The Milwaukee Brewers are looking to secure a series win over the San Francisco Giants after convincing victories in the first two games. It’s Backyard Baseball Night at the ballpark, and there will also be postgame fireworks.
After a circuitous avoidance of announcing who would be pitching in tonight’s game that would make Abbott and Costello blush, the Brewers finally made the roster move, recalling LHP Robert Gasser to make the start tonight. Reliever Rob Zastrzyny was placed on the IL with a trapezius strain. Zastryzny said it’s a relatively minor strain, but he’d been fighting through soreness trying to get back and will need some extra time to let the issue calm down.
Another note from Pat Murphy is that outfielder Brandon Lockridge should be ready to head out to Triple-A Nashville on a rehab assignment “fairly soon.” Lockridge, along with Blake Perkins, took at-bats against Brandon Woodruff in his four-inning live BP this afternoon. The Brewers will wait to see how Woodruff recovers in the next day or so before determining next steps.
Gasser will be making his third start of the season for the Brewers. The first two did not go particularly well, walking six batters in 8 1/3 IP and posting a 6.48 ERA and a demotion to Nashville.
On the key for Gasser to be successful at this level, Pat Murphy said, “Strikes. He has to be able to command the baseball. Free bases aren’t a thing up here; it’s just not. You can do that wherever else you want, whatever team you pitch on, you can do whatever you want. If you’re going to pitch here, you’re not going to give up free bases, just not going to happen.”
On the other side, the Giants will have their ace, Logan Webb, on the mound. Webb hasn’t had his best year, posting a 4.82 ERA so far. Still, he’s finished in the top 10 of Cy Young voting each of the last three years, so he has the capability on any given night to put together a dominant performance.
For the Brewers lineup that will face Webb, there is no Jackson Chourio in the order. It’s just a regular off day for him, Pat Murphy confirmed. Christian Yelich is back in the leadoff spot, and Andrew Vaughn returns to the lineup after getting the night off last night and will be batting second. Brice Turang, William Contreras, Jake Bauers, and Garrett Mitchell make up the middle of the order. Sal Frelick, Luis Rengifo, and David Hamilton round out the bottom of the order. Joey Ortiz has been out of the starting lineup each of the last three days.
The Giants will roll out a similar lineup to the last couple of games. Casey Schmitt, Rafael Devers, Luis Arraez, and Willy Adames make up the top four spots in their order. The big-time prospect Bryce Eldridge is batting seventh.
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. for the third consecutive night, once again on Brewers TV and the Brewers Radio Network.
