Series preview: Milwaukee Brewers @ Toronto Blue Jays

The Milwaukee Bewers got a bit of a cold saying, because they have now only gone 4-7 in their last 11 games that go back to their series with the Cubs last week. Yet they stay on top of the MLB rankings at 83-52, a full 4.5 matches better than any other team. The second best team? The Toronto Blue Jays, who are on 78-56 and enter the three-game set of this weekend between the two squadrons. This season Toronto has had a similar process as Milwaukee and gets Ester in the ELAst early in the year before he finds some momentum in the summer, while they are now on top of the division, 3.5 games on the Red Sox and 4.5 games on the Yankees.

The good news for the crew is that they are expected to get their young star, Jackson Chouio, back from an IL -Stint this weekend, because Chouio has missed the entire month with a hamstring injury he sustained at the end of July. Other injuries are Trevor Megill, Logan Henderson, Rob Zastryzny, Robert Gasser, Grant Anderson, Joey Ortiz, Rhys Hoskins and DL Hall. All, with the only exception of Henderson, is expected to return before the end of the regular season, with Gasser, Zastryzny, Ortiz and Hoskins that are closest. Henderson could be back on time for the late season, but it seems less than likely at the moment.

For Toronto, the team is without outfielder Anthony Santander and pitchers Yimi García, Nick Sandlin, Alek Manoah, Bowden Francis, Ryan Burr and top perspective Ricky Tiedemann. Burr is out for the rest of the year, while the other players all want to return in the coming month or so. Manoah is the only player who is currently rehabilitating, although he is struggling in the Majors since he earned an All-Star appearance in 2022.

Attacking for Milwaukee, Christian Yelich continues to determine the pace with 26 gays, 90 RBIs, 78 runs and 15 steals. He is accompanied by sudden Power-Hitter Brice Turang (15 Homers, 22 Steals), Catcher William Contreras (16 Homers) and Sal Frelick (.299 Slag average) at the top of the order. Andrew Vaughn has cooled quite well after a hot start with the crew, while Caleb Durbin, Isaac Collins, Blake Perkins, Brandon Lockkridge, Anthony Seigler and Danny Jansen have all contributed in recent weeks. As a team, the Brewers .258/.332/.407 (.739 OPS is on 11th) with 144 Homers (19th), 688 scored points (third) and 140 steals (second).

George Springer has a strong year, hits 24 Homers and rides in 67 RBIs over 112 games. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Save .292/.389/.486 with 21 homers, 30 doubles and 72 RBIs, while Bo Bichette and Dulton Varsho have also been solid. Addison Barger broke out this year with 18 gayers, while catcher Alejandro Kirk was also bounced back to hit .299 after a rough few seasons. Ty France, Andrés Giménez, Ernie Clement, Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw round the attack. As a team, the Blue Jays .268/.338/.431 (.769 Ops is in third place) with 162 Homers (11th), 664 scored points (sixth) and 67 Steals (25th).

Abner Uribe continues to play the leading role for the Bullpen van Milwaukee, with a 1.71 ERA and 78 strikeouts over 63 1/3 inner this year. Jared Koenig, Nick Mears and Shelby Miller complete the other arms with high leverage, while Aaron Ashby has also seen more high-delivery innings with the injury to Megill. Grant Anderson, Tobias Myers and Easton McGee round the bullpen for the crew. As a staff, the Brewers have an ERA of 3.63 team (third), including a 3.50 starter era (second) and a 3.79 Reliever ERA (10th). They have spoken 1,183 batters (sixth) in 1,202 2/3 innings.

Brendon Little leads the Blue Jays in performances with 63, because he has a 2.79 ERA and 80 strikeouts over 58 innings. Jeff Hoffman served as a closer way, although he is only 29-out-36 in Save opportunities with a 4.69 ERA. Yariel Rodriguez, Braydon Fisher and Tommy Nance also have solid songs, with Deadline acquisition Seranthony Dominguez takes a lot of high-delivery innings from his own. Louis Varland and Justin Bruihl complete the bullpen for Toronto. As a staff, the Blue Jays have an ERA of 4.23 team (20th), including a 4.37 starter era (20th) and a 4.03 Reliever ERA (16th). They have spoken 1,188 batters (fourth) about 1,189 2/3 innings.

