![Cardinals Brewers Baseball](https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=150%2C100 150w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=200%2C133 200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=225%2C150 225w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=300%2C200 300w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=400%2C267 400w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=540%2C360 540w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=640%2C427 640w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=750%2C500 750w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=990%2C660 990w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C690 1035w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C800 1200w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C889 1333w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C985 1476w, https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/stltoday.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/6/ca/6caf7894-1b6a-588f-bf3c-b0173b4b0f9a/663eceef25759.image.jpg?resize=1763%2C1176 2008w)
The Brewers’ Willy Adames reacts after hitting a two-run single in the fifth inning against the Cardinals on Friday, May 10, 2024, in Milwaukee.
The Milwaukee Brewers keep finding a way.
Despite suffering a slew of injuries to an already diminished pitching staff, they have maintained control of the National League Central this season. Their 9-2 victory over the Dodgers in Los Angeles Sunday kept them five games ahead of the Cardinals.
Prior to that victory the Brewers had gone 8-8 through a tough schedule stretch. Twice they lost three straight games, but Milwaukee hasn’t lost four or more games in a row all season.
They are a resilient bunch, so they will be difficult to chase down this summer.
“Whenever you go through a stretch when the outside perspective is that it’s the end of the world and the sky is falling, to us it’s like, ‘We know that there’s going to be tough streaks in the year. Keep going. Keep trying to play well,’” Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich told reporters Sunday. “Then, when you get on the good side of it, you try to build momentum again.”
People are also reading…
The Brewers have remained aggressive on the acquisition front, trading for starting pitcher Aaron Civale and pulling 900-year-old lefty Dallas Keuchel off the pile.
Keuchel finessed his way into the fifth inning against the powerful Dodgers Sunday, nibbling here and there while using 94 pitches to get 13 outs.
“I was very fortunate to have a lot of weak contact in hitters’ counts,” Keuchel said. “I didn’t have a ton of counts that I wanted to be in. That’s a great lineup to get through 4 1/3 and have five walks and throw up some zeros. I’ll take it.”
Keuchel’s ability to pitch out of constant danger against an offensive juggernaut energized his teammates.
“The reason we picked him up is because of his experience,” Brewers manager Pat Murphy said. “He’s not going to give in. He gave us a huge lift today. He did what was needed.”
As for Civale, he had a 5.17 ERA in 27 starts for the Tampa Bay Rays. That explains why he was available for the low, low price of infielder Gregory Barrios.
But don’t be shocked if the Brewers get Civale back on track. Again, these guys keep finding a way.
TALKIN’ BASEBALL
Here is what folks are writing about Our National Pastime:
Jon Becker, FanGraphs: “The Cardinals have completely turned around their season, and while our playoff odds don’t love their chances, they’ll almost certainly be buyers based on how things have gone since their horrid March/April. Acquiring a bat for the injury plagued outfield should be a focus, and they could also use some marginal additions to their pitching staff. Still, there are games to be played before the deadline, and while I don’t see a blowup, the Redbirds have rentals that teams would covet, and maybe someone would give them an offer they couldn’t refuse for closer Ryan Helsley.”
Russell Dorsey, Yahoo Sports: “Who would have thought the Cardinals would be in a position to add at the deadline? Despite rough first halves by third baseman Nolan Arenado, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and second baseman Nolan Gorman, St. Louis has found itself in the middle of the NL postseason race. Despite the offense not clicking, the team’s rotation, which was its biggest question mark coming into the season, has managed to keep the team in games. The Cardinals won’t be able to hold onto their position in the NL postseason picture if Goldschmidt and Arenado aren’t able to play better. But getting an offensive supplement, particularly in the outfield or second base, would definitely help St. Louis make a push. Luis Rengifo has had a breakout this year for the Angels and is a player with an offensive profile that St. Louis doesn’t currently have. Rengifo has the ability to be a tough at-bat for pitchers and while he doesn’t walk much, he doesn’t strike out, commands the strike zone and hits the ball to all fields. He could be the type of player that sparks the rest of the Cardinals' lineup.”
