Milwaukee Brewers

Things are going fairly well for the Milwaukee Brewers this season considering they are in first place in the National League Central at 17-11, but nothing went well during Sunday's 16-4 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Not only did the Brewers lose by 12 runs, pitcher Alec Bettinger tied Major League Baseball's all-time record by allowing 11 earned runs during a debut performance, per Adam McCalvy of MLB.com.

Chicago White Sox pitcher Arnie Munoz also allowed 11 runs during a June 2004 start against the Montreal Expos.

The Brewers right-hander allowed the 11 earned runs, 11 hits and two walks over the course of four innings.

McCalvy explained manager Craig Counsell left him in that long in part because the team is dealing with a handful of injuries and is in the middle of a stretch of playing 17 games in as many days. Taking him out earlier would have put undue stress on the bullpen during a game that was essentially decided in the first two innings.

AJ Pollock hit a grand slam in the first, while Matt Beaty launched a grand slam in the second.

That made Bettinger, who also allowed RBI singles to Beaty in the first and fourth innings, the first pitcher in the modern era to give up multiple grand slams in a debut.

"I've been punched in the mouth plenty of times in this game," Bettinger said. "This game is going to humble you many, many times. Anybody who's played it for as long as we have here knows that. I'm just going to keep pushing forward. That's all I can do at this point."

Sunday was a disappointing development for the Brewers, but they still took three of four against the defending World Series champions and have remained in first place with Christian Yelich, Lorenzo Cain and Corbin Burnes all sidelined by injuries.

Next up is a four-game series at the Philadelphia Phillies that starts Monday.

Few pitchers in baseball have been better than Corbin Burnes at the start of the 2021 season, but the Milwaukee Brewers announced they placed him on the injured list Thursday. 

"Corbin is on the injured list," manager Craig Counsell told reporters when asked if the right-hander tested positive for COVID-19. "I can't discuss it."

ESPN's Jesse Rogers noted the team plans on naming a replacement for him on the roster following Saturday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This is another setback for the Brewers, who are also missing outfielders Christian Yelich (back) and Lorenzo Cain (quad).

"We're getting hit with injuries," Counsell said. "There's no reason to get upset about this. We have to deal with it. We're working on getting guys healthy. Not one of these injuries is a long-term thing. We will get these players back."

Despite the injuries, Milwaukee is still in first place in the National League Central at 14-10 and 1.5 games ahead of the second-place St. Louis Cardinals.

Burnes is a primary driving force for that early success, as he has a 1.53 ERA, a league-leading 0.55 WHIP and 49 strikeouts in 29.1 innings. He also hasn't walked a single batter and has helped set the tone for a pitching staff that is fifth in the National League in ERA.

While the right-hander had an ugly 8.82 ERA in 2019, he broke through during the shortened 2020 campaign with a 2.11 ERA and 1.02 WHIP. His early success this year has been more of the same, and he appears primed to anchor Milwaukee's staff for years to come.

The 26-year-old is under team control until 2025.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is working his way back to the field after an MRI showed no major issues in the lower-back problem that has kept him off the field since April 11.

"We basically just ruled out anything significant structurally that would show up on the MRI," Brewers manager Craig Counsell told reporters Sunday. "We still need to make progress to get him back on the field and so from that perspective not much has changed. But we'll keep moving forward and see what some activity tomorrow at the field brings."

The 29-year-old Yelich is in the midst of his fourth season with the Brewers, and he has struggled through injuries thus far in 2021.

Yelich has already missed 11 games with a back injury that he suffered in April. In nine games played so far this season, Yelich is hitting .333 with a .459 on-base percentage with one RBI.

While Yelich showed a great deal of potential during his five seasons with the Miami Marlins, it wasn't until he got traded to Milwaukee in 2018 that he truly broke out.

During his first season with the Brew Crew, Yelich won the National League batting title with a .326 batting average and also clubbed 36 home runs and 110 RBI, while scoring 118 runs and stealing 22 bases.

