The Milwaukee Brewers are set to face the Mets in New York this week, as the Crew looks to continue their winning ways. The Brewers, at 81-50 this season, sit firmly atop the NL Central after winning each of their last three series against the Dodgers, Mariners, and Braves. The Mets, at 59-72, sit at the bottom of the NL East with the sixth-worst record in baseball. They’ve actually been a bit better the last couple of weeks, with a 6-3 record against the Nationals, Padres, and White Sox.
Milwaukee’s
lone position player on the IL is outfielder Sal Frelick, who is expected to return for this road trip. However, the team suffered a pair of injuries in Sunday’s Little League Classic, as outfielder Garrett Mitchell exited after being hit by a pitch with what was categorized as a right forearm contusion, and first baseman Jake Bauers, who has been playing with a toe fracture this season, fouled a ball off his leg/foot, though he remained in the game. It’s unclear if either player will miss more time, but overall, not the worst news on that front. On the mound, the Brewers are without Brandon Woodruff (potentially back before the end of the year after not needing surgery), JoJo Romero (late August), Abner Uribe (could be activated on Wednesday), Rob Zastryzny (TBD), Joel Kuhnel (late August), Brian Fitzpatrick (out for season), Quinn Priester (out for season), and Angel Zerpa (out for season).
The Mets are without first baseman Mark Vientos (on rehab assignment), outfielder Juan Soto (September), and infielder Jorge Polanco (out for season). Old friend Devin Williams is on the injured list with a shoulder strain that will keep him out until at least September. Fellow pitchers Cionel Pérez (September), Justin Hagenman (TBD), Tylor Megill (out for season), and Reed Garrett (out for season) are also out.
Jake Bauers leads the Brewer offense with 23 homers, 19 doubles, and 75 RBIs this season, as he’s slashing .273/.382/.503 in the best season of his career. Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, William Contreras, Joey Ortiz, and Andrew Vaughn are among the other key contributors in recent weeks, while veteran Christian Yelich continues to suffer from the bad-luck bug. Gary Sánchez, Garrett Mitchell, David Hamilton, Cooper Pratt, and Luis Lara are also in the regular mix, with Jonathan Ornelas serving as some infield depth. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .254/.337/.396 (.733 OPS ranks seventh), with 120 homers (last), 650 runs scored (fifth), and 129 steals (third).
With Soto out, Carson Benge, Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, Francisco Lindor, and Francisco Alvarez lead New York’s offense. Benge has 16 homers, 17 doubles, 53 RBIs, and 19 steals in what has been a solid season overall, while Bichette, Semien, and Lindor are all have down years by their standards. Jared Young, A.J. Ewing, Luis Robert Jr., and Brett Baty are also in the regular mix, with Christopher Morel, Luis Torrens, Eric Wagaman, and Cristian Pache rounding things out. As a team, the Mets are hitting .236/.307/.391 (.698 OPS ranks 26th), with 161 homers (ninth), 546 runs scored (23rd), and 68 steals (tied for 21st).
Aaron Ashby’s 61 appearances pace the Brewer bullpen, as he has a 3.33 ERA and 102 strikeouts over 73 innings this year. Trevor Megill has had the closer role on lock over the past few months, with a 2.34 ERA and 24 saves in 26 opportunities, and Uribe’s expected return will be a welcome site for the backend of the bullpen. Grant Anderson, Chad Patrick, and DL Hall also fit in the regular rotation of bullpen arms, with Antonio Senzatela and Bryse Wilson rounding the group out. The Brewers, who have been rolling with a six-man rotation for the last several weeks, may also add a new name to that group — likely either Robert Gasser or Shane Drohan — in the next week or so. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.42 team ERA (second), including a 3.48 starter ERA (fourth) and a 3.33 bullpen ERA (third). They’ve struck out 1,269 batters (second) over 1,171 1/3 innings.
