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Baseball suspends Cubs reliever for throwing at Brewers Woodruff (AUDIO)

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Brandon Woodruff

Major League Baseball announced Thursday the suspension of Chicago Cubs reliever Ryan Tepera for three games and fined him an undisclosed amount of money for throwing at Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Woodruff during Tuesday nights game at American Family Field.

Tepera’s suspension was due to start Friday when the Cubs open a home series against the Atlanta Braves, but he is appealing the decision.

Cubs manager David Ross received a one-game suspension and will serve it Friday.

Tepera’s pitch in the fifth inning missed its intended target, going behind Woodruff’s legs.  It’s believed the pitch came in retaliation for Woodruff hitting Cubs catcher Willson Contreras in the fourth inning.  It’s the 3rd time this season that Contreras has been hit by Brewers pitchers in five games.

There were no ejections in the game, but the home plate umpire warned both benches and the remainder of the game went without further incident.

The Brewers and Cubs play each other again in a three-game series at the end of next week at Wrigley Field.

AUDIO: Mgr. Craig Counsell on pitchers pitching inside :23

AUDIO: Craig Counsell said intent is the key :14

Peralta lands fifth starter spot in Brewers rotation (AUDIO)

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Freddy Peralta

Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell unveiled his five-man starting pitching rotation on Thursday and Freddy Peralta has landed the spot as the fifth and final starter in that rotation.

Peralta settled into the fifth spot after a solid spring in which he pitched 8 1/3 innings in three appearances with one start.  He struck out 15 hitters, had a 1.08 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP.  In his last appearance, a start against Seattle, he allowed a home run and a walk with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings of work.

“I thought his last start against Seattle was a great example of, he’s pitching like a starting pitcher,” Counsell said.  “The rhythm of the game, the pitches he used, the weapons he had for different hitters, different handed-ness of hitters…just really a complete step up from a couple years ago when he had to rely on the fastball, essentially.”

“He’s worked really hard to get to this place and I think he’s had a great spring.  He’s added things to his game that I think give him a chance of having a great, great season.”

It means Josh Lindblom will start the season pitching out of the bullpen. [Read more…]

Brewers announce 2021 coaching staff

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The Milwaukee Brewers announced their 2021 coaching staff on Wednesday and it includes a base coaching change.

Ed Sedar, who has been with the Brewers for 14 seasons and the teams third base coach for 10 seasons, was reassigned to advisor to the major league coaching staff, a new role with the team.

Quinten Berry, who served as the Brewers’ minor-league outfield and base running coordinator, is joined by returning first base coach Jason Lane as the teams base coaches for next season.

Brewers President of Baseball Operations and General Manager David Stearns is brining back hitting coach Andy Haines and assistant hitting coach Jacob Cruz, despite the teams struggles during the shortened 60-game season.

The Brewers hit .223 and scored 247 runs, which ranked 26th in both categories this past season.  They also struck out 582 times, which ranked second-highest in the majors.

Pitching coach Chris Hook, bullpen coach Steve Karsay and bench coach Pat Murphy all return to Craig Counsell’s staff.

The Brewers added a pair of new bullpen catchers for the 2021 season, hiring Nestor Corredor and Adam Weisenburger.  The Brewers decided not to renew the contracts of bullpen catchers Marcus Hanel and Robinzon Diaz.

Brewers season ends in Wildcard Playoffs

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Brandon Woodruff

The inability to score runs almost cost the Milwaukee Brewers a trip to the playoffs.  Once they got there, the lack of offense is what did them in.

Clayton Kershaw allowed just three hits and struck out 13 in eight innings of work to lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 3-0 win over the Brewers, sweeping their best-of-three National League Wildcard series two-games-to-none.

The Dodgers advanced to the National League Division Series in Arlington, Texas, against the winner of St. Louis and San Diego (game 3 Friday night).

Kershaw issued just one walk, to Luis Urias in the eighth inning, then picked him off of first base.

Brandon Woodruff was spectacular through four innings for the Brewers, striking out nine Dodgers.  His only blemish in the hit column was an Austin Barnes single in the fourth.  But the Dodgers broke out in the fifth.

Cody Bellinger and Chris Taylor had back-to-back singles.  A.J. Pollock grounded into a fielder’s choice to third as Urias stepped on the bag for the force but his throw to first was in the dirt and couldn’t be gloved by Jedd Gyorko.  Barnes singled to drive in a run, then Mookie Betts doubled into the left-field corner to add two more runs, giving the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.

That chased Woodruff, who allowed three runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings.  As he walked off the mound, Woodruff yelled at home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott, who ejected him.  Woodruff was upset when he thought he had strike three on Barnes but it was called a ball.

The Brewers ended up striking out 28 times in the two games.  In their last 11 games (3-8), including the two playoff games, the Brewers scored just 20 runs.  They finished with an overall record of 29-33.

 

 

Suter struggles, Brewers drop Wildcard opener to Dodgers

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Brent Suter File Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI

Baseball’s best team didn’t dominate with their bats on Wednesday night, but the Los Angeles Dodgers did take advantage of Brent Suter’s early wildness to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 4-2 in their National League Wildcard series opener in Los Angeles.

Corey Seager homered in the win, but the Dodgers jumped out in the first inning by hardly having to swing the bat.  After a Mookie Betts double to start, Brent Suter proceeded to walk-in a pair of runs.  Suter had to start for the Brewers with the teams top starter (Corbin Burnes) and top reliever (Devin Williams) both sidelined by injury.

Suter needed 32 pitches to get out of the first inning and ended up working just 1 2/3 innings before manager Craig Counsell was forced to go to his bullpen.  Suter left after allowing three runs and three hits, with five walks in.

