This Milwaukee Breweries entered the 2024 All-Star break with a record of 55-42. They entered the break having won just three of their last 10 games, including losing two straight at home. After they managed to recharge their batteries, here are four critical things to monitor over the last 65 games.
Will the Milwaukee Brewers receive a bye in the first round of the 2024 MLB playoffs?
When the Brewers resume play Saturday against the Minnesota Twins, they will have been in first place in the National League Central Division for 109 days. They control the entire season, currently holding a 4.5-point lead over the St. Louis Cardinals and trailing the Los Angeles Dodgers by just one point for the second-best record in the National League. The No. 1 and No. 2 seeds receive a bye and forfeit a three-game Wild Card Series, so if Milwaukee wins enough games, they could earn a first-round bye in October.
Christian Yelich will fight for another batting title.
Before becoming a Brewer, Christian Yelich had a .290 batting average with the Miami Marlins, but he only had one season where his average was .300 or better. He won back-to-back titles in 2018 and 2019 with averages of .326 and .329. This year, he has the best batting average in the National League at .326. If he stays robust and remains a skilled hitter, his competition down the stretch will be Shohei Ohtani (.316 batting average), Luis Arraez (.310) and potentially Mookie Betts (.304).
What will field time look like?
The outfield is currently in a jam with Garrett Mitchell returning from injury. Christian Yelich is the only player who will start regardless of the pitching lineup (.914 OPS against left-handed pitchers this year), but between Garrett Mitchell, Sal Frelick, Jackson Chourio and Blake Perkins, there is a lot of playing time that needs to be shared.
What will the pitching lineup look like?
Likewise, the Brewers could find themselves in a position where they will have to make some tough decisions regarding their pitching staff. They are expected to add players before the July 30 trade deadline, with a first-line starter remaining a priority. That said, Joe Ross and DL Hall are expected soon, as are relievers Devin Williams, Jared Koenig, Enoli Paredes and possibly J.B. Bukauskas. There won’t be enough room on the 26-man roster for all of those pitchers, so tough decisions are coming.
It should be a fun final two and a half months of the 2024 regular season. This year’s newborn Brewers team is very exhilarating and hopefully they will find the opportunity to prove themselves in more games in October.
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