The Milwaukee Brewers are back in the city for their last regular season series this weekend, because they welcome the Cincinnati Reds in American Family Field for three games from Friday evening. The Bewers are just a victory from establishing a new franchise record for victories in a season, and they are also just a victory (or Phillies loss) away from claiming the best record in baseball, giving them home field advantage through the play-offs.
On the other hand, the Reds fight for their season while they are neck and neck with the Dbacks and Mets for the last NL Wild Card spot.
This has a nice series.
The injured list of the Brewers remains full of pitchers, namely RHP Brandon Woodruff, who could be back for the late season, although based on recent comments from himself and manager Pat Murphy, that seems unlikely. Beyond him, the poet Trevor Megill and Reliever DL Hall could be back this weekend to make hitters for the play -offs. Rookie Logan Henderson makes a push to return for the play -offs (although it is unclear where he would fit into the pitching staff), and Jose Quintana too. Pitchers Shelby Miller, JB Bukauskas and Connor Thomas, together with outfielder Garrett Mitchell, are out for the year.
For the Reds, Outfielder Austin Hays is currently considered from day to day with back spasms, because he has missed the last few games, but has not been moved to the IL at the moment. Pitchers Ian Gibaut, Wade Miley, Carson Spires, Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiaar are all expected to be done with injuries for the year.
This season I wrote enough about Milwaukee’s attack that I don’t think much more should be said. Instead, I will emphasize a few milestones that you can keep an eye on this weekend. Christian Yelich is one homer from 30 for the season, Jackson Chouio is a steal shy of another 20-20 season, Brice Turang is two homers shy for a 20-20 year, Isaac Collins is a Homer shy of 10 for the year, and Sal Frelick probably needs about nine hits this weekend (all of which plays) to hit .300 .300. As a team, the Brewers .260/.333/.405 (.738 OPS is on 11th) with 164 Homers (bound for 20th), 797 scored (third) and 161 Steals (second).
The Reds are led by Elly de la Cruz and Spencer Steer, who each have 21 homers. Hays has added 15 gays, just like Matt McLain. Noelvi Marte, TJ Friedl, Tyler Stephenson, Will Benson, Jose Revino, Sal Stewart, Miguel Andujar, Gavin Lux, Santiago Espinal and Ke’bryan Hayes are also in the fold. As a team, the Reds .245/.315/.391 (.706 OPS ranks 19th) with 164 homers (bound for 20th), 704 points scored (15th) and 104 Steals (19th).
The Bullpen van Milwaukee nowadays seems to look a bit different every series, and that will probably continue in the late season. The group currently consists of Abner Uribe closure games with Nick Mears and Jared Koenig the most important guys putting on him. Beyond them, Rob Zastryzny, Aaron Ashby, Tobias Myers, Erick Fedde, Grant Anderson and Carlos Rodriguez have also been innings eaters. Robert Gasser, Chad Patrick and Jacob Misiorowski also have the potential to both start and relieve both. As a staff, the Brewers have an ERA of 3.61 team (second), including a 3.55 starter era (second) and a 3.69 Reliever ERA (ninth). They have hit 1,402 batters (fourth) over 1,415 innings.
The bullpen of the Reds is led by Tony Santillan, Scott Barlow, Emilio Pagán and Brent Ster. Santillan leads the road with 79 performances and beat 74 from more than 72 2/3 innings while picking up seven Saves with a 2.48 ERA. Pagán has 30 saves and an ERA of 2.97, and threw 79 over 66 2/3 innings. Connor Phillips, Zach Maxwell and Long-relief Options Nick Martinez, Graham Achcraft and Chase Burns accompany them in the pen. As a staff, the Reds have an ERA of 3.88 team (13th), including a 3.83 starter era (eighth) and a 3.94 Reliever ERA (14th). They have spoken 1,352 batters (12th) about 1,409 innings.
