Last week, I wrote part one of a two part series covering ten things that the Brewers will need to make happen to get to the playoffs. I boldly stated that if six of these ten things happen, the Brewers will secure their spot in the MLB Postseason for the first time in Sunday Cycle history. This week, I continue that list with items number 6 – 10.
6. Eric Sogard is DFA’d before the All-Star Break.
I love Eric Sogard, but with Keon Broxton’s stellar play this last week, and Tyler Saladino nearing his return to the Brewers 25-man roster, someone is going to have to go back to Colorado Springs. Sogard has had more than his fair share of chances this year, and owns a dismal .140 average and .250 OBP. Keon, although he’s as streaky of a player that you will find, has a much higher upside. I’d rather have his speed and defense on the bench than Sogard’s bat, and it makes sense to keep Keon on the roster given the uncertainty with Cain and Yelich’s injuries (see below).
Keon had a great week and reminded us of just how talented he can be. If there was ever a time for him to come up to Milwaukee and get hot, it’s over these next three weeks. I think he’s earned the chance to stay, and it should be Sogard who gets sent down. The jolt of excitement that Keon brings to this lineup, as well as his power when he’s hitting well, could be just the things they need to carry them through these injuries and into the All-Star break.
7. Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich avoid the DL after August 1st.
I got away with one here – I had honestly considered adding this to the list last week before Cain was officially placed on the DL and Yelich aggravated his back. Yelich hasn’t officially hit the DL yet, but he hasn’t played since the first inning on Thursday. If he can’t go tomorrow against the Twins, the Brewers will almost certainly send him to the DL to sit out the week.
Cain expects to be back the first day he is eligible, on the 4th of July. And while no injury news is good news, Yelich’s back issues don’t appear to be serious. Regardless, the Brewers need their stars, and once August 1st hits, any significant injury to either Cain or Yelich could spell disaster for this team that has thus fair relied on the top of the lineup for most of their run production.
8. One of the Brewers current starters moves to the bullpen, and posts a sub 1.50 ERA through the remainder of the season.
It’s crowded in the Brewers rotation, which is a good thing. For now, Chase Anderson, Jhoulys Chacín, and Junior Guerra’s spots are safe. In my opinion, Freddy Peralta earned the right to another start by pitching four scoreless innings after his near disastrous three-run first inning today. Then there’s Brett Suter – who doesn’t give you much after his second time through the lineup but has continued to be solid in the rotation. Don’t forget about Zach Davies, who will be back at some point despite suffering another setback during a rehab start. That brings the total to six, before even mentioning the idea of Jimmy Nelson returning, or the Brewers making a blockbuster trade at the deadline for a true ace (see number 10 for more on that).
At some point, pending additional injuries, someone is going to get the bump to the bullpen, and I actually think the Brewers need to make that move sooner rather than later. While Jeremy Jeffress, Josh Hader, and Corey Knebel are probably the most lethal back end bullpen combination in the majors, the Brewers bullpen has been struggling as of late when those guys aren’t available. We saw it play out yesterday and today, where the Reds were able to blow open a couple of close games by putting up a big inning. The Brewers need another shutdown reliever – and I think they’ll have better success converting a guy like Peralta to the bullpen for the rest of the year. After all – the original plan for Josh Hader was to have him be a starter – who’s to say Freddy Peralta couldn’t thrive in that role as well?
9. The Brewers go 25-13 the rest of the way against teams currently under .500.
This one is pretty simple: the Brewers have to beat up on the bad teams. 38 games remain on the Brewers schedule vs teams that are below .500. The Brewers will face the Twins (3), Marlins (3), Rockies (3), Padres (3), Tigers (3), Reds (9) and Pirates (14). They’ll have to win two out of every three of those games to make the playoffs – a clip of 12 games above .500.
10. The Brewers trade at least four of the following prospects: Freddy Peralta, Keston Hiura, Corbin Burnes, Brett Phillips, Corey Ray, Tristen Lutz.
I have said since day one of the season that the Brewers will try to acquire an ace at the deadline. The guy I want is Jacob deGrom, who has two years of team control remaining after this season and could give the Brewers a legit chance to contend in the NL Central through 2020. When asked about trade discussions on Friday, GM David Stearns had this to say, “For us to go out and trade some young talent potentially to acquire a starting pitcher it’s not really going to be to add to that depth, it would be a guy that we think could lead the rotation.” That’s about as public of a declaration as Brewers fans are going to get. Stearns wants an ace, and to get one, it’s going to take trading away a couple of prospects that it truly will hurt to see go.
Keston Hiura, the Brewers number one ranked prospect, has gone from the Brewers’ first round pick in 2017 to AA Biluxi in less than a year, tearing up opposing pitchers the whole way. Freddy Peralta has already contributed at the Major League level. Corbin Burnes, despite struggling this year in AAA, is still the Brewers second highest rated pitcher. Brett Phillips, Corey Ray, and Tristen Lutz are the top three rated outfielders in the Brewers system – a position where they’ve got a surplus of talent and nowhere for it to go with Braun, Yelich, and Cain all under team control for quite some time.
If the Brewers are going to make the postseason, I believe they’ll need an ace, and a boost at either shortstop or catcher. To get the type of talent that can come to Milwaukee and immediately make a positive impact, it’s going to take top tier prospects to get a deal done, which means at least four of those six will be gone.
Is it worth it? I think so. Will they do it? I think so. Will it be tough to watch those guys succeed for different teams? Absolutely – but it will all be worth it if the Brewers could return to the World Series for the first time since 1982.