The Brewers have already locked up the NL Central, but they’re not in coast mode yet. With the No. 1 overall seed still in play, Milwaukee’s final 11 games matter for more than just the standings - they’re also a chance to sort out the shape of the pitching staff before October arrives.
That’s where Kyle Harrison comes in.
The left-hander is getting another crack at making his case for a playoff role, with the Brewers announcing that he’ll start Thursday afternoon’s series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates. That change pushes Dustin May back to Friday’s opener against the Baltimore Orioles.
Harrison’s season has taken a sharp turn since he was one of the most dominant starters in baseball in the first half. A bout of forearm tightness sent him to the IL from early July to early August, and he hasn’t been the same since returning. Milwaukee eventually moved the 25-year-old to the bullpen earlier this month after a stretch of uneven performances, and his lone relief outing since then was rough: he faced four batters, gave up four hits, and was charged with four earned runs without recording an out.
Still, the Brewers clearly aren’t ready to close the book on him.
There’s too much upside to ignore if Harrison can get close to his first-half form. Even if he’s only 80% of that pitcher, he could still be a real weapon for Milwaukee in the postseason.
There were at least a few encouraging signs in that recent relief appearance, even with the ugly line. Harrison’s fastball was back up to 96-97 mph after dipping through much of August.
Some of that boost came from the expectation of a shorter outing, but the velocity was still a positive. And two of the four balls that turned into hits were knocked off the bat at less than 75 mph, a detail that points to some bad luck in the results.
Milwaukee had originally lined up Jacob Misiorowski, Logan Henderson, and May - its presumed top three postseason starters - for the Pirates series, but after clinching the division, the club reshuffled the order and turned to Harrison instead.
For the Brewers, the equation is simple: if Harrison can show the first-half version of himself again, even briefly, he could force his way onto the playoff roster in a meaningful way. That’s the test in front of him now, and Milwaukee is giving him the chance to answer it.
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Brewers Hand Kyle Harrison A Rotation Chance He Can't Waste
The Brewers are reshuffling their rotation and giving Kyle Harrison a fresh look in a spot that suddenly matters. The left-hander will start Thursdays series finale against the Pirates, a notable turn after a rough recent stretch, but also a reminder that Milwaukee still sees enough in him to keep working him back into a starting role. Dustin Mays next outing has been pushed to Friday against the Orioles, clearing the way for Harrison to get the ball.
It is a chance Harrison probably needed after his last three appearances went off track, especially compared with the stronger run he put together earlier in the season. Before the slump, he had given Milwaukee a useful stretch over 21 appearances, and now the Brewers are asking him to show that version again. For a team trying to keep its pitching plan moving in the right direction, this is the kind of opportunity that cant be wasted. [Read more 🡒]