The Milwaukee Brewers are making waves in Major League Baseball, and they're hot on the heels of the Los Angeles Dodgers for the league's best record. After securing their 50th win of the season on Friday-a milestone reached faster than any other team in franchise history-the Brewers find themselves just a half-game shy of the Dodgers, who stumbled against the San Diego Padres.
If the Brewers maintain their current form, they could soon claim the top spot. Their offense has been on fire throughout June, and the return of two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff from the Injured List only adds fuel to their fire.
Woodruff made a triumphant comeback, pitching six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts against the Cincinnati Reds. With Woodruff back, Milwaukee boasts a formidable trio at the top of their rotation, featuring Woodruff, Jacob Misiorowski, and Kyle Harrison.
It's a daunting weekend for the Chicago Cubs, who have to contend with this trio. Misiorowski already set the tone on Friday, dominating the mound and unleashing a blistering 105.5 mph pitch-the third-fastest in MLB history.
Harrison is set to pitch on Saturday, followed by Woodruff on Sunday.
This Brewers squad is the real deal. Their offense is clicking, and they've got the best rotation ERA in baseball at 3.20.
But with the 2026 trade deadline approaching, Milwaukee might still be in the market for another starter. Names like Tarik Skubal and Sonny Gray have been mentioned as potential targets.
However, an intriguing option could be Clay Holmes from the New York Mets.
Holmes is currently on the Injured List, having fractured his right fibula in May, but he's begun light throwing. Before his injury, Holmes posted a 2.39 ERA in nine starts over 52 2/3 innings, accumulating 1.9 wins above replacement.
His contract-a three-year, $38 million deal with a $12 million player option for 2027-makes him a financially viable option. This year, he's earning $13 million, and if he's close to returning by the trade deadline, he could be a gamble worth taking for Milwaukee.
The Mets, struggling through a disastrous season and having just parted ways with their manager, might be looking to offload players at the deadline. Holmes could be a cost-effective acquisition for the Brewers, offering the potential to bolster their rotation without a long-term financial commitment if he opts out of his contract after the season.
Should the Mets decide to sell, Holmes is precisely the kind of pitcher Milwaukee should pursue. If he regains his pre-injury form, the Brewers' rotation, featuring Woodruff, Harrison, Misiorowski, and potentially Holmes, would be second to none.
In Other News...
Mets Trade Prediction Involving Depth Catcher Could Frustrate Fans
A catching depth move is the sort of thing that usually slips by quietly, but this one has a little more intrigue because it involves a player who already had a brief run with the Dodgers last season. Ben Rortvedt is in the Mets organization now and has been holding down work at Triple-A Syracuse, where his bat has been serviceable enough to keep him in the conversation as a useful emergency option behind the plate.
Still, the buzz around him is less about what he might do for the Mets than what kind of return he could bring if a deal materializes. With no trade confirmed, the whole idea remains speculative, but it has the feel of the kind of depth move that can frustrate fans if it brings back only a modest piece in return. [Read more 🡒]
David Peterson Just Created An Uncomfortable Mets Question
David Petersons first turn in a Cubs uniform looked a lot like the kind of outing the Mets had been hoping to get more often. After being dealt out of New York for prospect Cole Mathis, the left-hander went 5 2/3 innings in Milwaukee and allowed two runs in an 8-2 Chicago win, his deepest outing of the season and his first victory since last September.
For the Mets, it is the sort of post-trade snapshot that naturally raises an uncomfortable question about what they just moved on from. Peterson had struggled to find consistency in New York, but Chicago needed rotation help badly enough to make the deal, and his debut suggested there may still be usable value in his arm if the setting is right. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Just Reached A Crucial Injury Checkpoint With Two Veterans
The Mets got a little more clarity on two injured veterans this week, with both Clay Holmes and Jorge Polanco taking important steps in their recoveries. Polanco has restarted a rehab assignment with Triple-A Syracuse as he works his way back from an Achilles issue, giving the club a better sense of where he stands even if the major league roster still feels a bit out of reach for now.
Holmes, meanwhile, cleared another encouraging medical checkpoint after a fractured fibula, and the next phase of his comeback is getting closer. The right-hander is lining up for mound work next week, a sign the Mets can at least begin to map out the road back, even if the final timeline for his return is still something the team will have to track carefully. [Read more 🡒]