The Brewers kept rolling through Week 18, taking four of six and pushing their record to 66-39 as they continue to sit comfortably atop the division. Milwaukee opened the week by beating the Mets 8-3 on Monday, dropped Tuesday’s game 4-0, then answered with a 4-3 win on Wednesday before splitting four games with the Rockies over the weekend.
The week’s biggest headline came from Jacob Misiorowski, who looked every bit like a pitcher in complete control. He made two starts, one against the Mets and one against Colorado, and piled up 18 strikeouts across nine innings.
On Sunday, he opened the game against the Rockies with seven straight strikeouts, setting a franchise record for strikeouts to begin a game and passing Quinn Priester, who had six in 2025. Misiorowski allowed only two runs, one earned, on five hits and one walk.
At the plate, Cooper Pratt kept building his case for NL Rookie of the Month honors. He led the club with nine hits in 18 at-bats, good for a .500 average, and added the first two homers of his career along with a double. He drove in six runs and stole two bases as well.
There were plenty of other productive bats around him. Andrew Vaughn homered twice and finished with a .313/.333/.750 line.
Joey Ortiz collected seven hits, including two doubles, two triples and a homer. Brice Turang added eight hits with a pair of doubles and a homer.
Luis Lara chipped in four hits, three of them doubles, and drove in five. The week also included a bit of extra fun, with known hitter Randy Wolf delivering the deciding two-run homer in the Brewers Alumni Legends Game.
Milwaukee also made several roster moves and injury updates during the week. David Hamilton returned to the roster on Friday after missing a little more than two weeks with a strained hamstring. To make room earlier in his absence, Braden Shewmake, acquired from the Astros for cash considerations, was designated for assignment.
The Brewers then moved on from Lance McCullers Jr. just over a week after acquiring him, along with left-hander Colton Gordon, in a trade for Jadyn Fielder and cash considerations. McCullers opened his Milwaukee stint with a pair of 1-2-3 innings and three strikeouts, but his overall line was rough: 4 2/3 innings, five runs allowed, only two earned, three hits and four walks. Garrett Stallings was recalled to take his place, and McCullers’ DFA left the Brewers with two open 40-man spots.
Elsewhere on the injury front, DL Hall and Brandon Lockridge were sent out on rehab assignments with Triple-A Nashville, and both could be back in the majors within the next couple of weeks. Sal Frelick, who went on the injured list last weekend with a right shoulder strain, has been shut down from baseball activities for the next week, and his return remains TBD. The current expectation is that he won’t be back until at least mid-August.
There was also movement on the pitching side. Joel Kuhnel threw his first bullpen session on July 21, while Kyle Harrison threw four “ups” in a live batting practice session on Saturday. Kuhnel’s next step is still unclear, and Harrison is expected to either make a rehab appearance in the minors or go directly back into the rotation.
In Other News...
Brewers Linked To A Deadline Ace Fans Never Expected
Tarik Skubal is the kind of name that can stop a deadline conversation in its tracks, and for good reason. The Tigers left-hander has looked every bit like a front-line starter this season, and any club thinking bigger than a modest rotation tweak has to at least consider what it would take to pry him loose. For Milwaukee, the fit is obvious on paper, especially with Jacob Misiorowski already giving the Brewers another power arm to build around.
The catch is that this is still more idea than deal, with the buzz coming from The Athletics Jim Bowden rather than any sign the Brewers have actually pushed chips to the middle. Skubals contract situation adds another layer, since he is headed toward free agency and an in-season extension does not appear likely before the Aug. 3 deadline. His recent elbow procedure and quick return only add to the intrigue, because a pitcher that talented, healthy enough to keep rolling, and available in theory is exactly the sort of deadline swing that can reshape a contenders summer. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Face A Risky Gary Snchez Deadline Decision
With the deadline approaching, Milwaukees catching picture has become one of the more interesting small decisions on the board. Gary Snchez has given the Brewers a veteran presence behind the plate, but the club also has enough depth to at least entertain the idea of moving him if the return makes sense, especially with a few contenders still searching for help at catcher.
The Yankees and Mariners are the kinds of clubs that can make this conversation linger, because both have had trouble getting steady production at the position. For Milwaukee, the appeal would be less about a splashy haul than finding a useful pitching piece and clearing a path for its internal options, which is why this is the sort of deadline call that could quietly shape the rest of the season. [Read more 🡒]