MILWAUKEE - The Brewers may have to wait an extra day to get back on the field.
Major League Baseball is weighing postponements across the league because of poor air quality tied to smoke from the Canadian wildfires, and Milwaukee’s second-half opener against the Miami Marlins at American Family Field is among the games under consideration. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. CT tonight.
That possibility comes at a rough time for the Brewers, who went into the All-Star Break on a sour note after being swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates. The week before the break brought even more concern for Milwaukee’s rotation: Brandon Woodruff was moved back to the 60-day IL after a new injury was found in his surgically repaired anterior shoulder capsule, Kyle Harrison went on the 15-day IL with forearm tightness, and Jacob Misiorowski was scratched from the first-half finale because of fatigue.
The Brewers said the latest update on the game’s status is available through the team, but the decision ultimately rests with MLB. Milwaukee also has a plan ready for fans who want to exchange tickets if the game is moved.
If the opener goes on as scheduled, the pitching matchup is set to feature Brewers rookie right-hander Logan Henderson against Sandy Alcantara, the Marlins’ former Cy Young Award winner.
Miami comes out of the break with a 52-45 record and the NL’s third Wild Card spot, despite losing its final three games before the pause. The rest of the series is lined up to continue with Shane Drohan facing Marlins All-Star right-hander Max Meyer in game two, followed by Robert Gasser against Eury Pérez in the finale.
For now, the Brewers’ start to the second half remains up in the air.
In Other News...
Brewers Are Suddenly Being Linked To A Deadline Ace
After sweeping the Marlins and moving within striking distance of the best record in baseball, the Brewers have suddenly found themselves in a familiar spot: good enough to think bigger, but with enough rotation questions to make the deadline interesting. The latest buzz has them tied to Tarik Skubal as a possible fit, a reminder that Milwaukees front office may have to decide whether this is the year to chase a true difference-maker for the staff.
The appeal is obvious. The Brewers could use more innings and another ace-level arm to pair with Jacob Misiorowski, especially with workload concerns hanging over the group as the season wears on. It has been a long time since Milwaukee made a major rental ace splash, dating back to the CC Sabathia deal in 2008, and if the club does get aggressive before the deadline, it would be one of the clearest signals yet that this run is about more than just staying in the race. [Read more 🡒]
Jacob Misiorowski Is Suddenly Chasing Rare Brewers History
Jacob Misiorowski has turned a strong first half into something much bigger for the Brewers, establishing himself as one of the most dominant starters in the sport while leading the majors in ERA, WHIP and strikeouts. His rise has been especially notable because Milwaukee handled him carefully before the All-Star break, giving him a rest for fatigue rather than pushing him through extra stress.
Now the conversation around him is no longer just about what he has done so far, but what kind of Brewers history he might chase if the innings keep adding up. Bleacher Report recently floated the possibility that Misiorowski could threaten the clubs single-season strikeout mark, a standard that has stood for years, and even hinted at a ceiling Milwaukee has never seen from a pitcher before if he stays healthy and keeps missing bats at this rate. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Just Passed The Kind Of Test Fans Never Fully Trust
A sweep over the Marlins is the sort of thing that can look routine on paper and still tell you something useful about a club. The Brewers got through the series with a mix of timely offense and steady pitching, and the work from Logan Henderson, Shane Drohan and Robert Gasser helped keep the pressure off a lineup that found ways to finish the job. At 62-37, Milwaukee keeps padding a division lead that already looks sturdy, which is exactly the kind of position contenders want to be in this time of year.
Still, the part Brewers fans will care about most is what these games did not settle. Milwaukee has spent enough summers in the race to know that regular-season comfort only matters so much once October arrives, and the club has been clear that postseason success is the real measuring stick. The sweep offered another reminder that the Brewers can handle the kind of test that usually makes people uneasy, but the bigger question remains whether this version of the team can carry that same edge when the games mean even more. [Read more 🡒]