Game Thread #107: Milwaukee Brewers (61-45) vs. Atlanta Braves (56-49)

Joe Ross makes his return for Milwaukee this evening

After the chaos of today’s trade deadline, it’s easy to forget that there’s actual baseball to be played! Last night, the Milwaukee Brewers’ offense got off to a slow start and found it difficult to solve Braves starter Grant Holmes, but when Holmes left the game after the fifth inning, Milwaukee blew up the Atlanta bullpen to the tune of seven runs in four innings. Tonight, they will not see the debut of new acquisition Frankie Montas. Instead, they’ll welcome back righty Joe Ross, who is making his first major league appearance since May 20. On the hill for the Braves will be 25-year-old righty Bryce Elder.

Elder got off to a good start in his career and was an All-Star last season after posting a 3.81 ERA in 174 ²⁄₃ innings. This season has been tough, though: he’s battled injuries and made just eight starts, in which he has gone 1-4 with a 6.35 ERA (4.67 FIP) in 39 ²⁄₃ innings. He’s coming off a start in which he gave up six earned runs in five innings against St. Louis 10 days ago.

Ross has made nine starts for Milwaukee this year and holds a 4.50 ERA and 3.94 FIP in 42 innings. He hasn’t appeared in the majors since he left a start after one inning on May 20 with back discomfort. In four rehab starts, Ross has been shelled: he’s allowed 12 runs (11 earned) in 14 ²⁄₃ innings in three starts with Triple-A Nashville and one with High-A Wisconsin, though eight of those runs came in one outing. His last time out, he threw 80 pitches on Wednesday in 4 ¹⁄₃ innings while allowing two earned runs.

The Brewers are running back nearly the same lineup they used in last night’s win, with the only difference being that Sal Frelick and Garrett Mitchell have swapped the sixth and eighth positions. Atlanta moves Ramón Laureano into the starting lineup in place of Adam Duvall.

First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. on Bally Sports Wisconsin and the Brewers Radio Network.