The Brewers head into the series finale in San Diego trying to stop the skid and keep pace in a tightening division race, with the pressure rising after back-to-back losses and the Chicago Cubs now sitting 4.0 games back in first place. On the other side, the Padres have used their recent surge to put themselves back in the Wild Card picture.
Milwaukee’s answer today is Dustin May, who gets the ball for his second start in a Brewers uniform. His first outing was exactly what the club needed: six innings, two runs allowed, and five strikeouts. With a huge series against the Los Angeles Dodgers coming this weekend, the Brewers are looking for something close to that again to avoid dropping another game.
The Brewers also got some good news on the injury front. Pat Murphy had misspoke last night when discussing the thumb issue, saying Jackson Chourio was the player who got hurt rather than Brice Turang.
That matters, because a setback for Turang on the right side would have been a tough blow for an already banged-up infield. Instead, Chourio is back in the lineup, leading off and playing left field.
Joey Ortiz is also back at shortstop, giving Milwaukee a needed lift in the infield and allowing Turang to move back to second base. Elsewhere in the lineup, Jake Bauers is in left field, Andrew Vaughn is at first base, and both Luis Lara and Christian Yelich are out of the starting lineup for the finale.
In Other News...
Brewers Suddenly Face A Brice Turang Problem They Couldn't Afford
Brice Turang has become one of the Brewers most important offensive pieces, which is why a thumb injury at this stage lands with immediate concern. He sprained it against the Padres, and for a club already navigating life without infielder Cooper Pratt on the Injured List, any absence from Turang would put extra strain on a group that has tried to keep the infield steady while the lineup holds together.
If Turang needs time, Milwaukee would have to find answers quickly from elsewhere on the roster, with Jihwan Bae, David Hamilton and Joey Ortiz among the names likely to matter more. None of those options can fully replace what Turang has brought, but this is the kind of shuffle the Brewers may have to manage if they want to avoid one injury turning into a deeper infield problem. [Read more 🡒]
Jackson Chourio's Early Exit Sent Brewers Fans A Clear Message
Jackson Chourios night ended early in a move that fit the Brewers bigger picture more than the box score. With a comfortable lead and the club already managing some bumps and bruises, Milwaukee chose to play it safe and get one of its most important young players out of the game before anything could turn into a larger problem.
Pat Murphy framed the decision as part of a broader effort to keep the roster in one piece entering the postseason, especially with Brice Turang dealing with a sore thumb and William Contreras having taken a swing off the wrist. For a team that has spent much of the season valuing depth and availability, the message was clear: the Brewers would rather absorb a little awkwardness in the moment than risk something worse later. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Suddenly Face A Depth Test They Cant Escape
The Brewers have spent much of this demanding stretch patching together their infield and outfield at the same time, with injuries forcing manager Pat Murphy to keep adjusting the lineup card. Rookie shortstop Cooper Pratt is on the injured list with a hamstring strain, Brice Turang is dealing with a sprained thumb, and Milwaukee has brought in Ji Hwan Bae while also leaning on Andrew Vaughn and Turang to cover different spots around the diamond.
Sal Frelicks absence has added to the squeeze in the outfield, where the Brewers have had to manage without one of their more reliable regulars because of a right shoulder strain. The encouraging part for Milwaukee is that help should be coming, but for now the club is still operating in survival mode as it tries to keep its season on track through a roster that keeps getting thinner before it gets whole again. [Read more 🡒]