The Dodgers third run came off of Suter in the second when Chris Taylor doubled and scored on Betts’ second double of [Read more…]

Brewers in the postseason, despite losing record

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Craig Counsell

The Milwaukee Brewers could have clinched a playoff spot with a win in the regular season finale at St. Louis on Sunday.  Instead, they took the tough rout, falling to the Cardinals 5-2 and then depending on help.  They got the needed help when both Philadelphia and San Francisco both lost, giving the sub-.500 Brewers (29-31) a spot in the National League playoffs.

The Phillies 5-0 setback against Tampa Bay finished ahead of the Brewers.  But the Giants were giving the San Diego Padres a run for their money and the Brewers were watching in the clubhouse after their loss, as San Diego pulled out a 5-4 win.

The Brewers are the No. 8 seed in the National League and will face the top-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers (43-17) in a best-of-three series starting Wednesday night.

The Brewers are in and they’re not apologizing.

“We got ourselves a shot,” Manager Craig Counsell said.  “You’ve got to beat a really good team twice.  It’s the best team [Read more…]

Brewers no-hit by Chicago’s Mills (AUDIO)

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Making just his 15th major league start, Chicago right-hander Alec Mills tossed Major League Baseball’s second no-hitter of the season, leading the Cubs to a 12-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday at Miller Park.

Mills walked three and struck out five, finishing with a career-high 114 pitch effort to improve to 5-3 on the season.  He retired Jacob Nottingham (pop up), Tyrone Taylor (strikeout) and Jace Peterson (ground out) to complete the no-hitter in the ninth.

Cubs manager David Ross became the 11th person to catch and manage a no-hitter.  He was behind the plate for former Cub Jake Arrieta’s no-hitter back in 2016.

Mills had never pitched a complete game in the majors.  He was a walk-on in college at Tennessee-Martin and was cut by the Kansas City Royals.

Mills no-hitter was the 16th in Cubs franchise history.  It was also the second time a Cubs pitcher tossed a no-hitter at Miller Park.  Carlos Zambrano no-hit the Astros on Sept. 14, 2008 in a game moved from Houston because of Hurricane Ike.

The Brewers hit into 11 hard-hit outs, as tracked by StatCast.  Mills generated just five swings and misses in the game. [Read more…]

Home runs propel Brewers to split with Tigers

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The Milwaukee Brewers fell behind 4-0 and 5-1 on Wednesday night before rebounding for a 8-5 win in their series finale with the Detroit Tigers at Miller Park.  The loss snapped Detroit’s six-game winning streak.

Brewers manager Craig Counsell improved his career record to 422-400 and tied Tom Trebelhorn for third place on the Brewers’ all-time list for wins by a manager.

Tiger pitchers issued a season high 10 walks, four of the ten to Christian Yelich.  The Tigers also hit two batters.  Six of those walks turned into runs for the Brewers.

Keston Hiura clubbed a three-run homer, his 9th of the season.  Jace Peterson gave the Brewers some insurance with a two-run home run in the eighth.

The win gave the Brewers a 6-4 record on their 10-game homestand.

Eric Yardley (2-0) got the win in relief of Adrian Houser.  Yardley pitched two solid innings of relief.  Houser gave up five runs and nine hits in five innings.

Devin Williams worked a perfect eighth and Josh Hader finished off the Tigers in the ninth with his ninth save.  In 12 appearances and 11 2/3 innings, Hader still hasn’t allowed a base hit.  Williams has allowed just four hits and one run in 16 innings, forming a rock solid 1-2 punch for the Brewers in the bullpen.

The Brewers have the day off on Thursday.  They’ll open a three-game series in Cleveland against the Indians on Friday night.

Brewers fall to Pirates as offense disappears

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Brandon Woodruff

The Milwaukee Brewers inconsistent offensive play took a step back again on Sunday in a 5-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park.

The Brewers (15-18) managed just six hits and a run, despite having a number of opportunities to cash in offensively.  The stranded 13 base runners in the loss.

Brewers starter Brandon Woodruff served up home runs to Josh Bell and Gregory Polanco, accounting for three of the Pirates five runs.  The Brewers ace fell to 2-3 with a 3.67 ERA in eight starts.  The opposition is hitting just .236 against him, but Woodruff hasn’t had a lot of run support to speak of.

Woodruff had other things on his mind too, namely his wife Jonie set to deliver the couples baby on Tuesday morning.  Woodruff left Milwaukee after Sunday’s game, to Mississippi to be with his wife.  If all goes well, he’ll be back with the Brewers for his next start.

The Brewers scored their only run in the third inning on a single by Keston Hiura.

The Brewers and Pirates wrap up the four-game series at Miller Park tonight.  Trevor Williams (1-5, 5.34) goes for the Pirates.  The Brewers haven’t announced a starter for the game but will likely need to make a roster move before the game.

Brewers follow Bucks, walk out on games in protest (AUDIO)

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Just a couple of hours after the Milwaukee Bucks decided against playing their playoff game with Orlando in protesting the police shooting of Kenosha’s Jacob Blake, the Milwaukee Brewers followed by voting not to play their game Wednesday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

The Reds were completely on board with the decision, which meant there would be no possibility of a forfeit.

The Brewers issued a statement on the postponement:

“The players from the Brewers and Reds have decided to not play tonight’s baseball game.  With our community and our nation in such pain, we wanted to draw as much attention to the issues that really matter, especially racial injustice and systemic oppression.”

I’m very proud of them,” manager Craig Counsell said afterward.  “I think they did a courageous thing.  First of all, what the Bucks did and what the NBA players have done, they’ve certainly been leaders, but our players did a courageous thing in Major League Baseball.  They went first and I’m proud of them for that. [Read more…]