The Milwaukee Brewers and San Diego Padres are getting a three game series started at American Family Field. The Brewers are coming off a sweep of the New York Yankees while the Padres just finished a four game series split with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Milwaukee is getting healthier as Christian Yelich was activated off the IL prior to tonight’s game. Tyler Black was optioned back to Triple-A Nashville as the corresponding move. Yelich is back at DH in his customary third spot in the batting order.
“It’s a sure good feeling to have Yeli back. He means so much to our team.” manager Pat Murphy said.
Murphy has the Brewers lineup loaded with six lefties to counter the right-handers the Padres will be throwing. Bradgley Rodriguez will be the opener for San Diego with the previously scheduled starter Matt Waldron expected to follow him. Waldron is a knuckleballer, which will present quite the unique look for the Brewers lineup. Waldron also has a 7.71 ERA on the season.
No Andrew Vaughn in the lineup tonight. Instead Jake Bauers will get the start at first base, batting fifth. Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, and David Hamilton will be the lefties that follow. Joey Ortiz rounds out the lineup at shortstop, batting ninth.
Overall, this Brewers lineup looks so much deeper and stronger with Yelich back in it. A top four of Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio, Yelich, and William Contreras is a fearsome group. It allows Mitchell to be in a lower pressure spot in the order and provide some more protection up and down the lineup.
The Brewers will have Brandon Sproat on the mound. Sproat has a 5.87 ERA on the year, but had a solid outing his last time out, throwing 4 scoreless IP, allowing just one hit. His pitch count was high at 76 pitches through those four innings, but he’s taken some steps forward lately. We’ll see if he’s able to continue that tonight.
Sproat will be facing a star studded Padres lineup, including Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatis Jr, and Manny Machado at the top. That also means we’re due some loud booing during tonight’s game from the Brewers faithful every time Machado steps to the plate.
First pitch is at 6:40 PM.
