The Milwaukee Brewers are set to begin the second half of the season this weekend, as they’ll head west to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers. After sweeping the Dodgers to begin last week, the Brewers are right behind the Dodgers and Cubs atop the NL standings, as the Dodgers boast the best record at 58-39, but the Cubs (57-39) and Crew (56-40) are right there with them.
Winners of their last seven games going into the break, the Brewers will look to stretch that win streak a bit longer against L.A.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, finally snapped a seven-game losing streak last weekend, taking the final two games of their series against the Giants.
The Brewers’ biggest injury concern right now is Sal Frelick, who was diagnosed with a Grade 1 hamstring strain. It still hasn’t been determined if he’ll need an IL stint, but the Brewers are expected to make a decision before the weekend set. Nestor Cortes and Robert Gasser are both rehabbing in the minors, while outfielder Blake Perkins was reinstated from an injury that’s kept him out the whole season. Perkins is currently at Triple-A Nashville, but he could get the call back to the majors if Frelick ends up on the IL. First baseman Rhys Hoskins is also looking at about another month on the IL with a thumb injury.
For the Dodgers, pitchers Blake Snell and Blake Treinen are both on rehab assignments, while fellow pitcher Roki Sasaki is close to a rehab assignment and could return in August. Third baseman Max Muncy, utilityman Kiké Hernández, and pitchers Michael Kopech, Tony Gonsolin, and Brusdar Graterol could also be back on the field in the coming weeks.
Christian Yelich leads the balanced Brewers’ offense with 19 homers, 65 RBIs, and 49 runs across 91 games, while Jackson Chourio has played in a team-high 95 games with 16 homers, 62 RBIs, 65 runs, and 16 steals. Frelick is hitting .294/.354/.404, William Contreras is hitting .245/.351/.347, and Joey Ortiz, Brice Turang, Isaac Collins, Caleb Durbin, and newcomer Andrew Vaughn have all been solid contributors in recent weeks. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .248/.324/.383 (.707 OPS ranks 17th) with 93 homers (23rd), 457 runs (seventh), and 110 steals (second).
Shohei Ohtani looks primed for another MVP award, as he’s hitting .276/.382/.605 with 32 homers, 60 RBIs, 91 runs, and 12 steals. Andy Pages, Teoscar Hernández, Will Smith, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman have also been key contributors, even with Betts having a slightly down season (.244/.315/.381 with 11 homers). Hyeseong Kim has also been solid in 48 games, hitting .339/.378/.464 with two homers, six doubles, 13 RBIs, 17 runs, and 11 steals, second on the team to only Ohtani. As a team, the Dodgers are hitting .256/.331/.445 (.776 OPS ranks second) with 145 homers (second), 518 runs (first), and 56 steals (20th).
Milwaukee’s bullpen has been one of the best in the game when they’re ahead, as the combo of Abner Uribe, Jared Koenig, Grant Anderson, Nick Mears, and Trevor Megill is about as solid as they come. Uribe leads the group in most statistical categories (46 appearances, 46 1⁄3 innings, 60 strikeouts, and a 2.33 ERA), but Megill’s 21 saves are what got him to the All-Star Game. Aaron Ashby and DL Hall have also been solid in bulk roles. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.66 team ERA (seventh), including a 3.39 starter ERA (fifth) and a 4.00 reliever ERA (18th). They’ve struck out 831 batters (seventh) in 853 1⁄3 innings.
Alex Vesia leads the Dodgers’ bullpen with 46 appearances, totaling 39 2⁄3 innings with 56 strikeouts, a 2.50 ERA, and three saves this season. Tanner Scott has gotten the majority of the team’s saves (19), though he has a 4.09 ERA, while Kirby Yates, Jack Dreyer, and Anthony Banda have also been key arms. Lou Trivino, Ben Casparius, and Will Klein round out the current set of arms, as four players listed on the team’s depth chart find themselves on the 60-day IL. As a staff, the Dodgers have a 4.29 team ERA (23rd), including a 4.20 starter ERA (20th) and a 4.38 reliever ERA (24th). They’ve struck out 851 batters (sixth) in 866 1⁄3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, July 18 @ 9:10 p.m.: Jose Quintana (3.28 ERA, 4.36 FIP) vs. Tyler Glasnow (3.52 ERA, 4.86 FIP)
Quintana had a solid first half with the Brewers, with a 3.28 ERA, 4.36 FIP, and 48 strikeouts across 71 1⁄3 innings through 13 starts. His last start came against these same Dodgers on July 9, when we went six frames in an extra-innings win, allowing one run on two hits and four walks with four strikeouts. In 14 career appearances (11 starts) against the Dodgers, Quintana has a 2.00 ERA with 56 strikeouts over 67 2⁄3 innings.
