Christian Yelich’s spot in the Milwaukee Brewers’ lineup got a jolt Tuesday, and it came after a stretch of ugly results at the plate.
Yelich was originally slated to hit seventh against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Aug. 4, a rare placement that would have marked only the fifth time in his career he’d batted seventh or lower. It also would have been the first time he’d done that since his Miami Marlins days in 2015. But when Jake Bauers was scratched because of abdominal soreness, manager Pat Murphy moved Yelich up to fifth.
The change came after Yelich had gone hitless in his previous two games, finishing 0-for-8 overall. He was 0-for-4 in the Brewers’ 4-3 loss to the Pirates on Aug. 3 and 0-for-4 again against the Los Angeles Angels on Aug.
- His summer slump has dragged on even after a game-winning showing against the St.
Louis Cardinals in early July.
The numbers tell the story, too. Yelich is carrying a .698 OPS, the lowest of his career.
Murphy said the decision to drop Yelich in the order was his alone, and he said he had already talked with the veteran about the recent struggles.
“There’s a moment that happens,” Murphy said. “There's a moment that happens and you say, 'You know what, this is what's best for you.'”
He wouldn’t say exactly when that moment came, but he did make clear he believes Yelich is focused on the bigger picture.
“No one cares more about getting it right,” Murphy said.
Yelich’s slide is part of a broader Brewers offense that has been stuck in neutral lately. That was on full display Sunday in a 3-0 shutout loss to the Angels, even with Jacob Misiorowski turning in a dominant start. Misiorowski gave up only three baserunners over seven innings, but Milwaukee’s bats never matched it, piling up 11 strikeouts while managing five singles and five walks.
“There comes a point where you want something to change,” Murphy said. “You want something to spark, you want a different direction.”
In Other News...
Pat Murphy Just Sent A Clear Message About Christian Yelich
Christian Yelichs uneven 2026 season has become one of the Brewers quieter lingering storylines, with the veteran still working through the aftereffects of an early injury and trying to find some offensive rhythm. Even so, he remains one of the most established voices in Milwaukees clubhouse, and the way the Brewers have handled his slump has reflected both his standing and the teams need to keep pushing for more production.
Pat Murphy has made it clear the Brewers are not treating Yelichs spot in the order as sacred, and the adjustment comes with the kind of practical edge that often follows a tough stretch. Yelich has reportedly taken the change professionally, which matters in a room that still leans on his example, but it also underscores how much Milwaukee wants a different result from a lineup that has not been getting enough from one of its most recognizable bats. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Pushed Hard For Tarik Skubal But Still Lost Out
The Brewers made a serious push to land Tarik Skubal, building an offer around three prospects in an effort to pry the left-hander away from Detroit. Milwaukee was aggressive enough to stay in the mix deep into the process, but the Tigers ultimately moved forward with the Dodgers instead, leaving the Brewers to watch a deal they believed they had a real chance to win go another way.
Pat Murphy and Matt Arnold both acknowledged the disappointment afterward, while also making clear that Milwaukee had done its part to chase a front-line arm. The club declined to get into the full details of the negotiations, which only adds to the sense that this was one of those trade talks where the framework was there, the urgency was real, and the final turn never quite came for the Brewers. [Read more 🡒]