The Brewers head into the final day of the first half looking to shake off a doubleheader sweep and grab win No. 60, with Milwaukee sitting at 59-36 and six games clear of the Cubs in the NL Central.
They’ll try to do it behind Robert Gasser, who gets the ball after Jacob Misiorowski was scratched yesterday because of what the team described as “fatigue.” Gasser, 27, has made eight starts this season and comes in at 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA, 4.90 FIP, and 40 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings. His last outing was one of his sharpest of the year: 7 2/3 innings, two runs allowed, four hits, one walk, and four strikeouts in the second game of Tuesday’s doubleheader.
Pittsburgh counters with Paul Skenes, who is still one of the game’s premier arms even if this season hasn’t been as overpowering as the last two. Through 19 starts, he’s 7-8 with a 3.58 ERA, 2.97 FIP, and 123 strikeouts over 103 innings.
Lately, though, the Pirates haven’t gotten the usual Skenes lift. He has allowed at least two earned runs in each of his last six starts, and Pittsburgh is just 1-9 over his last 10 outings.
Milwaukee also made a couple of roster moves to wrap up the first half. The Brewers acquired infielder Braden Shewmake from the Astros for cash after Houston designated him for assignment on Friday. Shewmake, 28, was a first-round pick by the Braves in 2019 and has appeared in 30 games for the Astros this year, hitting .256/.272/.423 with three homers, four doubles, nine RBIs, and 10 runs scored in 83 plate appearances.
To make room, the Brewers designated utility man Greg Jones for assignment. Jones, another former first-round pick, has two hits in 23 at-bats with Milwaukee this season and has struck out 10 times. He had been brought up as an emergency infield option after David Hamilton’s injury last week, but the Shewmake move pushed him out and left him DFA’d for the second time this year.
The Brewers also transferred right-hander Brandon Woodruff to the 60-day IL, a move that makes it look increasingly likely he’s done for the season. Right-hander Coleman Crow was reinstated from the 15-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Nashville, though the club may not be finished seeing him in the majors.
Milwaukee’s lineup sends Christian Yelich back to the leadoff spot, with Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang following. Jake Bauers is batting fourth as the first baseman, Gary Sánchez is behind the plate, and Garrett Mitchell is in center. Sal Frelick, Joey Ortiz, and Shewmake, starting at third base, fill out the order.
In Other News...
Brewers Fans Need To See Why Luis Frias Is Turning Heads
Luis Frias has been one of the more intriguing names in the Brewers system this summer, a young international prospect whose tools are starting to show up in games for Wilson. The 18-year-old has flashed real power and enough defensive ability to make scouts take notice, and his recent homer against Charleston was another reminder that his bat is beginning to catch up with the rest of his profile as he works through the Carolina League.
What has helped Frias stand out is the way he has adjusted at the plate, which has given Wilson confidence that the raw talent is turning into something more usable. The arm strength is real, the swing looks more polished, and his climb to No. 12 on the teams Top 30 list suggests the Brewers are paying close attention as he keeps moving forward, with the next question being just how far this surge can carry him. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Already Moved On From A Trade Addition Fans Expected To Matter
Lance McCullers Jr. did not get much time to settle in Milwaukee before the Brewers had to make another call on the bullpen. After two relief appearances with mixed results, the veteran right-hander was moved off the active roster, and Garrett Stallings stepped into his spot as the club continues to sort through the back end of its pitching staff.
The timing matters as much as the performance. With one week left before the trade deadline, the Brewers now have an open 40-man roster spot to work with, and McCullers appears headed toward a decision that could send him back into free agency rather than a minor league stopover. For a team trying to stay flexible while the market heats up, it is the kind of move that can say as much about the next transaction as the one that just happened. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers May Be Eyeing The Big Deadline Bat Fans Keep Debating
The first move of the 2026 deadline season has already nudged the market forward, and Milwaukee is a club worth watching as the rest of it takes shape. The Brewers have a strong record and one of the better farm systems in the game, which gives them the flexibility to think bigger than a typical July add. Among the names floating around, Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams stands out as the kind of impact bat that could change the look of a lineup in a hurry.
Abrams brings the offense that usually gets teams dreaming about a deadline splash, but his fit is not quite as simple as plugging him into a familiar spot and moving on. If Milwaukee were to get serious, the Brewers would have to weigh how to use him defensively and how much they are willing to pay in prospect capital to make it happen. For a team trying to balance present urgency with long-term depth, that is the sort of decision that can define the rest of the summer. [Read more 🡒]