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Rookie Right-Hander Establishing Himself in Brewers Rotation

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MILWAUKEE — It didn’t end quite the way he had hoped, but June turned out to be a pretty good month for one Brewers right-hander. Tobias Myers firmly established himself as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers’ starting rotation. He is 4-0 with a 1.44 ERA and 24 strikeouts over five starts since his recall from Triple-A Nashville on June 5.

And while he was far from his best Saturday afternoon when he allowed three runs on seven hits and a pair of walks, he still managed to tie a career-high with six strikeouts and went six innings in Milwaukee’s 5-3 loss to the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field.

“I’m just trying to take It day by day,” said Myers, who’s 5-2 with a 3.26 ERA and has a 1.115 WHIP in 12 appearances (11 starts) for Milwaukee this season.

“We’re on to tomorrow now, trying to get a win and win the series,” he continued. “But definitely excited for the future, being able to find myself a little bit in this last month and just compete — I think that’s a good sign moving forward.”

Tobias Myers Establishing Himself in Brewers Rotation

Myers came into his Saturday start having allowed just two earned runs over his last four starts (25 1/3 innings) but doubled that total just two batters into the game after issuing a leadoff single and then a home run to Cubs first baseman Michael Busch. The inning was on the brink of getting away from him after Cody Bellinger drew a walk and advanced to second on a balk but Myers settled in and retired his next three batters.

Myers would find himself working around traffic the rest of the day but managed two clean innings, retiring the Cubs in order in the third and sixth before giving way to the bullpen.

Manager Pat Murphy chalked it up to a learning experience, but at the same time, the kind of lessons Myers will need to learn quickly in order to stick around long-term.

“He’s a competitive kid. He’s proven that and he’s pitched very well for us,” Murphy said. “Today was not one of his best days, but they came out ready to go. His tendency has been in a couple of the games to have a rough first inning and then settle in.

“Well, that’s not good enough. You’ve got to recognize that and be convicted from the first pitch. That’s all it is.”

Decision Backfires

Myers left the game with the score tied at 3, and it was still a 3-3 game after Bryan Hudson struck out a pair of Cubs batters in the seventh.

Instead of sending the left-hander back out for another inning, though, Murphy called on right-hander Joel Payamps, who issued a leadoff walk to Seiya Suzuki, then a two-run home run to Ian Happ that proved the difference.

“Payamps has been our eighth-inning guy a lot and he was fresh,” Murphy said. “Collectively, we decided that any time we can get Hudson not to labor but obviously, it backfired. (Payamps) wasn’t good.”

One of Milwaukee’s most dependable relievers last season (2.55 ERA, 3 saves), Payamps has had an up-and-down 2024. He came into the game Saturday sporting a respectable 3.72 ERA in 33 appearances but has a 6.75 ERA over his last five outings.

Payamps’ biggest issue Saturday was walking batters. After Happ’s home run, he walked the next two batters before Enoli Paredes came on to get the Brewers out of the inning.

“You can’t walk people,” Murphy. said “You’re in the major leagues and you’re pitching at that time in the game, walks aren’t a possibility.

“I mean, it’s just not part of it.”

Injury Report

–LHP Jared Koenig went on the 15-day injured list before the game with tightness in his left forearm. He’ll undergo an MRI examination on Monday.

–INF Joey Ortiz was slated to return to the starting lineup Saturday but was scratched just before the first pitch due to tightness in his neck. The rookie entered the game as a pinch-runner in the ninth inning and could return to full action on Sunday for the series finale.

–LHP DL Hall worked three innings Saturday in a rehab assignment for Triple-A Nashville. Hall allowed just an unearned run on five hits and a walk with four strikeouts and hit 95 MPH with his fastball 13 times.

Up Next

The Brewers will try to clinch a second straight series victory against the Cubs on Sunday afternoon. RHP Freddy Peralta (5-4, 4.03 ERA) gets the start for Milwaukee while the Cubs counter with RHP Kyle Hendricks (1-5, 6.87).

 

Photo Credit: © Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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