Friday 29 August @ 6:07 pm: Freddy Peralta (2.68 ERA, 3.69 FIP) vs. Shane Bieber (1.50 ERA, 2.79 FIP)

Peralta has now gone three consecutive starts without allowing a run, because he has lowered his season ERA to 2.68. He also leads the competition with 15 wins this year, and hit 160 over 147 2/3 innings while looking at the 200-Stike-Out Mark for the third consecutive season. He ran five scoreless frames against the Giants in his last outing, eliminated six and allowed four free runs and a few hits in a match that the Brewers eventually lost 7-1. Peralta has only made one career start against the Jays, while he went six innings with three permitted points and three strikeouts against them in Toronto in June 2023.

Bieber, who spent the first seven years of his career at the Cleveland Guardians before he was traded on this year’s deadline, has only made one start for the Jays since he came to the team, because he missed the last season-plus after undergoing Tommy John operation. In that only start, he took the victory on the Marlins, which made one point on two hits and was a hit batter while hit nine over six frames. The former AL Cy Young winner, now 30, has made two career-starting against Milwaukee, with a 1-1 record, 4.50 ERA and 18 strikeouts over 10 innings.

Saturday, August 30 @ 2:07 pm: Quinn Priester (3.44 ERA, 4.37 FIP) vs. Kevin Gausman (3.87 ERA, 3.77 FIP)

Originally planned to pitch against the D-backs on Wednesday, the start of priest was pushed back to Saturday because he is dealing with a small wrist injury. In 24 performances (19 Starts) for Milwaukee this season he is 11-2 with a 3.44 ERA, 4.37 FIP and 104 Strikeouts over 128 1/3 innings. He continues to have an insane piece, because the Brewers have not lost a game in which he has appeared since May. In his last outing against the Cubs, he only went 4 1/3 innings with one point allowed on three hits and five free running while he hit four in a 4-1 victory. He started one career against the Jays, which means that four runs allow more than 4 2/3 innings (7.71 ERA) with three strikeouts in June 2024.

Gausman, now in his 13th MLB season and fourth with the Blue Jays, keeps going, because he has become in an above-average ERA (ie ERA+ of 100 or higher) in every season since 2020. Through 26 starts this year he has an ERA of 3.87, 3.77 FIP and 149 strikeouts over 153 2/3 innings. The dual all-star went six innings in a losing effort previous time-out, which put four runs and seven against the Marlins. Gausman has made six career performances (four starts) against Milwaukee, with a 2-0 record, 1.57 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 28 2/3 innings.

Sunday 31 August @ 12:37 pm: Brandon Woodruff (3.10 ERA, 3.53 FIP) vs. Max Scherzer (3.82 ERA, 4.65 FIP)

Woodruff has made nine starts since the return of the IL at the beginning of July, and he is a reliable part of the rotation for Pat Murphy and Co. In 49 1/3 innings, he hit 63 batters with a 3.10 ERA and 3.53 FIP. The dual all-star went 5 2/3 innings against the D-Backs in its last start on Monday, allowing five points on five hits and a walk with eight strikeouts in a 7-5 victory. Although they appear in eight seasons in 139 career competitions, this marks the first performance of Woodruff against Toronto.

After drawing Bieber and Gausman in the first two games of this series, things will not become easier for the Brewers in the serial final with 18-year-old vet Max Scherzer who gets the ball. Scherzer has made 12 starts this season, because he slows down quite a bit at the age of 40. Yet he has an ERA of 3.82, 4.65 FIP and 61 strikeouts over 66 innings. He went six innings with four runs allowed and five strikeouts against the twins in his last start and took the victory when the Jays won 10-4. In 14 career performances (13 starts) against Milwaukee, Scherzer 3-5 with a 2.88 ERA and 101 strikeouts over 78 innings.

Friday, August 29: Fanduel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (viewers outside the market); Listen via Radio on the Brewers Radio Network

Saturday, August 30: Fanduel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (viewers outside the market); Listen via Radio on the Brewers Radio Network

Sunday, August 31: Fanduel Sports Wisconsin, MLB network (viewers outside the market) and MLB.TV (viewers outside the market); Listen via Radio on the Brewers Radio Network

This is a selection framework Matchup, with the top two teams in the competition that go north north of the border. Given the recent dry spell of Milwaukee and three strong starters set up for the Blue Jays, I take Toronto with me to win two of three at home.