Series Preview: Milwaukee Brewers @ Seattle Mariners

The Milwaukee Brewers are the hottest team in baseball, and they’ll look to stay hot as they head to the cooler confines of Washington to take on the Seattle Mariners. Winners of 10 in a row and now at 59-40 on the season, the Crew is tied for the best record in baseball with the division rival Cubs. On the other side, the Mariners have had an up-and-down season, as they sit four games behind the Astros atop the AL West and in a tie for an AL Wild Card spot with the Red Sox. Seattle most recently took two of three against Houston this weekend.

Milwaukee’s injured list, which featured plenty of pitchers for most of the season, is suddenly filling up with position players. Outfielder Sal Frelick (hamstring) and first baseman/outfielder Jake Bauers (shoulder) are the latest to join the IL, though Frelick is expected to return fairly quickly. First baseman Rhys Hoskins (thumb) and outfielder Garrett Mitchell (shoulder) are also shelved, with Hoskins expected to return in late August. On the pitching front, Nestor Cortes and Robert Gasser are both on rehab assignments as they’ll bring the Brewers one step closer to having about 12 realistic starters on the roster (and that isn’t an exaggeration).

Seattle’s injured list features pitchers Bryce Miller (elbow) and Collin Snider (forearm), outfielder Victor Robles (shoulder), and second baseman Ryan Bliss (biceps). Snider is currently rehabbing and could rejoin the team as soon as this series, while Miller is targeting an August return. Robles and Bliss are both expected to be out until at least September.

Christian Yelich and Jackson Chourio lead the balanced Brewers’ offense, with Joey Ortiz, Isaac Collins, William Contreras, Brice Turang, Caleb Durbin, Andrew Vaughn, and Blake Perkins among the other key contributors, thanks to the myriad of recent injuries. As a team, the Brewers are hitting .250/.325/.385 (.710 OPS ranks 18th) with 96 homers (tied for 23rd), 473 runs (seventh), and 115 steals (second).

Catcher Cal Raleigh leads the Mariners’ offense as he’s making a case for MVP, hitting .256/.371/.617 with 38 homers, 16 doubles, 83 RBIs, 67 runs, and 10 steals this year. Randy Arozarena, Jorge Polanco, and Julio Rodríguez have also provided consistency, with each hitting 14-plus homers and hovering around a .315 on-base percentage. J.P. Crawford, Dominic Canzone, Cole Young, Luke Raley, and Donovan Solano are among the other key contributors on this Seattle squad. As a team, the Mariners are hitting .249/.326/.415 (.741 OPS ranks seventh) with 138 homers (sixth), 467 runs (eighth), and 90 steals (fifth).

Abner Uribe, Jared Koenig, Grant Anderson, Nick Mears, and Trevor Megill lead the Milwaukee bullpen. Uribe, despite some recent struggles, has a solid 2.42 ERA and a bullpen-best 60 strikeouts over 48 1⁄3 innings this year, while Megill’s 2.27 ERA leads the way to go with his 23 saves in 26 opportunities. Aaron Ashby and DL Hall have also been solid since returning from injury. As a staff, the Brewers have a 3.67 team ERA (seventh), including a 3.42 starter ERA (fifth) and a 3.99 reliever ERA (18th). They’ve struck out 855 batters (seventh) over 880 1⁄3 innings.

Eduard Bazardo (2.84 ERA), Gabe Speier (2.63 ERA), and Carlos Vargas (3.91 ERA) lead the Seattle bullpen in terms of appearances, while closer Andrés Muñoz has been great with a 1.46 ERA, 0.89 WHIP, and 48 strikeouts over 37 innings while totaling 21 saves. Matt Brash (1.14 ERA), Casey Legumina (5.84 ERA), Trent Thornton (4.54 ERA), and Juan Burgos (4.05 ERA) round out the bullpen. As a staff, the Mariners have a 3.92 team ERA (16th), including a 3.96 starter ERA (15th) and a 3.88 reliever ERA (13th). They’ve struck out 829 batters (15th) over 899 innings.

Probable Pitchers

Monday, July 21 @ 8:40 p.m.: Brandon Woodruff (2.61 ERA, 3.38 FIP) vs. George Kirby (4.50 ERA, 3.78 FIP)

Woodruff has made two starts since returning to major league action, with three runs allowed and 18 strikeouts across 10 1⁄3 innings in a win against the Marlins and a no-decision against the Nationals. He struck out 10 on just 81 pitches over 4 1⁄3 innings against the Nats in his last start before the break. This is his first career start against Seattle.

Kirby, in his fourth MLB season, missed about two months to begin the season before rejoining the rotation. In 10 starts this year, he has a 4.50 ERA and 3.78 FIP with 56 strikeouts over 54 innings in what has easily been his worst season to date. He’s won each of his last three starts, though, allowing five runs over 17 1⁄3 innings with 20 strikeouts against the Royals, Pirates, and Tigers. This is his first career start against Milwaukee.

Tuesday, July 22 @ 8:40 p.m.: Jacob Misiorowski (2.81 ERA, 3.83 FIP) vs. Logan Gilbert (3.39 ERA, 2.96 FIP)

Misiorowski, the rookie phenom who was a surprise addition to the NL All-Star team, has made five career starts to date, with a 2.81 ERA, 3.83 FIP, and 33 strikeouts across 25 2⁄3 innings. In his last start against the Dodgers prior to the All-Star break, he went six innings with a career-high 12 strikeouts, allowing one run on four hits and a walk. This is his first career start against Seattle.

Gilbert, an All-Star last year, is in his fifth MLB season with Seattle. Across 12 starts this year, he has a 3.39 ERA, 2.96 FIP, and 88 strikeouts over 61 innings. He went 5 1⁄3 innings in a no-decision against the Tigers last time out, allowing two unearned runs on six hits and a pair of walks with nine strikeouts. He’s made two career starts against Milwaukee, one in each of the last two seasons. In those games, he has a 6.17 ERA with 15 strikeouts over 11 2⁄3 innings, taking a no-decision each time.

Wednesday, July 23 @ 2:40 p.m.: Quinn Priester (3.33 ERA, 3.96 FIP) vs. Luis Castillo (3.21 ERA, 3.72 FIP)

Priester has been fantastic in his short time with the Brewers, making 18 appearances (13 starts) with a 3.33 ERA, 3.96 FIP, and 80 strikeouts over 94 2⁄3 innings while picking up eight wins, good for second on the team behind Freddy Peralta’s 12. In fact, Milwaukee has won each of the last nine games he’s appeared in, dating back to late May. In his last start against the mighty Dodgers, Priester hurled a gem, allowing no runs on three hits and no walks with 10 strikeouts across six innings. Like Woodruff and Miz, this is Priester’s first career start against the Mariners.

Castillo is a familiar foe from his five-plus seasons with the Reds, as he’s now in his fourth season with the Mariners. Across 20 starts this year, he has a 3.21 ERA, 3.72 FIP, and 100 strikeouts over 115 innings. He’s earned the win in each of his last three starts, spanning 18 2⁄3 innings with three runs allowed and 21 strikeouts against the Pirates, Tigers, and Astros. Castillo has made 18 career starts against Milwaukee, with a 3.34 ERA and 130 strikeouts over 105 innings. None of those appearances have come since 2022, however.

How to Watch

Monday, July 21: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network

Tuesday, July 22: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin, MLB Network (out-of-market viewers), and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network

Wednesday, July 23: FanDuel Sports Wisconsin and MLB.TV (out-of-market viewers); listen via radio on the Brewers Radio Network

Prediction

On paper, this is a fairly evenly matched series. Given how hot the Brewers are, though, I’ll take Milwaukee to win two of three as they return to town for the first time since the All-Star break.