The Dodgers haven’t yet announced any of their probable starters for this series, but CBS Sports has Tyler Glasnow, Dustin May, and Clayton Kershaw slated to start in this series. Glasnow faced off against Quintana and the Brewers last Wednesday in his first start since April, allowing one unearned run on two hits and three walks with five strikeouts over five innings. In nine career appearances (four starts) against Milwaukee, Glasnow has a 5.26 ERA and 31 strikeouts over 25 2⁄3 innings.
Saturday, July 19 @ 8:10 p.m.: Freddy Peralta (2.66 ERA, 3.55 FIP) vs. Dustin May (4.96 ERA, 4.78 FIP)
Peralta, fresh off his second career All-Star selection, has now won six consecutive starts, dating back to early June. He’s also tied for the most wins in the majors (11) with the Yankees’ Max Fried. In 20 starts this year, he has a 2.66 ERA, 3.55 FIP, and 118 strikeouts over 111 2⁄3 innings. He pitched six shutout innings in a blowout win over the Dodgers last week, striking out seven and allowing five hits and a walk. In seven career starts against L.A., Peralta has a 2.75 ERA and 36 strikeouts over 36 innings.
May has made 17 starts for the Dodgers, already setting a career-high as he’s faced injuries throughout his career. Unfortunately, he hasn’t had much success, as he sports a 4.96 ERA, 4.78 FIP, and 88 strikeouts over 94 1⁄3 innings. Originally slated to start last Wednesday’s series finale in Milwaukee, May instead pitched last Friday against the Giants, when he allowed seven runs on five hits and four walks with four strikeouts over 4 2⁄3 innings. His lone appearance against Milwaukee came back in 2021, when he went 1 2⁄3 innings and allowed one run on one hit and a walk with three strikeouts.
Sunday, July 20 @ 3:10 p.m.: Quinn Priester (3.55 ERA, 4.23 FIP) vs. Clayton Kershaw (3.38 ERA, 4.19 FIP)
Priester had a surprisingly strong first half for Milwaukee, with a 3.55 ERA, 4.23 FIP, and 70 strikeouts across 88 2⁄3 innings over 17 appearances (12 starts), easily the best marks of his career. As impressive as Peralta’s run of wins is, Priester’s stretch is even better — the Brewers have won in each of his last eight outings, with Priester a perfect 5-0 in that stretch. He went six innings and allowed two runs on four hits and two walks with five strikeouts in relief of opener DL Hall against the Nationals last Friday. This is his first career start against Los Angeles.
Kershaw, selected as a “Legend Pick” for the All-Star Game to mark his 11th such selection, has made 10 starts this season, with a 3.38 ERA, 4.19 FIP, and 35 strikeouts over 50 2⁄3 innings. His last start came in an exciting matchup with Jacob Misiorowski last Tuesday in Milwaukee, when Kershaw took the loss despite going six innings and allowing just two runs on six hits and a walk with three strikeouts. For his career, he’s 20 career starts against Milwaukee, with a 2.86 ERA and 127 strikeouts across 122 2⁄3 innings.
How to Watch
Friday, July 18: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network
Saturday, July 19: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network
Sunday, July 20: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network
Prediction
It’s always tough predicting what teams will look like coming out of the break. Let’s hope the Brewers don’t lose the momentum they built up leading into it. I’ll predict a slow start for Milwaukee out of the gates as they drop two of three to the Dodgers (and I hope I’m wrong).
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