The Brewers care about when to challenge ball/strike calls.
In spring training, they tested a system that involved green index cards that were posted in the dugout in the best situations to challenge. Apparently, MLB told them to stop posting cards.
An unique suspension.
Brewers relief pitcher Abner Uribe was suspended for one game (served on 24 June) for making a WWE gesture called a crotch chop after striking out a batter. Perhaps, he was (and always will be) the only player in the Majors to make that gesture. Will that gesture get him mentioned at the baseball Hall of Fame?
Home runs are close to the same.
This season, the Brewers and the Diamondbacks ranked in the bottom four teams for home runs (70 and 71 homers in games through 24 June).
This balance in homers contrasted sharply with total runs. The Brewers ranked in the top three teams in total runs (407), while the Diamondbacks are average. In past seasons, the Diamondbacks have ranked high in total runs scored. Perhaps they will break-out in this series. Instead of homers, small-ball will likely decide the winner of the series. The Diamondbacks will be challenged, but could play better than expected.
The Brewers are less fearsome, but the series will be challenging for Diamondbacks.
“To close things out with my three-axis framework, I think that the Brewers sacrificed some Championship Probability Distribution in 2026 in an attempt to push it higher in future years. Their full organization looks better than it did to me last year, even if the major league team isn’t quite as fearsome. I also like how they left spots for breakouts in the infield, outfield, and on the mound because of the way they moved on from good-but-not great players.” — Ben Clemens, March 2026
On the other hand, the context makes a big difference. Despite the Brewers being less fearsome, this series will be a challenge for the Diamondbacks. Two aspects of the context follow.
- Last season, the Brewers made it to the NL Championship series, and lost to the Dodgers.
- This season, the Brewers lead the NL Central Division, with 95.3% odds of making the playoffs.
Let’s compare the teams.
Offense. This season through 30 June, the Brewers averaged more runs scored per game (5.18 vs 4.27 runs per game).
Runners Left On Base. This season through 30 June, the Diamondbacks left fewer runners on base per game (6.61 vs 7.45).
Defense. This season through 30 June, the Diamondbacks had much better defense (28 vs 2 OAA, 28 vs 19 DRS)
Bullpens. This season through 30 June, the Diamondbacks and Brewers each had 74 shutdown performances by the bullpen.
Starting Pitcher Matchups. This season through 30 June, the Diamondbacks had the most quality starts (33 vs 27).
Brewers Players to Watch.
From 1-24 June, the league average OPS was .746. In that same stretch, the Brewers had five players with an OPS over .900. Their batting is worth watching. The players were:
- Andrew Vaughn, 1.019 OPS
- Chourio Jackson, 1.017 OPS
- Jake Bauers, .996 OPS
- Blake Perkins, .945 OPS
- Gary Sanchez, .931 OPS
Diamondbacks Player to Watch.
Gabriel Moreno. From 1-24 June, he leads the Diamondbacks with an .931 OPS. After missing most of April due to injury, he is back. His batting was outstanding, especially from mid-May onward!
Pitching Matchups.
Friday, 6:45 PM MST.
Jose Cabrera vs Kyle Harrison. The statistic of interest is walks plus hits per inning (WHIP). Looking at Diamondbacks starting pitchers, Cabrera’s 1.20 WHIP has the third best (only Rodriguez’s 1.176 and Soroka’s 1.085 were better). And Cabrera’s WHIP seems sustainable because it was 1.19 in Reno. On the other hand, this season Harrison’s 1.039 is his career best. But will he regress?
Perhaps the deciding factor will be ERA. In June, Jose Cabrera started 2 games and had the better ERA (3.60 ERA vs 4.62 ERA).
This matchup is very slight advantage Diamondbacks.
Saturday, 6:40 PM MST.
Merrill Kelly vs Brandon Woodruff. Woodruff was on the injured list from 1 May to 22 June due to a shoulder injury. In June Woodruff (2 games) had the better ERA (0.00 ERA vs 7.31 ERA).
Despite being ceredited with a loss in all 5 starts in June, Kelly had more quality starts than Woodruff (2 QS vs 1 QS). In June, Merrill Kelly allowed 8 home runs. If those had not happened, his June ERA would have been a respectable 4.45.
This matchup is advantage Brewers.
Sunday, 1:10 PM MST.
Eduardo Rodriguez vs Brandon Sproat. In June, Rodriguez had the better ERA (2.02 ERA vs 3.46 ERA), and Rodriguez had more quality starts (4 QS vs 2 QS).
This matchup is advantage Diamondbacks.
