The Brewers got a needed lift Thursday night when Logan Henderson returned to the mound and handled his business against a tough St. Louis Cardinals club.
He went 5 1/3 innings, gave up three earned runs, struck out four, and came away with the win. Through six major league starts this season, Henderson is 3-1 with a 3.18 ERA.
That matters because Milwaukee’s rotation is still being held together by a mix of youth and uncertainty. Right now, the group looks like Jacob Misiorowski, Kyle Harrison, Brandon Sproat, Shane Drohan and Henderson, with Brandon Woodruff on the Injured List. It’s a solid regular-season look on paper, but the Brewers could still use another veteran arm, especially with injuries piling up around the staff.
Woodruff’s situation is the big question. He’s dealing with a shoulder issue, and the latest update is that he suffered a new anterior shoulder capsule injury.
He’s now seeking a second opinion, and Milwaukee still hasn’t announced the results of that evaluation. His 2023 season ended early because of an anterior shoulder capsule injury that required surgery, and that also kept him out for the entire 2024 season.
If the news comes back positive and Woodruff can return this year, that changes the picture. If not, the Brewers need to be active on the trade market. Their current rotation may be young, but that youth could be a problem against playoff-tested teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers or the Atlanta Braves when October arrives.
There are a few names that fit what Milwaukee needs. Reid Detmers would bring big-league experience even if he isn’t playoff-tested.
He’s in his sixth season in the majors, is still only 27, and has posted a 4.39 ERA in 19 starts this year. He also comes with two more seasons of control.
Michael Wacha is another obvious fit if the Royals decide to sell, which they should. He’s put together a 3.77 ERA in 19 starts this season and hasn’t finished a year with an ERA above 3.86 since 2021. Wacha also brings October experience as a former NLCS MVP with 10 playoff appearances on his résumé.
Robbie Ray is in the mix too. The former Cy Young Award winner and two-time All-Star can become a free agent after the season, but he could still help before then. He has pitched in six playoff games in his career.
And then there’s the dream name: Freddy Peralta. That idea should be treated as a pipe dream, especially with the Detroit Tigers starting to turn things around and the Miami Marlins playing well, which could take Tarik Skubal and Sandy Alcántara off the board.
If that happens, Peralta would stand as the best pitcher available. He’s a rental and will be a free agent after the season, and the Mets are having a horrible season and have shown no signs of turning this thing around.
With Woodruff still sidelined, Milwaukee could use a true workhorse, and Peralta fits that description. A reunion is far from likely, but on paper, he would give the Brewers exactly what they need.
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So far, the answer has been complicated, with Semiens production drawing its own scrutiny while Nimmo has remained a familiar reference point for frustrated fans. The chants for Nimmo during a recent loss said plenty about the mood in the ballpark, and they also underscored how much this trade still hangs over the Mets as they sort out what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Mets Fans Have Seen This Cristian Pache Story Too Many Times
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Mets Made Another Pitching Shuffle Fans Need To See
The Mets latest win came with a familiar kind of late-game jolt, as they broke through for five runs with two outs in the eighth to beat the Royals 6-2. Brett Baty came through in the big spot with a bases-loaded hit that drove in two runs, and the finish only added to a night that already had a busy feel around the roster.
Before the first pitch, the club added Xzavion Curry and Tobias Myers to help stabilize the pitching mix, and more help may be on the way with Dan Hammer reportedly headed up as well. The shuffle comes as the staff tries to absorb another injury hit and keep the bullpen moving in the right direction, a reminder that even after a win like this, the Mets are still managing more than just the scoreboard. [Read more 🡒]