After dropping the final two games of a western swing, the Milwaukee Brewers will look to bounce back behind left-hander Tyler Alexander when they return home to open a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Monday.
Alexander (1-0, 2.84 ERA) will be opposed by left-hander Tarik Skubal (1-2, 3.78), the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner.
Milwaukee lost at Arizona, 5-2, on Sunday, getting just 5 1/3 innings from starter Freddy Peralta. William Contreras had a two-run homer in the first inning for the Brewers, who failed to score the rest of the way. Milwaukee pitchers also walked seven and hit one batter.
“When you have the lead against two of the best pitchers in the game, you’re expecting to get the win,” Peralta said. “But sometimes things happen. The bullpen couldn’t finish it, unfortunately, yesterday and today.
“Something I can tell you is we can probably get better from this. We’re going to face a lot of good teams ahead.”
Detroit lost 5-1 at Minnesota on Sunday, managing just five hits and going 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position. After being swept in their first series of the season, the Tigers have won four consecutive series.
Spencer Torkelson was 3-for-10 with two homers, four RBIs and four runs scored in the three games versus the Twins.
“He’s in the middle of the lineup for a reason,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said following Sunday’s game. “He’s earned his way back into that. Just continuing to get good pitches to hit helps the good results, and he’s certainly doing that now.”
After losing his first two starts, Skubal tossed six scoreless innings of four-hit ball in a 5-0 win over the New York Yankees on Tuesday, striking out six and walking none.
Skubal has faced the Brewers just once in his career, allowing one run in 6 2/3 innings to get the win last season in a 10-2 victory.
The Brewers lost 5-4 Saturday when the Diamondbacks rallied with five runs in the ninth, limiting Milwaukee’s bullpen options Sunday.
Jackson Chourio went hitless in five at-bats Sunday vs. Arizona, snapping his 14-game hitting streak. After striking out five times in the season opener, Chourio leads the Brewers with five homers, six doubles and 17 RBIs.
Brice Turang has been the Brewers’ most consistent hitter, batting .333 with three homers and 10 RBIs. Veteran Christian Yelich continues to struggle, hitting just .143 with 16 strikeouts in 56 at-bats, and Rhys Hoskins is hitting just .171 without a homer.
Alexander will be making his fifth appearance and third start. In his previous start, he allowed two runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings, but did not get the decision in a 17-2 win at Colorado on Wednesday.
Alexander is 0-0 with a 2.00 ERA in two career appearances, including one start, vs. Detroit, both coming last season when he was with the Rays.
Even with Peralta’s short outing Sunday, Brewers starters have allowed two runs or fewer in seven consecutive outings and 11 of the last 12 games.
–Field Level Media
