The Milwaukee Brewers didn’t just beat the Chicago Cubs on Wednesday night - they moved one step closer to locking down the NL Central, pushing their record to 91-56 and stretching their division lead to 10.0 games with 15 left to play.
But the finish was anything but smooth.
Milwaukee carried an 8-1 lead into the ninth and looked set for a stress-free end to the night. Instead, Brandon Sproat unraveled, issuing four straight walks before Abner Uribe took over and watched every runner he inherited come around to score. Uribe also gave up an earned run himself, turning a comfortable win into a far messier final inning than the Brewers wanted.
Afterward, Murphy made his feelings clear, calling Sproat’s outing “unacceptable.” That proved to be the rookie right-hander’s last shot on the major league roster for now.
On Thursday morning, Milwaukee optioned Sproat back to Triple-A Nashville. The club didn’t announce the replacement immediately, but later revealed that Garrett Stallings was coming back up from Class AAA Nashville as the corresponding move for Brandon Sproat.
Stallings, whom the Brewers acquired in a trade in 2024, already has some big-league time under his belt this season. In his first MLB stint, he pitched in four games and did not allow a run across eight innings.
His work in Nashville has been solid, too. Stallings is 5-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 25 games, including 14 starts, and he’s struck out 76 batters in 81.0 innings.
For now, the move makes Milwaukee’s stance on Sproat pretty plain. He’s no longer part of the Brewers’ plans for 2026, even if the organization still sees eventual back-end starter potential. The rookie’s uneven season simply hasn’t shown he’s ready yet.
Sproat was back on the roster only because Grant Anderson landed on the injured list, and Stallings now steps into that vacancy. If Murphy has his way, though, Stallings won’t be asked to handle any high-leverage moments anytime soon.
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According to ESPNs Jeff Passan, Milwaukee is unlikely to exercise the $14 million club option for Senzatela in 2027, which would let the team walk away without owing a buyout. For a Brewers front office that has usually been careful with payroll and roster value, the question is whether there is still enough time for Senzatela to change the conversation before the offseason arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Brandon Sproat's Brewers Audition Just Raised A Tough October Question
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Four walks and a hit batter nearly put a Brewers win in jeopardy, and it only reinforced the question hovering over his immediate future. The club has been open about the fact that Sproat has real potential, but the next step is not about stuff so much as composure and the pitching process that comes with it. A return to Triple-A Nashville now looks likely, and Milwaukee will keep sorting out whether there is enough time for him to sharpen up before October decisions get serious. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Bullpen Upgrade Already Comes With One Big Milwaukee Question
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Senzatelas presence also brings a longer view into the conversation, because his deal includes a $14 million club option for 2027 that ESPNs Jeff Passan has described as unlikely to be exercised. Romero, meanwhile, is only under team control through 2026 before he is expected to hit free agency, which leaves the Brewers with the familiar deadline question of whether this is a pure short-term boost or the start of something more lasting. [Read more 🡒]