERA and 4.30 FIP over 28 innings. While he is solely struck out 16 and allowed 22 hits and 13 walks, he is executed a fairly stable job preserving opposing groups off the scoreboard. He picked up the win (whereas reportedly coping with vomiting and a few imaginative and prescient points) in opposition to Arizona earlier this week in a blowout, as he went 5 innings, permitting two runs on one hit and 5 walks with a season-high 5 strikeouts. Patrick took the majority function in Milwaukee’s April 10 recreation in opposition to Washington, pitching three innings in reduction after Ashby opened the sport. He went three scoreless, permitting simply three hits and a stroll with no strikeouts. That was his first and solely look in opposition to the Nats.
Littell, who has turn out to be a reliable main league starter over the previous couple of seasons with the Rays and Reds, has not had an amazing begin with the Nationals. Through six appearances (5 begins), he has a 7.85 ERA, 9.05 FIP, and simply 16 strikeouts over 28 2/3 innings. He additionally leads the league in homers allowed at 13. His final look got here on Tuesday in opposition to the Mets, when he received beat up for eight runs (simply 4 earned) on 5 hits (two homers) and three walks, hanging out one over 3 2/3 innings in his third consecutive loss. In these three appearances, he is allowed eight runs in every (24 runs whole, 18 earned), pushing his ERA from 4.20 to close 8.00. He pitched 5 stable innings in opposition to Milwaukee of their sequence finale on April 12, permitting three runs on six hits (three homers), hanging out three over 5 frames. For his profession, he is 0-1 with a 2.35 ERA and 21 strikeouts throughout 30 2/3 innings in opposition to the Brewers.
Friday, May 1: Brewers TV; hear by way of radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Saturday, May 2: Brewers TV; hear by way of radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Sunday, May 3: Brewers TV; hear by way of radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Last time the Brewers confronted the Nats, I predicted a sequence win as a result of “the Brewers… have the advantage in just about every facet.” Instead, Milwaukee was swept as they fought all through the weekend. I’ll double down on my unique prediction, although, and choose the Brewers to win two of three this time round.