Yelich was named an All-Star for the first time in his career thanks to that performance, and he also won the NL MVP Award.

He was arguably even better in 2019, winning another batting title with a .329 average and recording 44 homers, 97 RBI, 100 runs and 30 steals. Yelich finished second in the MVP voting but impressively did all of that in 130 games, as his season was cut short due to a fractured kneecap.

Yelich didn't bounce back from that injury as well as hoped in 2020, and he never truly found his rhythm during the COVID-shortened season. In 58 games, Yelich hit a career-low .205 with 12 homers, 22 RBI, 39 runs and four stolen bases.

Despite Yelich's struggles to return to his 2018 and 2019 level of play, he is still a hugely important player for the Brewers who will be difficult to replace if he misses time.

Bill McKinney has been the main beneficiary in terms of earning more playing time in the outfield along with starters Avisail Garcia and Jackie Bradley Jr., and that should continue. 

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich's ailing back continues to be a problem without a clear answer.

Manager Craig Counsell told reporters Saturday the team sent Yelich back to Milwaukee for an MRI because he's "unfortunately hit a bit of a plateau" in his comeback attempt.

The injury originally occurred during an April 11 game against the St. Louis Cardinals. Yelich was removed after his second at-bat with what was initially deemed as back soreness.

Milwaukee placed Yelich on the injured list April 17.

Yelich has mostly been able to avoid major injuries during his career, averaging 143 games from 2014 to 2019 before playing 58 of 60 possible games during the shortened 2020 campaign.

Milwaukee also suffers without Yelich considering his impact on the field. The 2018 MVP finished second in voting for the award in 2019, winning the National League batting title in each season.

After a down 2020, he has played well when healthy in 2021 with a .333 batting average and .459 on-base percentage in nine games.

Billy McKinney should continue to see action in left field, although the entire lineup will need to be productive with Yelich unavailable.

Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich's streak on the sidelines will continue.

After missing four straight games with a back injury, Yelich was officially placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday. Brewers manager Craig Counsell had told reporters before the move that he hoped the star avoided a lengthy injury stint. He had also said Friday that Yelich was "making progress."

Since making his MLB debut with the Miami Marlins midway through the 2013 season, Yelich has been largely healthy. He's only missed more than 18 games twice in the previous eight years.

The 2018 National League MVP got off to a terrific start this season with a .333/.459/.367 slash line in the first nine games before his back flared up.

The Brewers don't boast a deep lineup, so losing their best hitter for any period puts more pressure on everyone around him.

However, Corbin Burnes and Brandon Woodruff are off to fantastic starts, giving the starting rotation an excellent 1-2 punch capable of shutting down opposing lineups.

With Yelich out of action, veteran utilityman Billy McKinney will see increased time in the outfield, as will Avisail Garcia.

Devin Williams parlayed a lights-out 2020 season into a National League Rookie of the Year award. With the Milwaukee Brewers tied for first place in the NL Central this year, the right-hander joined B/R for an AMA session Thursday.

Williams tackled a number of topics, including his impressive rookie season and the meaning of Jackie Robinson Day across MLB.

And for those who played MLB The Show 20, the 26-year-old reliever is well aware of how difficult it was to collect his 99-overall-rated card in the game's Diamond Dynasty mode.

The following is the full transcript from the AMA session.

@fitchkarma66: Which former MLB player had the biggest influence on you?

Pedro, I kind of grew up studying his game and how he attacked hitters.

@drugsandhugs: Are you going to help my fantasy team recover?

I’ll definitely try to. I’m trying to win games now.

@maloas23: Who was your biggest inspiration growing up?

I had a lot of good influences. My mom, my grandparents, I’m really close with all of them. People I always looked up to, so definitely a combo of those three.

@Steve_Perrault: What does Jackie Robinson Day mean to you?

It’s special to me because I wouldn't be here without him. He was the right person to do it at that time. His impact is still being felt today and it's nice to see we are finally all celebrating him across the league.

