If the Brewers sweep, or win, this series it's not gonna do the Padres' efforts justice. Especially in Game 2. They have been fighting just as hard, and have not been getting the luck. They got production from Luis Campusano, Ty France and some bizarre Brett Harris mumbo-jumbo. And keep in mind, this is a team that bats Brett Harris, whoever he is, and Samad Taylor within the first four spots, and they're still right there in it. The Brewers, as it happens, just seem to be better.
I don't really blame Mason Miller for what happened, although honestly I probably should. Miller has been lights-out all year, he could have evened the series, things got sloppy and the wonder-kid made him regret it. I just think that the Brewers just have the guys for every situation in ways the Padres don't. Christian Yelich is not prime Christian Yelich, but he can still smoke a double and get home thanks to Sal Frelick's similar contact material. David Hamilton had an incredible game yesterday, both defensively and on the base paths, and the Padres really don't have a utility guy like that. And yes, Cooper Pratt made an oopsie that led to a run, but he's also 21 and coming into his own.
Jackson Chourio right now is how Ronald Acuna thinks he should be viewed. Everything Acuna wants to be, aside from that 2023 season, Chourio is. Multi-tool, clutch, offensive machine, unstoppable. Chourio has been the deciding factor in both games. Not in a way where I feel like he's carrying the team, in a way where everybody's showing up AND Chourio can still be the hero.
Bobby Gasser for Game 3? Shane Drohan? Gasser, Drohan and Harrison piled on top of each other? Considering the Padres are going with a bullpen game probably, the Brewers might still have the edge as they go to sweep.
All the people who showed up for Randy Dobnak being an Uber-driver losing against the Yankees 7 years ago need to be showing up for Ray Kerr being a former 7-11 worker who's opened in long relief and shut down both the Phillies and Dodgers' offenses. Ray Kerr took some minor league stints to completely reframe his strategy, made some late appearances for the Braves and had a 1.47 ERA. And now he's their go-to opener for bullpen games and has allowed zero runs, three hits and struck out six. Last night he was going against Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and Kyle Tucker, and none of them got home with him on the mound. Similarly, Didier Fuentes went three innings without allowing a hit in late relief, and only gave up that dinger to Muncy when Weiss figured he was good for a fourth. Granted...until Muncy he was looking for the 12-out save, but, y'know, that shit is hard.
It says so much that guys like Ray Kerr, Didier Fuentes Grant Holmes and Mauricio Dubon can triumph over Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, with the money they're making. The little guy can still win out, even if...yes, Michael Harris was the big hero for the Braves, and he's still making a great deal of money [he is Money Mike, after all], as he deserves to. Evening this series with a good starter on the mound for LA was a big leverage move for the Braves, as they go into a Game 3 with Yoshinobu Yamamoto [HOW WELL ARE YOU DOING IF YOSHI IS YOUR #3??]. Chris Sale will be on the mound. He's been unstoppable thus far. I hope he keeps it up.
Today we've got some AL games. Kinda pulling for Chicago but not as hard as I am for New York, for Milwaukee and against the Dodgers [sorry, I just want a more interesting outcome this year, and I see the irony of me saying that while still supporting the Yanks].
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