Our Clients:

Field Level Media - Professional sports content solutions | FLM

Jul 12, 2024 2:44 am

Sputtering offenses face off as Nationals meet Brewers

dave martinez

Going up against a rookie right-hander is probably one of the last things the Milwaukee Brewers want to do when they open a three-game series with the visiting Washington Nationals on Friday night.

Milwaukee was no-hit through seven innings by Paul Skenes in a 1-0 home loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. Skenes, making his 11th big-league start, was pulled after throwing 99 pitches and striking out 11.

“He competes,” Brewers catcher William Contreras said of Skenes. “We have to compete, too.”

Jake Bauers and Garrett Mitchell had singles in the eighth — the first two Brewers to bat after Skenes left the game — to account for Milwaukee’s only two hits.

Luckily for the Brewers, the Nationals’ Friday starter, Jackson Rutledge (0-0, 9.00 ERA), hasn’t been nearly as dominant as the hard-throwing Skenes throughout his limited time in the majors.

After going 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in four starts last year, Rutledge has only pitched one inning this season, giving up one run and two hits during a relief outing against the Chicago White Sox on May 14. He is set to be called up from Triple-A Rochester to take the mound on Friday.

Rutledge has never faced Milwaukee.

The Brewers will counter with Freddy Peralta (6-4, 3.95 ERA), who is coming off a no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. The right-hander lasted four innings in that outing, giving up three runs on four hits.

In six career appearances (four starts) against Washington, Peralta is 3-2 with a 6.67 ERA.

Much like the Brewers, the Nationals found themselves on the wrong end of a shutout on Thursday, losing 7-0 to the Mets. New York completed a three-game series sweep with the victory.

Washington has averaged two runs during an active five-game skid.

“Just no offense,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “We had our chances (on Thursday). We just couldn’t score any runs. The at-bats just got to get better with runners in scoring position. … I know we’re young, but we’re just pressing just too much and just trying to make things happen.”

James Wood, who hit out of the three-hole on Thursday, is looking to break out of his first major league slump.

Wood had his contract selected from Rochester on July 1 and hit safely in six of his first seven games with Washington. However, he has since gone 2-for-16 (.125) across four games, including a 1-for-5 outing with two strikeouts on Thursday.

“He’s adjusting to the league,” Martinez said of Wood. “The league is adjusting to him. What I like is he’s seeing pitches. But he’s going to be fine. All I know is, when he hits the ball, it’s hard.”

Meanwhile, Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich is trying to make sure 0-for-4 performance against Pittsburgh on Thursday doesn’t lead to a prolonged slump.

Yelich was hitting .424 (14-for-33) in the month of July heading into the series finale against the Pirates.

“I wish we could have had (Brewers starter Aaron Civale’s) back a little bit more (Thursday),” Yelich said. “That’s baseball. It’s going to happen. You’re going to get ‘got’ some days.”

–Field Level Media

You may also like

Zebby Matthews
Jul 19, 2025 1:10 pm

Twins reinstate RHP Zebby Matthews from IL to start vs. Rockies

Minnesota Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews was activated from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday’s game against the Colorado Rockies in Denver. Matthews has been on the injured list with…

seattle mariners
Jul 19, 2025 6:24 am

Mariners continue series vs. Astros in battle of AL West’s best

It might come as a surprise that Cal Raleigh isn’t the Seattle Mariners’ leading home-run hitter in the month of July. Raleigh, who leads the majors with 38 homers and…

milwaukee brewers
Jul 19, 2025 6:11 am

Brewers put 8-game winning streak on line vs. Dodgers

The Milwaukee Brewers started the second half like they ended the first, with a victory. The Brewers will put an eight-game winning streak on the line Saturday against the host…

More Baseball News

Zebby Matthews
Jul 19, 2025 1:10 pm

Twins reinstate RHP Zebby Matthews from IL to start vs. Rockies

Minnesota Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews was activated from the 15-day injured list to start Saturday’s game against the Colorado Rockies in Denver. Matthews has been on the injured list with…

seattle mariners
Jul 19, 2025 6:24 am

Mariners continue series vs. Astros in battle of AL West’s best

milwaukee brewers
Jul 19, 2025 6:11 am

Brewers put 8-game winning streak on line vs. Dodgers

colorado rockies
Jul 19, 2025 5:57 am

Rockies search for first home series win of season against Twins

arizona diamondbacks
Jul 19, 2025 5:42 am

Cardinals, D-backs continue battle of potential NL wild-card contenders

Read all
fb-post
advertisment
title-icon

Upcoming events

See all odds
[gs-fb-comments]