Brewers second baseman Kolten Wong departed the team’s game against the Cardinals on Thursday after re-aggravating his left oblique, manager Craig Counsell told Andrew Wagner of the Wisconsin State Journal and other reporters. It’s the same issue that kept Wong from playing Wednesday, and Counsell said (via Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) there’s a “distinct possibility” that he’ll require a trip to the injured list. Wong, previously with St. Louis, joined the Brewers on a two-year, $18MM contract during the offseason. If he does have to miss time shortly into his Brewers tenure, it would be another blow to the middle infield depth of a team that traded Orlando Arcia to Atlanta earlier this week. The Brewers did add veteran Dee Strange-Gordon on a minor league contract Thursday, though Daniel Robertson – who replaced Wong when he exited – would be the favorite to handle most of the reps at the keystone.
- The Reds are planning to have Shogo Akiyama back with the team in early-to-mid May, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports (via Twitter). Akiyama started slowly for the Red last season, but he was able to adjust and post a strong second half. At least so far, however, the Reds have managed just fine without him. Tyler Naquin has helped fill the void with a massive start to the season. With Nick Senzel, Jesse Winker, Nick Castellanos, and Aristides Aquino on the roster, the Reds are in no real hurry to upset the apple cart, so to speak.
- Paul Goldschmidt was scratched from today’s Cardinals game because of lower back tightness, per MLB.com’s Zachary Silver (via Twitter). The move was precautionary, so presumably the Cardinals don’t expect this to lead to an IL placement. Manager Mike Shildt said after the game that Goldschmidt’s day to day, and the Cardinals will know more about his status Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News tweets.
- The Mets received some good news on J.D. Davis. X-rays came back negative on his bruised left hand, Tim Healey of Newsday relays (via Twitter). Davis does not appear to be headed to the injured list, though he remained out of the lineup for the Mets’ home opener today. Jonathan Villar took his place at the hot corner. Villar got the start at third base today for the first time since 2016. Luis Guillorme would also be in line to see a bump in playing time while Davis is on the shelf. It’s not clear, however, how much time Davis will miss.
Great win Cardinals…even without Goldy
Pretty great opening day. Wong’s return, Arenado’s bomb…Waino gutted out a good start.
They really can’t lose Goldy though. That lineup is enormously different with only one of Goldy/Arenado in it.
Also, DeJong needs to be moved out of that cleanup spot. Carlson might not be there yet, but he should be hitting 2nd, bump Goldy and Arenado down and honestly, unless somebody else starts making contact more consistently, bat Yadi 5th.
Totally Agree…I have thought that…Carlson would see way more fastballs in the 2nd hole… I think he would do a lot better there
@bbpun i agree nolan needs to be cleanup and dejong 5th maybe 6th (i’m hesitant putting mo 5th because i have 05 in my head still when mo couldn’t hit mo is clutch but imo at this stage in his career he is a 6~8 hitter). also glad to see carp having good at bats even thou he only has a walk to show for it, i’m really hoping carp makes me eat crow this year and becomes a good bench/zobrist type guy for the cards.
I agree that Yadi is a 6-8 hitter but one of DeJong, O’Neill or Bader/Carp/Williams/Dean/etc. needs to hit. Right now, after Edman, Goldy and Arenado, Molina is the only guy I trust to put the ball in play with guys on base (Carlson’s getting there I think).
Carlson has a strikeout rate over 30 percent. If he doesn’t get more disciplined, he’ll be hitting 2nd in AAA
@zachary yes carlson needs to improve his k rate but let’s also not forget he is a rookie and for the most part he is facing the best in the game. what i want to see from carlson this season is how he evolves, and how he deals with setbacks. i say give the of till july before we run them outta town. tbh the of that scared me is bader awesome glove but he can’t hit righties which is 75% of the mlb.
30 percent K-rate is not that bad compared to Williams and O’Neill who both have K-rates over 50%!
Brewers beat themselves thanks to our manager. Have a pitcher absolutely dominating the cards and counsel pulls him when he easily could have gone 8 if not the entire game…..put in the bullpen not named Williams or Hader and surprise….we lose.
Just stupid…..
I was surprised and delighted that they pulled Burnes after 6.
2nd start of the year and he was at 86 pitches. Not that surprising to me.
Admittedly, I didn’t realize the pitch count was that high. Still could’ve pitched the 7th though.
i can’t say i blame craig for pulling burnes after 6 but it’s April and he was was dealing, you pull him there give high fives and turn over. yes burnes could’ve gone 9 and pitch a so but why burn him out now, the brew are trying for oct what good is burnes worn down in oct perfect example is kershaw.