@realalexlarsen: Are you a fan of the idea of robot umps?

It’d be nice to get some extra calls but I think the human element has its place in the game. The umps are pretty spot on most of the time, they have pretty high percentages so we should just keep it as it is.

@GeauxSaints: How do you hold your changeup to get the movement on it like it has?

Just a circle change grip across the four seams. When I throw it, I try and throw it with the circle cutting across the front.

@LandonE: Have you ever wanted to be a starter or gave it much serious thought?

I like starting, I was a starter originally up until 2019. I like my role in the bullpen because you have to lock in for every game as opposed to sitting every four games.

@yankeek: If you could play with any former baseball player who would it be?

I think I have to go with Pedro. To watch him on his day-to-day routines. One of my favorite things to do is watch Woodruff throw. 

@avery13: Who’s the hardest batter you’ve had to face?

There's a lot of good ones. Yadi is up there, he spoils a lot of good pitches.

@SportFanBeast: What’s your favorite movie?

The Sandlot is up there for me. Interstellar. Shawshank Redemption.

@BizarreRidell: What were your hitting stats in high school?

I think I hit like .380 my senior year. I had some good stats in AA too, I think we should keep pitchers batting, it’s been a part of the game.

@uncennsoredsports: Was there a defining moment that made you want to pursue pro baseball?

Nothing in particular, I think it was just a combination of things. I've always loved sports. Baseball was always in my top 2 so i figured i might as well pursue it.

@rohang: What’s your advice to young players trying to make it to MLB?

There's always going to be adversity no matter who you are, it matters how you handle it though.

@donttesteddie: What’s your favorite hobby?

Playing video games after games, how I like to wind down.

@oneillkel: Do you play MLB The Show 20? Are you happy that you have a 99 overall card?

Yeah I do like The Show quite a bit, looking forward to the new game. I hadn’t even used that card, it’s too expensive! I played as the Brewers in Diamond Dynasty, but I never got to the 99 card.

@gosawks: What was it like when you first got the call to the Majors?

That was unbelievable. I called my mom and we both just kind of cried on the phone for a minute. We both know how long of a journey it was for me and her. There were so many road trips that she took me on. It was just as much of a journey for her as it was for me.

@ReasonablySober: How do you like Milwaukee?

I like the city, it reminds me of St. Louis but smaller. But it seems like it's got some pretty good food and there’s some decent places to shop when we are allowed to.

@thespider45: Who’s your favorite athlete?

LeBron’s been a big influence for me. I think the way he’s been able to maintain that level of greatest for 18 years along with everything else he does outside the game of basketball. His business and social justice work.

Rapid Fire Questions:

What’s it like giving up 1 earned run all season last year?

It was an amazing run I was able to go on. Kind of coming back to reality this year, sort of struggling and just reminding myself how difficult this game is.

What was it like getting ROY?

That was unbelievable honestly. I wasn't expecting it, but in my mind I thought I was deserving. It was an incredible honor to receive, just want to build on it.

Favorite sneakers?

Travis Scott low 1s. I don't have a ton but I've got a few pairs.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is day-to-day after leaving Sunday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals early because of back soreness, manager Craig Counsell told reporters after his team's 9-3 victory. 

Craig Counsell says #Brewers sluggers Christian Yelich and Travis Shaw are both day-to-day. pic.twitter.com/hnAmVJTzfL

— FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin (@FanDuelSN_WI) April 11, 2021

Jackie Bradley Jr. replaced Yelich after he took his second at-bat of the game. Yelich went 1-for-2 with a run scored before exiting. Milwaukee ended the second inning up 7-1 over the Cardinals.

The 29-year-old, who is three years removed from the MVP nod he earned in his first season with the Brewers, has slashed .321/.457/.357 with one RBI through eight games for Milwaukee, which is 4-4. 

Yelich struggled mightily in 2020. Through 58 games, he hit just .205/.356/.430 with 22 RBI and 12 home runs, a year after he led the National League in batting average and on-base percentage while topping MLB in in slugging percentage.