Will Leitch, MLB.com: “Nolan Gorman leads the Cardinals in homers but was essentially an automatic out in June: He hit .141 and struck out in nearly half his at-bats. But he may have woken up over the last week, hitting a grand slam in a win over the Pirates and going 7-for-11 against the Nationals over the weekend. Gorman has been in the Majors for a while, but he’s still only 24 years old. There’s still a ton of room for growth here.”
Kiley McDaniel, ESPN.com: “The knock on the Cardinals for some time has been that the organization has a hole when it comes to front-line starters, by not paying the price in free agency, stepping up to acquire a few years of control to one nearing free agency, or producing one internally. The lineup and position player prospects (along with depth starters and relievers) have been solid, but there's a real chance St. Louis will get a shot at a potential front-line starter in Chase Burns or Hagen Smith.”
Bob Nightengale, USA Today: “Who will be the most aggressive teams at the trade deadline, GMs and baseball executives say? The Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres and Atlanta. The trouble is that the trade inventory is painfully thin with only five teams out of playoff contention. It also lacks star power unless three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer is traded by the Texas Rangers, or New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso or Chicago Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger are moved. But Scherzer has a full no-trade clause and can say he’s staying put. Bellinger is still owed a hefty $52.5 million after this year if he doesn’t opt out of the remaining two years of his three-year, $80 million contract. And Alonso is staying as long as the Mets remain in the wild-card race. The hottest commodity will be relievers, GMs say, knowing how valuable bullpen arms are in the postseason being able to pitch every day while starters rarely go deep. The Angels are getting bombarded with interest for closer Carlos Estevez, who may be the best reliever available on the market with Oakland A’s strikeout machine Mason Miller likely unavailable. He was the AL reliever of the month in June, yielding just two hits without a walk in 10 shutout appearances. He retired 26 consecutive batters during one stretch, and is 16 for 19 in save opportunities. He’s a free agent after the season with only about $2.2 million remaining on his contract at the trade deadline. The Angels also are expected to trade reliever Luis Garcia. But unless they receive overwhelming offers, the Angles likely will hang onto starters Tyler Anderson (who gave up 3 hits in 8 shutout innings Saturday against the Cubs) and Griffin Canning, and outfielder Taylor Ward, who still are under team control through at least 2025.”
Matt Snyder, CBSSports,com: “I'm still worried that (Orioles general manager) Mike Elias is a bit too much of a prospect hugger, but he can also probably really take advantage of Chris Getz here in dealing (for Garrett Crochet) from a position of strength with incredible minor-league depth. The deal for Corbin Burnes actually ended up helping the Brewers but really did very little damage to the Orioles' juggernaut farm system. It feels like something similar could happen here and the Orioles need the rotation depth.”
Matthew Trueblood, Baseball Prospectus: “As recently as a few months ago, this would have been inconceivable, but the Guardians might have it better than any other team in MLB. If you had to bet on one team to have an excellent rest of the decade, they’re as good a bet as any. They have a healthy lead in the AL Central. Steven Kwan is having a breakout season, two years after his first breakout season. Jose Ramirez is having a strange season (he’s never this homer-dependent), but a sterling one. If not for Aaron Judge going Full Bonds, Ramírez would be in contention (mostly with Gunnar Henderson) to win the MVP award missing from his Hall of Fame résumé, and he’s on pace to become the first player since Ryan Howard and Prince Fielder in 2009 to drive in 140 runs in a season. Cleveland’s farm system is merely average, but they have a balanced and dynamic lineup, and they keep finding ways to thrive improbably when it comes to pitching. They’re fourth in MLB in Defensive Runs Prevented, thanks especially to excellent work from their catching corps. Then there’s the other thing: in just over a week, they get to pick first in the MLB Draft, and they also have the biggest overall bonus pool of any team. Right now, in fact, the Guardians would be just the third team in the six-decade history of the draft to carry a winning percentage north of .600 through the day on which they make the first-overall selection. Only 10 other teams have even had winning records.”
MEGAPHONE
"My intention wasn't to break my hand. I'll get frustrated and make mistakes. That's no excuse. There's a lot I can prove out there, that I'm willing not to do stuff like that. Emotions get the best of us sometimes.”
Chicago Cubs reliever Colten Brewer, after suffering a broken hand while punching the dugout wall in anger.