Brewers face key check: Preserving playoff hopes alive with out Yelich
Horrible information from Miami, the place the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Miami Marlins Four-Three, however introduced after the sport that Christian Yelich will miss the remainder of the season after breaking a kneecap on a foul ball within the first inning. The freak harm got here on a 1-1 slider from Elieser Hernandez that Yelich fouled off the highest of his proper knee. He crumpled to the bottom and lay there for a pair minutes earlier than strolling off underneath his personal energy, however grimacing in ache as he retreated into the clubhouse.
It is a devastating harm for the Brewers, who lose not simply their greatest participant, however a participant who had an opportunity to win his second consecutive Nationwide League MVP award, as Yelich’s season ends with him batting .329/.429/.671 with 44 residence runs and 30 stolen bases. His mixture of hitting with energy, hitting for common and thievery on the bases has made him some of the thrilling gamers within the sport the previous two seasons, an apparent fan favourite in Milwaukee but additionally one of many faces of the sport as a famous person slugger.
The Brewers started the night time two video games again of the Chicago Cubs for the second wild-card berth and pushed throughout the successful run within the prime of the ninth. Trent Grisham, Yelich’s substitute within the lineup, contributed a key double. With nearer Josh Hader unavailable, Drew Pomeranz labored round two hits within the backside of the ninth for his first save.
Common supervisor David Stearns commented after the sport on the crushing loss:
David Stearns with the information that Christian Yelich has suffered a fractured proper kneecap: pic.twitter.com/HxMVzccDxJ
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) September 11, 2019
Lorenzo Cain additionally commented on shedding his outfield mate:
Lorenzo Cain mentioned Christian Yelich had tears in his eyes after studying his kneecap was damaged, understandably so: pic.twitter.com/MO6dyvsYOk
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) September 11, 2019
The Brewers are already taking part in with an injury-riddled lineup. Standout rookie second baseman Keston Hiura, second on the crew in OPS, has been out since Aug. 30 with a hamstring pressure. Mike Moustakas, who pinch-hit on Tuesday, has had simply seven plate appearances since Aug. 26 because of a wrist harm. Cain (knee) and Ryan Braun (again) have been taking part in by accidents.
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Someway, the Brewers have however received 5 in a row — together with the ultimate three video games of a four-game sequence in opposition to the Cubs — and eight of their previous 10. There’s not a lot solace right here, however Yelich has missed time this yr with recurring again issues and the Brewers are 10-7 when he would not begin (11-7 in the event you rely Tuesday’s win). The Brewers even have the simplest remaining schedule of the NL playoff contenders as they’ve just one sequence remaining in opposition to a playoff contender (this weekend at St. Louis). They’ve two extra video games in Miami and, after the Cardinals sequence, end up with the Padres, Pirates, Reds and Rockies.
Nonetheless, a makeshift lineup will now be much more makeshift. Travis Shaw began at third base on Tuesday and he is hitting .151. Cory Spangenberg began at second and he has a .273 OBP. Hernan Perez performed shortstop and he has a .276 OBP. Cain is hitting simply .253/.321/.353. With out their MVP candidate, and minus Hiura and Moustakas, you must marvel the place the runs will come from. Not less than the Brewers have some depth within the outfield with Grisham — who has hit .263/.324/.455 in 33 video games — and Ben Gamel, however they are not going to return near Yelich’s manufacturing.
This Brewers crew has discovered a strategy to overcome adversity, nevertheless. Final yr, they received their remaining seven video games and 9 of their remaining 10 to drive a tie with the Cubs for the NL Central title after which beat the Cubs within the tiebreaker sport. This yr, they’ve needed to overcome the struggles and accidents within the rotation. Jhoulys Chacin, who began that tiebreaker sport a yr in the past, went from employees ace to getting launched in late August with a 5.79 ERA. Brandon Woodruff, their greatest starter this season, has been out since July 21 with an indirect harm. Corbin Burnes was alleged to be a key a part of the rotation, however he is 1-5 with a 9.00 ERA. Then there’s reliever Jeremy Jeffress, an All-Star final season who was not too long ago minimize free as effectively.
Someway the Brewers have fought by all of this and remained within the playoff race. They are going to want Grisham or Braun or Eric Thames to get on a roll. They want Moustakas again ASAP. Supervisor Craig Counsell confirmed restraint in not utilizing Hader on Tuesday after he had pitched Saturday and Sunday in opposition to the Cubs, however he is in all probability going to have experience the dominant lefty a bit of more durable these remaining two-plus weeks.
On paper, the Brewers have little likelihood. They have been outscored on the season, their greatest participant is down, they’ve floor to make up and treasured little time left. However do not rely them out:
The temper within the #Brewers clubhouse was predictably muted. However that did not cease various gamers from cheering a Cubs throwing error that allowed the Padres to take a Four-2 lead in San Diego with the sport taking part in on the TVs.
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) September 11, 2019
As they are saying, in baseball, something can occur.
Mark Brown/Getty Photographs