The Brewers need one win over the Reds or a Phillies loss to the Twins to secure the #1 seed in the National League. Although this weekend isn’t a meaningless series for the Brew Crew, they’re far more concerned about shaping plans for the Division Series that’ll begin eight days from now.
That includes using Jacob Misiorowski out of the bullpen in preparation for his expected postseason role. The 23-year-old will make his first career relief appearance behind lefty Robert Gasser tomorrow (link via Adam McCalvy of MLB.com). Gasser will likely be limited to 3-4 innings as he continues building back from last year’s elbow surgery. Misiorowski should work multiple innings out of the ’pen.
The rookie righty was so electric over his first few appearances that he was named to the All-Star Game five starts into his career. He has a 5.45 earned run average in the second half. Misiorowski has only gone beyond five innings once over his past nine times out. He has very little experience turning a lineup over more than twice. Milwaukee prefers to let him max out over shorter stints in high-leverage situations in October.
Milwaukee’s bullpen should get another big boost this weekend. Closer Trevor Megill is expected back from the 15-day injured list on Sunday, reports Curt Hogg of The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. The Brewers will probably get him into that game regardless of the score to ensure he gets on the mound before the start of the postseason. Megill, who has 30 saves with a 2.54 ERA, has missed the past month with a forearm strain. Skipper Pat Murphy has since used a committee approach in the ninth inning. Abner Uribe, Jared Koenig and Aaron Ashby have each recorded saves in Megill’s absence.
Jose Quintana won’t pitch this weekend but also seems to be trending towards a return in the Division Series. The veteran starter tossed three innings in a live batting practice session this afternoon (via the MLB.com injury tracker). Quintana has been down since the middle of September with a strained left calf.
If he’s healthy, Quintana could line up to start Game 3 of the NLDS. Milwaukee will very likely go with Freddy Peralta and Quinn Priester in the first two contests. Brandon Woodruff hasn’t officially been ruled out for the Division Series, but that’d require him returning from a lat strain after a minimal stint. If Woodruff can’t make it back, Quintana and rookie righty Chad Patrick would presumably be the options to take the ball in the third game. Murphy wouldn’t wait long to get into a deep bullpen in that one.
With all these pitching injuries, as well as losing Chourio, Hoskins, Mitchell and Perkins for long periods, can’t call the Brewers lucky.
Nope. Shows why leaning on injuries as an excuse for poor performance is an exercise of weak minds and badly built teams.
Injuries are absolutely a reason for poor performance.
What a ridiculous thing to say.
How? The two teams with the most days lost to injury this year are NYY and LAD. In fact, of the top ten in that list, only three are losing teams (LAA at #3, ATL at #8, BAL at #9). Arizona at #5 is still at .500 and had an outside shot at the NL WC race before losing three in a row.
Expand it out to the top SIXTEEN teams and you only add one more sub-.500 club. Of all the teams in the playoff hunt, only CIN, MIL, and SEA are in the lower half of the league in terms of days lost to injury
WB
“How?”
Do you think the quality of players on a team effects its ability to perform?
Like if you replaced Ohtani or Judge with you or I do you think the Yankees and Dodgers would win fewer games, or nah?
The Dodgers will only win 92 or 93 games this year after averaging 100ish the last half decade. And after they “broke baseball” by signing Snell and Sasaki after signing Ohtani and Yamamoto and trading for Glasnow the year before.
You don’t think the Dodgers would have won more games this year if Glasnow and Snell had pitched more games and Matt Sauer and Landon Knack had pitched fewer?
Of course injuries negatively effect performance.
No, having injuries does not automatically mean you’ll suck.
I think you need to re-read my original statement. “Badly built teams.”
The facts show that well-built teams can still perform even when leading the league in days lost to injury. So, injuries isn’t an excuse (cough Baltimore cough).
Mitchell wasn’t even a factor to begin with so he has nothing to do with your statement
The LA Dodgers went over and beyond for pitching in the off season . They still have questions for the pitching staff. Pitching will always dictate how you fare .. if you have good pitching you will have a chance to succeed. It’s all about pitching.
Seattle over Philly in the W S