Game Thread #154: Milwaukee Brewers (88-65) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (85-68)

A minor roster move precedes second game of Brewers vs. Diamondbacks

The Milwaukee Brewers came out a little flat on Thursday, not unlike a bottle of champagne left on a locker-room bench overnight. The result was a 5-1 loss in which they did not have their second hit (a Garrett Mitchell home run) until the seventh inning. They’ll look to have a little more pep in their step today, one more day removed from Wednesday night’s division championship celebration.

Before the second of their four-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Brewers made a change in their bullpen. Enoli Paredes, who was initially called up in late May and looked fantastic through 14 outings before hitting the injured list in early July, has been designated for assignment. Paredes returned from the IL on September 14, but he has allowed runs in two of three outings since his return, and his FIP for the season is almost two runs higher than his ERA.

He’ll be replaced on the roster by Kevin Herget, who has briefly pitched on the big club this season in separate stints in early May and late May/early June. In 8 ²⁄₃ innings with the Brewers this year, Herget has allowed two runs while walking three and striking out seven. But he’s been really good for Triple-A Nashville: in 38 outings and 47 ²⁄₃ innings, Herget has a 2.27 ERA, 11.1 K/9, and 2.1 BB/9 with a WHIP of just 0.944. It feels a little harsh to DFA Paredes when his ERA is south of 1.75, but the team understandably wants to see how Herget looks against major league pitching before the end of the regular season.

As for tonight’s starting pitchers, we’ll see Colin Rea back in the rotation against the ace of the Diamondbacks, Zac Gallen. Rea pitched out of the bullpen on Monday and actually picked up his first career save (he pitched the last 2 ²⁄₃ innings of a 6-2 victory over Philadelphia), but he’ll be back in the rotation tonight. He may be somewhat limited given he’s pitching on just three days rest, but I expect DL Hall will also be in tonight’s plans, as he is on regular rest after starting versus Arizona on Sunday.

Gallen has been one of baseball’s best pitchers over the past three seasons, and this year is no different. In some ways he lags a little behind last year’s third-place Cy Young campaign—his walks are up a little and he has a 3.61 ERA (116 ERA+) versus last year’s 3.47 (126 ERA+), but in other ways, he’s right there with last year’s production: his FIP is nearly identical (3.28 versus 3.26) and his strikeouts are basically at the same rate as the last two seasons.

After his lone off day, Willy Adames is back in the lineup tonight, batting fifth. Gary Sánchez returns in the DH role, though he’s hitting eighth, lower than we’re used to seeing him.

First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. on Bally Sports Wisconsin and the Brewers Radio Network. The game is also being broadcast in some markets on MLB Network.