Brewers wrap up homestand with the lowly Rockies
The Milwaukee Brewers will wrap up their six-game homestand this weekend with three games against the Colorado Rockies at American Family Field.
Milwaukee is coming off a series victory over the Pirates, as the offense has stayed hot in June. The Crew is 14-8 this month, nearly as many wins as the Rockies have all season entering Thursday’s series finale with the Dodgers (18-62 overall). The Rockies did go on a four-game win streak just last week, though, as they took three of four from the Nationals. Since then, however, they’ve gone just 2-5, pending Thursday afternoon’s game.
Milwaukee’s injured list currently includes Brandon Woodruff (shoulder, ankle, elbow), Garrett Mitchell (oblique, shoulder), Blake Perkins (shin), and Nestor Cortes (elbow). Woodruff and Perkins are likely to be the first two back, with both currently on rehab assignments. Cortes could return after the All-Star break while Mitchell, who has had zero luck when it comes to injuries, re-injured his surgically repaired shoulder sliding into a base while rehabbing from his oblique strain. He’s now out until at least late September as he’ll need another surgery.
Colorado’s injuries include Ryan Feltner (back), Kyle Freeland (back), Ezequiel Tovar (oblique), and Kris Bryant (back). Freeland is set to return for Friday’s series opener after missing the minimum 15 days with back stiffness, while Feltner and Tovar could also be back in the coming weeks. Bryant, who has had injury issues for his entire Rockies tenure, has been diagnosed with “lumbar degenerative disk disease” and has been shelved since mid-April. Ouch.
Christian Yelich, after a freezing cold start, leads Milwaukee in most major statistical categories. He’s hitting .264/.343/.455 with 15 homers, 57 RBIs, 39 runs, and 12 steals. Rhys Hoskins and Jackson Chourio are tied for second with 12 homers apiece, while William Contreras, Brice Turang, and Sal Frelick have also been regular contributors. As of late, however, Isaac Collins, Caleb Durbin, and Joey Ortiz have also been hitting well, helping Milwaukee’s offense look the most well-rounded it has all season. As a team, the Crew is hitting .246/.321/.378 (.699 OPS ranks 19th) with 75 homers (25th), 379 runs (ninth), and 97 steals (second).
Catcher Hunter Goodman is one of the few bright spots for Colorado this season, as he’s hitting .287/.332/.512 with 14 homers, 48 RBIs, and 40 runs. Ryan McMahon, who figures to be a trade deadline candidate, is hitting .222/.324/.404 with 12 homers and 25 RBIs after a cold start a la Yelich. Mickey Moniak has had a solid season, with Jordan Beck, Michael Toglia, and Brenton Doyle also contributing. As a team, the Rockies are hitting .229/.291/.382 (.673 OPS ranks 25th) with 77 homers (24th), 284 runs (27th), and 43 steals (tied for 24th).
Abner Uribe leads Milwaukee’s bullpen with 38 appearances this year, as he also has a 2.11 ERA and 49 strikeouts over 38 1⁄3 innings. Jared Koenig has a 3.82 ERA, Grant Anderson has a 3.20 ERA, and Nick Mears has a 2.25 ERA as those are the arms that have mostly contributed to Milwaukee’s “winning” bullpen this season. Trevor Megill is 18-for-20 in save opportunities with a 2.60 ERA and 33 strikeouts. Rob Zastryzny, DL Hall, and Aaron Ashby have also been great. As a team, the Brewers have a 3.82 team ERA (11th), including a 3.47 starter ERA (seventh) and a 4.26 reliever ERA (20th). They’ve struck out 681 batters (13th) over 718 1⁄3 innings.
Tyler Kinley leads the Rockies with 35 appearances, though his 7.09 ERA leaves much to be desired. Jake Bird has a 2.62 ERA through 34 appearances, while Seth Halvorsen has a 4.31 ERA and six saves in nine opportunities. Jimmy Herget (3.15 ERA) and Victor Vodnik (2.91 ERA) are about the only other bright spots here, though the Rockies also have Ryan Rolison (7.36 ERA), Angel Chivilli (5.93 ERA), Juan Mejia (4.21 ERA), and Anthony Molina (7.27 ERA). As a team, the Rockies have a 5.53 team ERA (30th), including a 6.25 starter ERA (30th) and a 4.74 reliever ERA (26th). They’ve struck out 530 batters (30th) over 700 innings.