Though he missed time with a fractured kneecap at the end of the 2019 season, the Thousand Oaks, California, native has proved largely durable throughout his career. He has never appeared in fewer than 126 games, a career low from 2015 when he dealt with various ailments, including back spasms and a knee bruise. 

If Yelich has to miss additional time, expect Bradley to continue to hold it down in left field.  

Longtime Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun suggested Monday that he may opt for retirement rather than attempting to play a 15th MLB season in 2021. 

According to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), Braun said: "I'm strongly leaning in the direction of being done as an active player. But I think you can always push that decision back. I'm still young enough, still working out, still in shape. If something were to change, I might as well leave that door open as long as possible."

Braun, 37, spent all 14 of his MLB seasons with the Brewers, earning six All-Star selections as well as winning both the 2007 National League Rookie of the Year award in 2007 and the NL MVP award in 2011.

The five-time Silver Slugger award winner is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career. He hit a career-low .233 to go along with eight home runs and 26 RBI in 39 games during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 campaign.

Braun has been plagued by injuries in recent years, appearing in more than 140 games in a season just once since playing in 154 in 2012. That includes a back injury last year, which prevented him from playing in Milwaukee's first-round playoff series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

From 2007-12, Braun was unquestionably one of the best hitters in baseball. He was named an All-Star in five of those six seasons and averaged a .313 batting average with 34 home runs, 107 RBI, 102 runs scored and 21 stolen bases per season during that stretch.

In 2011, Braun hit a career-best .332 with 33 homers, 111 RBI, 109 runs and 33 steals en route to being named NL MVP.

It can be argued that he was even better the following season when he hit .319 with a career-high 41 home runs, as well as 112 RBI, 108 runs scored and 30 stolen bases en route to finishing second in the NL MVP voting to San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey.

Braun missed 101 games due to injury and suspension in the 2013 season and his production never fully recovered. He made a sixth and final All-Star team in 2015 when he hit .285 with 25 homers and 84 RBI and then hit .305 with 30 home runs and 91 RBI in 2016, but he was far from MVP status.

🚨Ryan Braun Home Run 🚨
🚨In the first inning 🚨#RyanBraunForever I #ThisIsMyCrew pic.twitter.com/VyceLnuH2E

— Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 15, 2020

Since 2017, Braun's per season averages have dropped to a .267 batting average with 17 home runs, 54 RBI, 50 runs scored and nine stolen bases.

If Braun does decide to play again, he seemingly doesn't want it to be for any team other than the Brewers, saying: "I can't foresee a scenario in which I play for any other major league team."

Regardless of whether he plays again or not, Braun will go down as one of the all-time greats in Brewers history with a career-batting average of .296 to go along with 352 home runs, 1,154 RBI, 1,963 hits, 1,080 runs and 216 stolen bases.

Braun is first in team history in home runs and second in most of the other major offensive categories.

If not for a suspension due to a violation of MLB's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program in 2013, Braun could have been in line to receive heavy Hall of Fame consideration.

The Hall of Fame likely isn't a realistic landing spot for Braun any time soon, but there is no question that he enjoyed a highly productive career and played a big role in the Brewers remaining competitive throughout his career.

There's a new outfielder in Milwaukee, and he's just the guy the Brewers needed to separate themselves in the race for the National League Central title in 2021.

The Brewers agreed to a two-year, $24 million contract with former Boston Red Sox star Jackie Bradley Jr. on Thursday, per multiple reports. Though Bradley's a Gold Glove-winning center fielder, Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell stated that the 30-year-old will defer to fellow Gold Glover Lorenzo Cain at that spot.

In any case, the Brewers are going into 2021 with a team that Baseball Prospectus rightfully sees as having a better than 50 percent chance of winning the NL Central crown.

