The Brewers left Philadelphia with a loss, but Colton Gordon may have left with something more valuable: a real case for a playoff roster spot.
Milwaukee spent most of the night trying to solve Zack Wheeler, and for stretches it looked hopeless. Wheeler struck out the first six Brewers he faced, then kept rolling until the middle innings finally cracked open. His third strikeout was the 2,000th of his career, and the Phillies already had a cushion by then.
Dustin May opened the game for the Brewers and immediately got hit hard again. In the bottom of the second, Brandon Marsh launched a two-run homer to keep Philadelphia in front. A little later, the Phillies added on with a two-out rally, and Alec Bohn’s 29th double drove in another run to make it 3-0.
Milwaukee finally answered in the top of the third. Garrett Mitchell opened the inning with a single, Brice Turang followed with one of his own, and William Contreras brought home the Brewers’ first run to cut the deficit to 3-1.
Kyle Harrison was next out of the bullpen, but his lone inning didn’t settle much. He allowed one run on three hits and struck out one, and the outing did little to quiet the questions around his postseason reliability.
Then came Gordon’s debut in a Brewers uniform, and it was the cleanest stretch Milwaukee got all night. He worked around Cooper Pratt’s fielding error and otherwise kept the Phillies quiet, retiring them in order. That steadiness gave the offense a chance to breathe, and the Brewers used it.
In the top of the sixth, David Hamilton singled and Jackson Chourio walked, setting up Contreras to drive both runners in with a hit to left field. Just like that, the game was tied at 3-3.
Gordon’s biggest test came in the bottom of the eighth, and that’s where the night turned. He got Trea Turner and Bryce Harper quickly, but then Luis Arraez and Alec Bohm each singled.
Bryson Stott made it three straight singles, pushing the Phillies back in front 5-3. Garrett Mitchell’s throw to third hit Bohm, who may have kicked it, allowing Bohm to score and Stott to move up.
Marsh then added another run with a double to center, making it 6-3.
Milwaukee’s last push came in the ninth, but it never really gained traction. Contreras and Jake Bauers struck out to start the inning.
Christian Yelich walked, moved up on defensive indifference, and scored on a Lara single to trim the margin to 6-4. Pratt grounded out to end it.
The Brewers’ offense was mostly quiet, and the defense had a couple of strange moments, but they were also facing one of the most consistent pitchers in the game. Even so, the night ended with a helpful result elsewhere: Atlanta lost to the Reds, and that gave the Brewers a first-round bye.
In Other News...
Brewers Are Already Hinting At A Playoff Lineup Shift
Joey Ortiz sat out the Brewers game against the Phillies because of a minor abdominal strain, but the absence did not sound like a long-term concern. Pat Murphy made it clear the move was more about the immediate moment than any bigger alarm, and he also suggested Ortiz would still be in line for a start if Milwaukee were setting its playoff card. For a player who has taken a clear step forward offensively this season, that matters, because Ortiz has become one of the more important pieces in the Brewers everyday picture.
Murphy also floated a few other October possibilities that hint at how Milwaukee could mix and match once the games start carrying more weight. Sal Frelick is a candidate to be in the lineup, while David Hamilton and Luis Lara could see more chances against right-handed pitching. It is the kind of late-season tinkering that says the Brewers are thinking beyond one regular-season game and starting to map out the shape of their best postseason version, even if the final version is still not fully settled. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Clinched A Huge Edge But Their Rotation Suddenly Feels Murkier
Colton Gordon gave the Brewers a look at what their depth can offer Tuesday, carving through four scoreless innings in his first real chance to settle in before the fifth got away from him. Milwaukee still had reason to keep one eye on the bigger picture, even in a 6-4 loss to the Phillies, because a Braves defeat later in the night locked in a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the NLDS.
The result left the Brewers with a rare mix of security and uncertainty. They have already secured one of the postseasons best possible starting points, but games like this can still shape how the rotation feels heading into October, especially with a newcomer trying to pitch his way into the conversation and the margins for playoff roles getting tighter by the day. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Final Stretch Pitching Plan Is Starting To Take Shape
The Brewers kept adjusting their pitching board before facing the Phillies, selecting right-hander Lyon Richardsons contract and sending left-hander Colton Gordon to Double-A. It was another small but meaningful move in a season where Milwaukee has been careful about how it handles its staff, especially with the postseason coming into view.
Richardson is no stranger to changing uniforms this year, having already spent time on both the Reds roster and the Brewers roster. His major league results have been uneven, but he has shown better form in the minors, which is part of why Milwaukee continues to keep him in the conversation as the final stretch approaches and the pitching plan starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]