With Williams injured, Kodai Senga, who started his career as a solid starter, has taken over the closer role, going 4-for-4 in that role. While Senga’s 7.79 season ERA looks terrible, he’s been much better of late, with a 2.45 ERA in eight August appearances (7 1/3 innings). Austin Warren (4.30 ERA), Daniel Duarte (1.17 ERA), and Jefry Yan (4.26 ERA) have also been in high-leverage roles since the team unloaded most of their bullpen at the deadline. Chayce McDermott (5.40 ERA over 3 1/3 IP), Nate Lavender (0.00 over 7 2/3 IP), Dedniel Núñez (7.36 ERA over 7 1/3 IP), and Jonathan Pintaro (4.05 ERA over 20 IP) round things out. As a staff, the Mets have a 4.07 team ERA (12th), including a 4.37 starter ERA (19th) and a 3.71 bullpen ERA (sixth). They’ve struck out 1,183 batters (sixth) over 1,165 2/3 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Tuesday, August 25 @ 6:10 p.m.: LHP Kyle Harrison (10-3, 2.84 ERA, 3.23 FIP) vs. LHP Zac Thornton (3-4, 3.04 ERA, 4.09 FIP)
Harrison, who has a 2.84 ERA and 3.23 FIP with 122 strikeouts over 98 1/3 innings this season, bounced back from a rough outing in San Diego to go five shutout frames against the Mariners on Tuesday, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out eight in Milwaukee’s 22-0 blowout victory. Harrison’s only appearance against the Mets came while with the Giants in 2024, when he got roughed up for five runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks, striking out six over five frames.
Thornton, 24, has turned in a solid rookie season with New York, making nine starts with a 3.04 ERA, 4.09 FIP, and 36 strikeouts across 50 1/3 innings. The left-hander went five innings in his last outing, taking the loss as he allowed three runs on six hits and a walk, striking out seven. Thornton picked up a win against Milwaukee in July, going six scoreless innings on three hits and a walk, striking out two.
Wednesday, August 26 @ 6:10 p.m.: RHP Dustin May (6-8, 4.57 ERA, 3.36 FIP) vs. RHP Robert Stock (0-2, 5.40 ERA, 4.10 FIP)
May has now made three starts in a Brewer uniform, and while the first two appearances were very good (13 total innings, three earned runs, 11 strikeouts), he got roughed up in a major way against the Mariners on Wednesday, allowing seven runs on seven hits and a pair of walks, striking out one over just two innings in Milwaukee’s 7-5 loss. May has four appearances (three starts) against the Mets in his career, with a 3.38 ERA and 14 strikeouts over 18 2/3 innings. That includes six scoreless frames with six strikeouts in a win while with the Cardinals in June.
Stock, 36, is a former second-round pick who spent some time with the Brewers organization back in 2023 (also appearing for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic that year). After debuting in 2018 with the Padres, he appeared with the Red Sox, Cubs, and Mets for brief stints through 2021 before spending some time overseas. He then made a pair of appearances with Boston last year before returning to the Mets this year. He’s made four starts thus far, with a 5.40 ERA, 4.10 FIP, and 19 strikeouts over 16 2/3 innings, though eight of the 10 earned runs he allowed came in a 9-0 loss to the Pirates in early August. Stock made two appearances (one start) against the Brewers in 2018 with the Padres and 2021 with the Mets, totaling five innings with two runs allowed and six strikeouts.
Thursday, August 27 @ 6:10 p.m.: RHP Jacob Misiorowski (13-5, 1.68 ERA, 2.14 FIP) vs. LHP Sean Manaea (4-5, 4.31 ERA, 4.53 FIP)
Misiorowski continues to shine, with a 13-5 record, 1.68 ERA, and 2.14 FIP with 216 strikeouts over 145 innings this season. The big right-hander worked six scoreless innings against the Braves on Friday afternoon, allowing four hits and two walks while striking out six in a 2-1 win. Miz has made two starts against the Mets, going 0-1 with six runs allowed (five earned) over 7 2/3 innings, striking out eight, though he went four innings with just an unearned run and six strikeouts in a no-decision in July.
Manaea, 34, is in his 11th MLB season with his fourth team. He’s made 27 appearances (13 starts) this season, with a 4.31 ERA, 4.53 FIP, and 117 strikeouts over 117 innings. The left-hander allowed four runs on five hits and two walks, striking out four over six frames in a no-decision against the White Sox his last time out. Manaea has made six career appearances (five starts) against Milwaukee, with a 6.00 ERA and 29 strikeouts across 27 frames.
How to Watch & Listen
Tuesday, August 25: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Wednesday, August 26: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Thursday, August 27: Brewers TV; listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network (620 WTMJ in Milwaukee)
Prediction
The Mets have had a truly dismal season, and the Brewers will be coming off a well-deserved off day to begin this series. Give me the Crew to win two of three once again.
