Milwaukee Brewers
Record: 14-13 (5th in NL Central)
Run Differential: +19
Pythagorean Record: 15-12 (-1)
The Brewers entered the season having put together a good run atop the NL Central, finishing first four of the last five seasons and finishing second in 2022. Coming into this season, the division went through quite the overhaul, however, the Brewers were still expected to compete for the division crown. As of the writing of this preview, things have not gone according to plan, with the Brewers currently
residing dead last in the division, 3.5 games out of first, despite having a winning record.
Game 1 (April 28, 4:40 p.m. MST)
Merrill Kelly RHP (1-1, 9.31 ERA) vs. Chad Patrick RHP (1-1, 2.35 ERA)
Kelly is coming off an outing he likely wishes he could forget. This will be his third start since coming off the IL to open the season. So far, Kelly’s trademark command has yet to show itself. The last outing is hard to judge Kelly by, as suspect defense and a terrible mis-call in the field by the umpiring crew negatively impacted pretty much everything Kelly was trying to accomplish. This is a big outing for Kelly, as the team needs Kelly the Mainstay to help stabilize the rotation, which has started to show some cracks. This would be the perfect time for Kelly to throw his first quality start of the season.
Patrick took the loss last Wednesday against the Tigers, allowing four runs on six hits and one walk in four innings. He struck out two. Following opener DL Hall, Patrick struggled to contain the Detroit bats. Half of his hits allowed went for extra bases, and the right-hander gave up more than one run in an outing for the first time all season. While Patrick still holds a strong 2.35 ERA and 1.26 WHIP on the campaign so far, his 11:8 K:BB through 23 innings is an alarming ratio for someone known to have above average control.
Game 2 (April 29, 4:40 p.m. MST)
Eduardo Rodriguez LHP (2-0, 2.89ERA) vs. Brandon Sproat RHP (0-1, 6.45 ERA)
Rodriguez has finally had the sort of success the Diamondbacks were hoping for when they signed him a few years ago. It helps that he has been able to be mostly injury free for a spell now. Rodriguez had one of his rougher outings last time out, allowing four runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four over five innings to earn the win over the White Sox on Wednesday. Rodriguez threw 61 of 96 pitches for strikes, but it wasn’t a particularly convincing performance. He gave up a pair of solo home runs in this outing, putting him at four homers allowed over five starts this season. Rodriguez is at a 2.89 ERA, 1.32 WHIP and 18:12 K:BB through 28 innings, but he’s given up eight runs over his last two starts, so his early luck may be fading fast.
Sproat did not factor into the decision last Thursday against the Tigers, allowing three runs on four hits and two walks over 5.1 innings. He struck out four. Sproat gave up a two-run homer to Riley Greene with two outs in the first inning, but he settled down from there and kept Detroit off the board until the sixth inning, when they tacked on another run. The 25-year-old Sproat had given up two runs over 10.1 innings in his previous two outings and came close to delivering a second straight quality start Thursday.
Game 3 (April 30, 10:40 a.m. MST)
Michael Soroka RHP (4-0, 2.60 ERA) vs. Brandon Woodruff RHP (2-1, 3.77 ERA)
Michael Soroka has been a breath of fresh air for the Diamondbacks. For a team currently undergoing a minor injury crisis with the pitching staff, the oft-injured Soroka has bucked the trend. Not only has Soroka stayed healthy, but he has seemingly turned back the clock to the days when he first debuted., pitching not only as Arizona’s best starter of the season thus far, but one of the better starters in the entire National League. Soroka took a no-decision Thursday against the White Sox, allowing one run on seven hits and one walk in five innings. He struck out six. With a favorable home matchup versus the lowly White Sox, Soroka built on his excellent start to the season, continuing to bully hitters with his heavy mid-90s fastball. Soroka has now worked at least five innings while giving up two runs or fewer in all but one of his first five outings.
Woodruff took the loss last Friday against the surprising Pirates, giving up three runs on five hits and two walks over five innings while striking out three. The veteran right-hander started strong with two scoreless frames but allowed single tallies in each of the third, fourth and fifth innings. Woodruff delivered quality starts in his previous two outings but didn’t come back out for the sixth inning Friday to end that streak. He’s gone at least five frames in each of his five starts this year.
Players to Watch
Ildemaro Vargas: Vargas’ hit-streak to open the season remains in-tact at 20 games this season and 23 overall dating back to last year. Vargas is coming off of a NL Player of the Week performance in which he hit .364 with 4 home runs and 12 runs batted in. He has already tied his career season-high for home runs with six on the season. Vargas would currently lead the league in hitting if he were qualified. He should be qualified after his next game and, if he keeps the hit streak alive, will likely lead all of the NL in hitting.
Nolan Arenado: After getting off to a slow start to the season at the plate, the veteran third baseman has quietly turned things around and is now among the league leaders in batting average at .286, good for 20th in the league. In his career against the Brewers, Arenado sports a .928 OPS with 24 homers and 77 RBI.
Notable Injuries
Arizona
Geraldo Perdomo: Perdomo suffered an ankle sprain in the first game in Mexico City. He was given a precautionary day off on Sunday. He is expected to be available for the first game against the Brewers, but that has not yet been confirmed. It would not be surprising to see him ride the bench for another game as a potential pinch-hitter to give the ankle more time to shore itself up again.
Gabriel Moreno: Moreno was initially expected to be back in time for this series against the Brewers. A delay in his rehab has now pushed that expectation back to this weekend’s series against the Cubs.
Carlos Santana: Santana continues to nurse a groin injury that has had him on the IL since 6 April. He is not expected back for this series.
Adrian Del Castillo: Del Castillo dislocated the tip of his left ring finger while trying to frame a pitch that was fouled off his hand in Sunday’s game against the San Diego Padres and is considered day-to-day. Del Castillo exited the game immediately after the injury, but the medical staff was able to pop his finger back into place. He is not expected to require a stint on the injured list and is considered day-to-day.
