The Milwaukee Brewers have spent most of this season looking like a club that belongs in the conversation with the best teams in baseball. They’re on top of the NL Central, the pitching is starting to stack up behind Kyle Harrison and Jacob Misiorowski, and the roster has enough quality relievers and offense to point toward a real October run. That’s why ESPN’s David Schoenfield believes this is the year for Milwaukee to make a bold move.
His target is a big one: Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal.
Schoenfield is pushing the Brewers to go “all-in” before the August 3 trade deadline, arguing that Skubal could be the final piece that changes the shape of the club’s season. As he put it, “If there's ever a year to go all-in, this is it," Schoenfield writes. "Skubal could be that final piece for the Brewers, and he not only adds another ace to go with Jacob Misiorowski but also gives them another lefty starter alongside Kyle Harrison to combat Shohei Ohtani and a lefty-heavy Dodgers lineup.”
That’s the heart of the case: Milwaukee has enough to be dangerous, but if the Brewers want to push past the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League, they may need to make the kind of move they usually avoid.
Skubal hasn’t matched the peak he reached in his back-to-back Cy Young seasons in 2024 and 2025, but he’s still producing at a high level. He owns a 3.15 ERA this year, with 75 strikeouts across 11 starts and 65.2 innings pitched.
For a Brewers team that doesn’t typically operate as a big spender, this would be the sort of exception that fits the moment. Adding Skubal would give Milwaukee three of the best pitchers in baseball, and it would also keep the Dodgers from landing him themselves.
That part matters because Schoenfield isn’t only urging Milwaukee to pursue Skubal. He’s also recommending the Dodgers do the same, which makes the Brewers’ position even more interesting. If they land the Tigers’ ace, they improve their own rotation and deny a top rival the same upgrade.
It may not be the deciding factor in any deal, but it’s part of the equation. And for a Brewers team sitting in first place with real ambitions, Schoenfield’s message is simple: this is the time to go for it.
In Other News...
Kyle Tucker Just Sparked More Frustration Among Dodgers Fans
Kyle Tuckers first season in Los Angeles has already been a rough one on the field, and the off-field optics have not helped. With Tucker drawing far less media attention than many of his Dodgers teammates, the conversation around him has started to drift beyond baseball, especially after radio host Doug McKain pointed out that Tucker is seldom seen at his locker and suggested a little more availability could go a long way with fans.
Tucker then appeared to answer the chatter in his own way, posting a locker-room photo that seemed aimed squarely at the criticism. The image only added to the buzz around a player who has become an easy target for frustration, and it left Dodgers fans with one more reminder that in Los Angeles, even a quiet moment can turn into a storyline fast. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Face An Awkward Ohtani Dilemma Against The Padres
The Dodgers have settled on Dalton Rushing to catch Shohei Ohtani on Friday night against the Padres, a decision that comes after the club spent the previous day weighing its options. It is a notable pairing because the battery had a rough moment in the last outing, and Los Angeles has been trying to steady the situation while also managing Ohtanis workload with his start pushed back two days for extra rest.
Rushing has already taken accountability for his part in the previous game, and the Dodgers have been working with him on emotional control after several moments this season when his frustration has surfaced. With Will Smith still unavailable until after the All-Star break, the Dodgers do not have much flexibility behind the plate, which makes this matchup even more important as they try to keep Ohtani comfortable and avoid another awkward night. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Fans Should Be Watching Christian Zazueta Very Closely Right Now
Christian Zazueta has been one of the more encouraging arms in the Dodgers farm system this spring, and the early Double-A returns have only added to the buzz. The right-hander has opened his run with the Tulsa Drillers by working to a 1.00 ERA through his first two starts, a strong follow-up to a season that has already shown how quickly he can miss bats across two minor league levels.
The broader picture is what makes him worth tracking now. Zazueta has piled up 82 strikeouts in 57 2/3 innings this year, and performances like his four-inning outing against Wichita, when he allowed one run and struck out eight, only sharpen the attention around him. For a Dodgers organization that is always weighing present needs against future value, a pitcher trending this well tends to draw notice fast, whether the conversation stays internal or starts to spill into the trade market. [Read more 🡒]