Game 39 is here, and the Milwaukee Brewers are welcoming the San Diego Padres to American Family Field for a three-game set that promises plenty of fireworks. The Brew Crew is riding high after sweeping the New York Yankees, while the Padres just wrapped up a four-game split with the St. Louis Cardinals. Both teams are sitting near the top of the standings, so every pitch counts.
The biggest story of the night? Christian Yelich is back. Activated from the IL before the game, Yelich slots right into the designated hitter role and takes his familiar third spot in the lineup. To make room, Tyler Black was optioned back to Triple-A Nashville. "It's a sure good feeling to have Yeli back. He means so much to our team," manager Pat Murphy said. You can feel the energy shift with his return.
Murphy is stacking the lineup with six left-handed bats to counter the Padres' right-handed arms. San Diego is using Bradgley Rodriguez as an opener, with knuckleballer Matt Waldron expected to follow. Waldron's quirky pitch will be a unique challenge for the Brewers' hitters, but his 7.71 ERA this season suggests there could be opportunities to pounce.
Andrew Vaughn gets the night off, with Jake Bauers starting at first base and batting fifth. The lefty-heavy order continues with Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, and David Hamilton, while Joey Ortiz rounds things out at shortstop in the nine-hole. This lineup looks so much deeper with Yelich back. A top four of Brice Turang, Jackson Chourio, Yelich, and William Contreras is a fearsome group that lets Mitchell slide into a lower-pressure spot, adding protection throughout.
On the mound, Brandon Sproat gets the ball for Milwaukee. His 5.87 ERA isn't pretty, but he showed real promise last time out, tossing four scoreless innings with just one hit allowed. The only catch? He needed 76 pitches to get through those four frames. Still, it's a step forward, and the Brewers hope he can build on that momentum tonight.
Sproat will face a star-studded Padres lineup featuring Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Manny Machado at the top. Expect some loud boos for Tatis and Machado as they step into the box—Milwaukee fans know how to make their presence known. First pitch is coming up, so grab your gear and settle in for what should be a great night of baseball.