Burnes has been lights out in his two starts. Unless the Breweres can find some offense somewhere then they have no chance at playing October baseball.
Yeah 7 games in. They’re definitely out of the pennant race. Sell now.
i see the brews off coming around, the brew aren’t built on off heavy team they lean towards pitching and d. after burnes yes mil has questions on there sp’s but with that d behind them there not giving up a lot either. the real question for the brew is can they give yelich enough protection, we all know by now yelich is dynamic but that doesn’t matter if the guys behind yelich aren’t. if i wasn’t a armchair manger/pbo unless my “ace” is on the mound i’m going give him 4 and face the next guy.
World champion Clayton Kershaw? Or some other Kershaw?
What’s stupid is keeping a young pitcher in to throw 100+ pitches in April. Save him for September when the games will be more meaningful.
What’s stupid is not playing to win the game. Pulling Burnes was playing to lose
What’s stupid is assuming Counsell and the coaching staff don’t know what they’re doing. Burnes and Woodruff have both stated after their last two starts they were done.
Every game counts the same–a win in September does not count more than a win in April. I understand the general point, but literally you are incorrect.
The St. Louis media said this morning that Burnes said after the game that he is still building up stamina and felt that he already didn’t have his legs under him for the 6th and they he and Counsell talked it out and decided that 6 was enough.
The media had the same conversation with Woodruff after his last start and he reiterated that he felt gassed before being pulled.
Some pitchers are better when they feel gassed while others are right about it..Sinker ball pitchers for example generally improve as they tire.
heal quickly wong and goldy both teams need you back quickly.
@cards81 that was a great game glad we won but the brew made it fun and are going to be thorn this season. also i think nolan might of been the missing piece the cards we’re looking for, just seems like the birds have that fire and swagger back that’s been kinda missing for a few years. (yes i know it’s only 7 games but i haven’t seen this kinda attitude in the cards since 15)
Arenado was PUMPED during his curtain call.
i was listening on the radio and he had to be told by his teammates and they went hey you gotta go back out there, from the interview sounds like he never had that in col. either way so far i’m loving the trade for him he has brought new life to a team that i felt has kinda gone stagnant.
I agree it’s going to be a fight with the Brewers, especially after watching Burnes pitch today…couldn’t agree more about Arenado…I love Goldy but he is t exactly someone you rally around…he is someone you respect and follow no doubt…but Arenado is bringing that swagger definitely…and you can tell he is the person that lights the fire
@cards81 you can rally around goldy but in a different way, goldy has always been a stoic player and the emotional scale of a rock during a game (which is not a bad thing). where goldy excels as a “rally guy” is positive reinforcement, i.e. let’s say carlson is 0/3 with a k and a few hard hit balls for outs and he’s getting down on himself for not producing. goldy is the type of guy to have a 1 on 1 with him and help believe in himself.
Kolten Wong get well soon. It was great seeing him back at Bush Stadium and receiving the ovation.
Does anyone think Justin Williams looks completely overmatched? I know he is inexperienced but he looks baffled by big league pitching. Maybe we need Bader more than we think. Carlson is doing a solid job in center so far though.
williams is beyond overmatched….looks lost the plate….stick a fork in Carp
tbh i wouldn’t mind seeing o’neil in right and nog in left, or if goldy is out for a few days nog at 1st, carp at 2nd and ed in rf. yes that’s not the best def alignment and this take is premature but between willams or carp i’d rather have carp. right now carp just looks better at the plate than will, yea carp only has a walk to show for it but he has been making solid contact. also right now is the time to get carp playing time and get some confidence back.
I’m ok with seeing what Dean has to offer also. I wouldn’t waste many at-bats trying to rehabilitate Carp. He’s gone after this season no matter what. Better to move on and evaluate what you’re going to have going forward.
With a team OPS of 1.002, Akiyama can take his time getting healthy. Keep all 6 OFrs when he returns for now and go short in the BP. The starting pitching has been excellent Even without Gray and Lorenzen.
It’s a long season and it’s good to have depth all around. Who knows how things will look in a month when Akiyama is ready to return.
I heard that the curtain call yesterday for Arenado was his first ever. That just cannot be possible. He has been too good for that to be true.
@champs64 i think that’s one of the reasons the cards get big names, don’t get me wrong i love stl and to me it’s best city in the world but it’s not like we have the an awesome nightlife or beaches.
Saying Naquins start is massive is an understatement. That dude is literally unconscious at the plate right now. The homer he hit tonight, I’m pretty sure it landed on the other side of the Nevada state border.