Today’s game marks the first of a three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies. For more on how the two teams match up, check out Harrison’s series preview.
The Brewers got a much-deserved day off yesterday after their sweep of the Boston Red Sox. The bullpen probably appreciated the break, as no Brewer starter made it past the fifth inning in three games against the Red Sox, two of which went to extra innings. Jared Koenig and Abner Uribe have now pitched in three of the last four games, while Nick Mears and Trevor Megill appeared in two of the last four.
Luckily, if things break right for the Brewers today, they won’t have to use the bullpen much. Today is Quinn Priester’s spot in the rotation, but manager Pat Murphy has tabbed DL Hall to serve as the opener. The left-hander picked up the win in his only appearance of the season after returning from a left lat strain. He went 2 1⁄3 innings out of the bullpen, allowing an earned run but just two hits.
Hall started seven games for the Brewers last year but is likely still on a pitch count. In his last two rehab starts with Triple-A Nashville, Hall threw 51 and 57 pitches. I’d guess that even if he’s pitching well, he won’t throw more than about 60 pitches.
Hall will give way to Priester, who was pulled from his last start — after what may have been his best two innings as a Brewer — with a blister on his throwing hand. Reports indicate that Priester is “good to go”, but the Brewers probably want to exercise caution nonetheless. If Hall can go four or five innings today, that would make things a lot easier both on Priester and on the bullpen.
On the hill for the Phillies will be veteran righty Taijuan Walker. Walker, coming off a rough season (7.10 ERA in fifteen starts last year), has pitched to a 2.97 ERA in seven starts this year.
No drastic changes to the lineup, which tracks for a team that has won its last four games. Christian Yelich, who now has a hit in six straight games, will hit third again. Noted Good Baseball Player Sal Frelick will hit fifth. Frelick is coming off a game in which he recorded four hits and scored the winning run.
Rhys Hoskins, who got the day off on Wednesday in favor of Jake Bauers, slides down to the six spot. Hoskins has been the Brewers’ best hitter in aggregate this season, but he’s been colder than usual over the last week. The slugging first baseman has gone hitless in four of his last six starts. Hoskins is followed by Isaac Collins and the suddenly red-hot Caleb Durbin.
Durbin has had six hits in his last five games, including a 3-for-3 performance against Pittsburgh. He hit two doubles and the game-winning sac fly in the final game of the Boston series. Milwaukee has been getting hardly anything out of the left side of the infield for most of the season, so hopefully Durbin can continue to step up when it matters.
Also — he’s not starting, but happy birthday to Andruw Monasterio! Maybe we’ll get to see him pinch-hit tonight.
First pitch is at 5:45 p.m. on FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and the Brewers Radio Network. Full lineups for both teams are below:
