The Milwaukee Brewers find themselves on the verge of securing the top seed in the National League, needing either a victory over the Cincinnati Reds or a loss by the Philadelphia Phillies against the Minnesota Twins to clinch the position. While this weekend series holds importance, the Brew Crew is primarily focused on fine-tuning their strategy for the upcoming Division Series set to commence in eight days.
As part of their preparations, the team is set to deploy Jacob Misiorowski in a relief role, marking his first career appearance out of the bullpen. The 23-year-old right-hander will pitch behind starter Robert Gasser, who is working his way back from elbow surgery and is expected to be limited to 3-4 innings. Milwaukee is preparing Misiorowski for a pivotal postseason role, where he will likely pitch multiple innings in high-pressure situations.
Misiorowski’s performance earlier in the season was impressive enough to earn him a spot in the All-Star Game just five starts into his career. However, he has struggled in the second half, posting a 5.45 earned run average. With limited experience facing lineups more than twice, the Brewers aim to maximize his effectiveness by using him during shorter, high-leverage stints.
Milwaukee’s bullpen is set to receive a crucial reinforcement this weekend with the return of closer Trevor Megill from the 15-day injured list. Megill, who boasts 30 saves and a 2.54 ERA, has been sidelined for a month due to a forearm strain. Manager Pat Murphy’s committee approach in the ninth inning has seen Abner Uribe, Jared Koenig, and Aaron Ashby each step up in Megill’s absence, but his return could provide a significant boost as the postseason looms.
While Jose Quintana will not take the mound this weekend, he appears to be progressing toward a return for the Division Series. The veteran pitcher recently threw three innings during a live batting practice session and could be in line to start Game 3 if he is healthy. The Brewers are likely to feature Freddy Peralta and Quinn Priester in the first two games of the series. Although the status of Brandon Woodruff remains uncertain due to a lat strain, Quintana and rookie righty Chad Patrick could fill in if Woodruff is unable to participate.
As the Brewers gear up for the playoffs, the excitement builds around their strategic adjustments and potential player returns, which could greatly influence their postseason run.