              

The State of the Brewers

• Made playoffs in 2018, 2019 and 2020
• 29-31 record in 2020 tied for the worst of any playoff team
• Also outscored by 17 runs in 2020
• Projected by Baseball Prospectus to win NL Central with 89-73 record in 2021

       

Why the Bradley Signing Matters for Milwaukee

The Brewers weren't particularly good at anything last season, but one area where they had an especially hard time was with their outfield defense. Its minus-four outs above average tied for 22nd in MLB.

Well, now they have a Gold Glover at all three outfield spots.

Even if Cain and Bradley—who'll presumably play right field—only have two Gold Gloves between them, evidence of their defensive brilliance is clearly seen in their outs above average. Bradley has accounted for 62 OAA since the stat's inception in 2016. Even despite last year's early opt-out, Cain has him beat with 68 OAA.

Meanwhile in left field, Christian Yelich's defensive reputation has diminished since he won a Gold Glove in 2014. But at a time when there isn't a whole lot of defensive talent in left field, he doesn't stand out as being egregiously unplayable at the position.

This is to say that Milwaukee's outfield defense looks darn good on paper. And much more so than in prior years, that could be a game-changing advantage in 2021.

In what sure seems like a calculated response to the league's historically inflated home run rate, Eno Sarris and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported in February that Major League Baseball is deadening the ball ahead of the 2021 season. This will likely result in fewer fly balls going over the fence.

Between that and the club's new-look outfield, the Brewers figure to be one of the best in the business at turning fly balls into outs in 2021. Their infield defense, for its part, was already good, and now it has two-time Gold Glover Kolten Wong at second base.

           

The Brewers Should Also Hit and Pitch Well in 2021

Another area where the Brewers had an especially hard time last season was in generating offense. They ranked ahead of only three teams with 4.1 runs per game.

But if nothing else, the Brewers can count on Yelich to bounce back after he went from batting .327/.415/.631 across 2018 and 2019 to just .205/.356/.430 in 2020. He's more than a year removed from the broken kneecap that ended his 2019 season, and he'll once again have access to in-game video in 2021.

So long as he can cut down on some swings and misses, Keston Hiura will also have a path back to his 2019 form. He hit 19 home runs in only 84 games that year, with a better hard-hit rate than even Yelich.

As a .288 career hitter, Cain is typically a solid offensive producer in his own right. Bradley's offense comes and goes, but his last five seasons suggest the Brewers can expect a respectable 100 OPS+ and 15 to 20 home runs out of him.

These four alone could be the solidifying force that allows the Brewers to at least finish in average territory with their offensive output in 2021. If Wong, Travis Shaw, Omar Narvaez and Avisail Garcia—the latter of whom figures to spell Bradley against lefties—also revert to their best offensive selves, even better.

Granted, there probably isn't any scenario in which the Brewers are one of baseball's top run-scoring teams in 2021. But with their pitching, they shouldn't have to be.

Leading their rotation is Brandon Woodruff, who's pitched to a 132 ERA+ over the last two seasons. Behind him is fellow right-hander Corbin Burnes, who went off for a 1.65 ERA and 64 strikeouts in eight starts after moving into Milwaukee's rotation last August.

The Brewers otherwise only need Josh Lindblom, Adrian Houser and Brett Anderson to eat innings. After posting by far MLB's highest strikeout rate in 2020, the club's bullpen should be able to clean up after them.

Young righty Devin Williams justifiably won the NL Rookie of the Year for 2020 after he allowed only one run while striking out 53 batters in 27 innings. And even if he was more hittable than usual, two-time All-Star Josh Hader still whiffed 31 batters in 19 innings.

Also in Milwaukee's pen are Justin Topa, who boasts a 97.5 mph fastball, and Brent Suter, who's racked up 37 strikeouts and only two walks in relief over the last two seasons. Throw in Freddy Peralta, who struck out 44 batters in 26.1 innings as a reliever last year, and the core of the Brewers' relief corps is up there with the best of 'em.

          

The Cardinals Question

Following a 93-loss season in 2019 and a league-worst 19-41 record in 2020, the Pittsburgh Pirates aren't a threat to anyone as they continue their rebuild in 2021.

