The Brewers are rolling into New York with momentum and a rotation lined up to keep it going.
After taking two of three from the Braves over the weekend, Milwaukee sits at 81-50 and holds a six-game lead over the Cubs in the National League Central. The Mets, meanwhile, are stuck in last place in the NL East at 59-72 as the teams prepare for a three-game series that opens Tuesday night on the road.
Milwaukee has already mapped out its starters for the set, and the matchups bring a mix of steady production and high-end punch. On Tuesday, the Brewers are set to send left-hander Quinn Harrison against Mets lefty Zac Thornton.
Harrison has been one of Milwaukee’s best additions this season after arriving from the Boston Red Sox in the Caleb Durbin deal. He’s made 20 starts, posted a 2.84 ERA and piled up 122 strikeouts against just 26 walks across 98 1/3 innings.
The command has been the story. A strikeout-to-walk gap that lopsided is exactly the kind of thing that gives a rotation real backbone.
Wednesday brings right-hander Aaron May, who is looking to bounce back after a rough outing on Aug. 19.
That night, he gave up seven runs in just two innings, a sharp departure from what he had done in his first two Brewers starts. Before that dud, May had thrown 13 innings and allowed only three runs in Milwaukee.
His season has followed that same pattern overall: mostly excellent, with a few blowups mixed in. The Brewers will be banking on the better version showing up in New York.
The Mets are expected to counter with right-hander Robert Stock.
The series wraps with right-hander Jacob Misiorowski, and that’s the one that jumps off the page. Misiorowski owns a league-leading 1.68 ERA and a league-leading 216 strikeouts in 145 innings.
At this point, every time he takes the mound, the other dugout has plenty to worry about. He is well on his way to his first Cy Young Award unless something major changes late in the year.
Sean Manaea is scheduled to start the finale for the Mets.
In Other News...
Garrett Mitchell Gave Brewers Fans A Classy Moment On National TV
Sunday nights Brewers-Braves matchup carried a little extra sentiment beyond the score, thanks to Karl Ravechs final broadcast on Sunday Night Baseball. The longtime ESPN voice, who has been part of the network since 1993 and has covered everything from Major League Baseball to the Little League World Series, was recognized during the telecast as he wrapped up three decades in sports media.
Both Chris Sale and Garrett Mitchell made sure to publicly thank Ravech on the air, a classy touch in the middle of a nationally televised game. It was the kind of moment that reminded viewers the Brewers were part of something bigger than one nights box score, even as the broadcast quietly turned into a farewell for one of ESPNs most familiar voices. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Now Wait On Garrett Mitchell After Scary Exit
Garrett Mitchells night ended early in the Little League Classic after a 94 mph fastball caught him on the right forearm, sending the Brewers outfielder out of the game with a contusion. It was an ugly moment in a showcase setting, but the immediate news afterward offered some relief, as X-rays came back negative and pointed away from anything more serious.
Now Milwaukee is left waiting to see how quickly Mitchell can get back to normal and back into the lineup. The expectation is that he should recover soon, though the Brewers may have to make do without him for a short stretch while the soreness settles down and the team monitors how he responds. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers May Soon Face A Tough Rotation Call With Coleman Crow
The Brewers have reached the point in the season where the rotation picture is mostly clear, even if a few decisions still loom. Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison, Logan Henderson and Dustin May appear to have the top four spots in place, while Shane Drohan is expected to shift to the bullpen. Robert Gassers hold on a rotation job looks less certain after some recent struggles, leaving Milwaukee with a small but meaningful opening to monitor.
One name that keeps surfacing is Coleman Crow, whose performance in Triple-A has put him in position to force the issue. The rookie could work his way into the rotation mix or simply be an obvious call-up when rosters expand in September, giving the Brewers another arm to consider as they sort through the back end of the staff. Brandon Woodruffs rehab remains a factor in the bigger picture, but his long ramp-up makes it unlikely he changes the regular-season equation anytime soon. [Read more 🡒]