Friday 26 September @ 7:10 pm: Quinn Priester (3.25 ERA, 4.08 FIP) vs. Zack Littell (3.86 ERA, 4.93 FIP)
Priest continues to impress in his time with Milwaukee. After he was planned to start the Padres on Wednesday, he got an extra few days of rest and will start on Friday, which should help his start for the NLDs. In his last outing, Milwaukee beat the angels while he went 5 2/3 innings with two runs allowed and 10 strikeouts. For the year he is 13-2 with a 3.25 ERA, 4.08 FIP and 128 strikeouts over 152 1/3 innings. In three career performances (two starts) against the Reds, priest has a 1-0 record with a 2.76 ERA and 13 strikeouts over 16 1/3 innings. This includes three permitted points and nine strikeouts over 10 1/3 innings in two performances this season.
Littell, 29, has made nine starts for the Reds since he was taken from the rays at the deadline. In 31 total starts this season he has an ERA of 3.86 and 4.93 FIP with 127 strikeouts over 182 innings. He went around five innings in a victory over the Cubs his last time, allowing two points on three hits and a walk with four strikeouts. He has made 11 career performances (two starts) against Milwaukee, with a 1.71 ERA and 15 strikeouts over 21 innings. Both starts came this year (one with Tampa Bay, one with Cincinnati), with 12 innings with three permitted points and eight strikeouts in a few no-decions.
Saturday 27 September @ 6.15 pm: TBD vs. Andrew Abbott (2.80 ERA, 3.65 FIP)
The Brewers have not announced starters for one of the last two games of this series, although people will almost certainly be Freddy Peralta, so I will give a short blurb here. This year I wrote about 30 Blurbs on Peralta and they all follow the same trend: he has been really good, especially if he limits walks. In 32 Starts this season, Peralta 17-6 is with a 2.68 ERA, 3.62 FIP and 201 Strikeouts over 174 2/3 innings. His last start was a no-decision, because he allowed two points and hit six in five innings on only 76 throws. During 21 career performances (15 Starts) against Cincinnati, Peralta 5-4 with a 3.43 ERA and 117 strikeouts over 89 1/3 innings. His only start against the Reds this year was a loss because he allowed three points and struck nine through six innings.
Abbott, 26, has also enjoyed a solid year, with career-best songs across the board. More than 28 starts this season, he has an ERA of 2.80, 3.65 FIP and 145 strikeouts over 161 frames. The former pick in the second round threw 4 2/3 shutout frames in his last performance, making five hits and a walk allowed while he hit two out of 86 throws in a final 1-0 win over the Cubs. About seven career starts against Milwaukee, Abbott is 2-4 with a 3.57 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 40 1/3 innings. He has made a few starts against the crew this season, making five points more than 13 innings with 13 strikeouts possible.
Sunday 28 September @ 2.10 pm: TBD vs. Brady Singer (3.95 ERA, 3.93 FIP)
As mentioned above, this can be the place of Peralta, although the starter is completely upset for the other competition (Saturday or Sunday). It would not surprise me if we would see a form of a bullpen game with DL Hall that may return from injury to become a member of Jacob Misiorowski, Chad Patrick, Aaron Ashby, Tobias Myers, Erick Fedde, Robert Gasser, and/or Carlos Rodriguez (and I realize the many multi-innings, in the same way).
Singer, 28, has put together one of the best seasons of his career in his first year at the Reds. After five solid-not-offspring seasons with Kansas City, he threw a 3.95 ERA and 3.93 FIP over 166 1/3 innings this season, and threw 158 batter people. He got a little rough in his last start against the Pirates – four earned points and only three strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings – but he was much better in the three starts earlier, making only four earned points over 17 2/3 innings with 15 strikeouts against the Mets, As, As and Cardals. In three career starts against Milwaukee (two of which came this year), Singer has a 4.11 ERA and 15 strikeouts over 15 1/3 innings.
Friday 26 September: Fanduel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (viewers outside the market); Listen via Radio on the Brewers Radio Network
Saturday, September 27: Nationally broadcast on Fox; Listen via Radio on the Brewers Radio Network
Sunday 28 September: Fanduel Sports Wisconsin, Telemundo Wisconsin and MLB.TV (viewers outside the market); Listen via Radio on the Brewers Radio Network
The Reds have much more to play here, because Milwaukee is just looking to end the regular season in a high tone, while Cincy is fighting to keep playing in October. I think the Reds are two of the three out of Eke and I hope they can get some help to sneak the late season.
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