Probable Pitchers
Friday, June 27 @ 7:10 p.m.: Jose Quintana (2.98 ERA, 4.62 FIP) vs. Kyle Freeland (5.13 ERA, 3.63 FIP)
While Quintana’s 4.62 FIP is the worst it’s been since 2021 (4.66 between the Angels and Giants), his 2.98 ERA is the best he’s had since 2022 (2.93 with the Pirates and Cardinals). He’s compiled 1.1 bWAR in just 10 starts, and he sports a 5-2 record with 36 strikeouts across 54 1⁄3 innings. He went six scoreless frames in a win over the Twins in his last start, allowing three hits and four walks with one strikeout. He’s made 10 appearances (nine starts) against Colorado in his career, with a 5.40 ERA and 48 strikeouts across 51 2⁄3 innings.
Freeland, a fourth-place finisher in the 2018 NL Cy Young race, is in his ninth season with the Rockies, though he’s never quite replicated those 2018 numbers. Still, his 3.63 FIP is the best of his career, as he’s struck out 57 batters across 73 2⁄3 innings over 14 starts this season. This is his first start since June 11, when he went six innings, allowing three runs and striking out five against the Giants. He’s made nine career starts against Milwaukee, with a 2.65 ERA and 49 strikeouts across 54 1⁄3 innings, though he allowed five runs in just 6 1⁄3 innings in his start against the Crew back in April.
Saturday, June 28 @ 3:10 p.m.: Quinn Priester (3.68 ERA, 4.27 FIP) vs. Antonio Senzatela (6.48 ERA, 5.21 FIP)
Priester has put together a solid start to his Brewers’ tenure, as he has a 3.68 ERA with 50 strikeouts over 71 innings this season. The Brewers have won each of the last five games he’s pitched in, including a 2.66 ERA with a 3-0 record across four June appearances. His lone appearance against the Rockies came earlier this season in his Brewers’ debut, as he went five innings, allowing one run on six hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
Senzatela, like most of the Rockies’ pitching staff, has had a dismal year. He leads the league in losses (10) and hits allowed (117) through 16 appearances (15 starts) this season. He’s also thrown eight wild pitches, which matches the total from the first eight seasons of his career. In summation, he has a 6.48 ERA, 5.21 FIP, and just 40 strikeouts compared to 28 walks over 76 1⁄3 innings this year. He has, however, allowed just two earned runs over his last two starts, both winning efforts, as he totaled 10 1⁄3 innings against the Nationals and D-backs. In seven career starts against Milwaukee, he has a 5.09 ERA and 30 strikeouts over 35 1⁄3 innings. That includes a nine-run outing (eight earned) over 4 1⁄3 innings back in April.
Sunday, June 29 @ 1:10 p.m.: Chad Patrick (3.72 ERA, 3.55 FIP) vs. Germán Márquez (5.79 ERA, 4.09 FIP)
Patrick continues to face some tough luck, as he has a 3-7 record and the Brewers have lost each of his last four starts despite a solid 3.72 ERA and 3.55 FIP. He allowed four runs across five innings with a career-high nine strikeouts against the Pirates in his last start. This marks his first career start against Colorado.
Márquez’s 5.79 ERA is the worst of his career thus far (with the exception of last season, when he allowed three runs in just four innings of work). He hasn’t been a “good” pitcher in a few years, with his ERA over 4.40 in seven of the last eight seasons. Through 16 starts this season, he’s allowed 103 hits and 24 walks with 56 strikeouts over 77 2⁄3 innings. He had a strange statline against the Dodgers on Tuesday, allowing six runs (none earned) on six hits and no walks with six strikeouts over four innings of work, taking the loss in a tough-luck 68-pitch outing. He’s made six career starts against Milwaukee, with a 4.21 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 36 1⁄3 innings. However, he hasn’t pitched against them since 2021, with the other five starts all coming between 2016 and 2019.
How to Watch
Friday, June 27: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network
Saturday, June 28: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network
Sunday, June 29: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin, Telemundo Wisconsin, and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network
Prediction
If the Brewers continue to play like they have in June, this should be a lopsided series against a team that is on pace to break the record for losses in a season. I’ll take the Crew to pick up a sweep to close out the month.