For their part, whether the Chicago Cubs or Cincinnati Reds fall into the threat category is debatable.

The Reds' winter was marked by the losses of ace Trevor Bauer and closer Raisel Iglesias, with few additions to make up for it. The Cubs made a handful of upside plays on guys like Joc Pederson and old friend Jake Arrieta, but they also parted with Yu Darvish, Kyle Schwarber and Jon Lester.

Neither Baseball Prospectus nor FanGraphs projects the Cubs or Reds to finish ahead of the Brewers in 2021. While that doesn't mean they should underestimate either team, their obvious rival in the NL Central is the one that FanGraphs favors: the St. Louis Cardinals.

There is something to that, as the Cardinals went 30-28 last year and made arguably the winter's biggest splash when they acquired superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado. He and Paul Goldschmidt will carry their offense, while their pitching will revolve around young ace Jack Flaherty.

Yet even the Arenado-Goldschmidt duo might not be enough to rescue the Cardinals from a third straight year (see here and here) of offensive futility. Particularly not if Arenado struggles to adjust to life after Coors Field and if Goldschmidt, who'll be 34 in September, can't reinvigorate his power after hitting only six homers in 2020.

The Cardinals also have a lot riding on a shaky rotation. Flaherty couldn't sustain his 2019 breakout last year. Adam Wainwright will be 40 in August. Two years have passed since Miles Mikolas broke out in 2018. It's been even longer since Carlos Martinez was a viable starter.

In the background of all this is the writing on the wall that the NL Central probably doesn't have a team capable of going toe-to-toe with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Atlanta or the New York Mets in October. Indeed, it's the weakest division in MLB.

Nevertheless, it should be fun to watch the Brewers and Cardinals duke it out for the division crown. And between the two, the edge belongs ever so slightly to Milwaukee.

           

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.

The Milwaukee Brewers reportedly upgraded their outfield Thursday with the addition of former Boston Red Sox center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr.

ESPN reported it's a two-year, $24 million contract with a player option after the 2021 MLB season.

Here's a look at the Brewers' projected lineup after the free-agent signing:

• 1. Kolten Wong (2B)
• 2. Lorenzo Cain (RF)
• 3. Christian Yelich (LF)
• 4. Keston Hiura (1B)
• 5. Jackie Bradley Jr. (CF)
• 6. Travis Shaw (3B)
• 7. Orlando Arcia (SS)
• 8. Omar Narvaez (C)

Bradley was one of the league's best defensive center fielders across his eight years with the Red Sox. He recorded 48 defensive runs saved over that span, which ranked third behind his new teammate Cain (99) and Billy Hamilton (75), according to FanGraphs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=It9uscPfPsA

His performance at the plate has been a little more inconsistent. His best offensive season with Boston came in 2016, when he posted career highs in both OPS (.835) and home runs (26).

He's coming off a solid showing during the coronavirus pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, during which he compiled a career-best .283 batting average with seven homers and seven stolen bases in 55 games.

Bradley is one of the last high-profile free agents to sign a contract, but the 2016 All-Star told Julian McWilliams of the Boston Globe in late December he was content waiting at home with his newborn child until the right offer came along.

"Writers, players, whoever it may be—owners—kind of knew it was going to be a slow offseason," he said. "I feel like everybody is kind of trying to get more information about what's going to go on with the pandemic. Making sure that everybody's protected in a certain way. So we...forecast the flow, but it'll pick up when it does."

The Brewers are expected to find themselves in a hotly contested four-team race atop the NL Central alongside the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals. It could contend with the NL East for the most competitive division in baseball this year.

Adding Bradley this late in the process is a nice coup by Milwaukee, and it may prove crucial in the team's hunt for a playoff berth if he can find success at the plate like he did in 2016 and 2020.

It's unclear when he will make his spring training debut for the Brew Crew, but he shouldn't have much trouble getting up to full speed before their Opening Day clash with the Minnesota Twins on April 1.