Through three games, the Brewers have gone 1-2. In their first series against the Giants, the Brew Crew scored eight total runs (seven RBIs), hit three home runs, and had a .247 batting average. The Brewers have a team ERA of 5.00, have given up six home runs, walked 11 and struck out 11 batters.
Aside from Wily Peralta in the home opener, the starting pitching has been really strong. Jimmy Nelson gave up only two earned runs through seven plus innings of work, while Taylor Jungmann gave up one earned run over five innings. This is very promising considering last year’s terrible starting pitching. Peralta on the other hand, besides the first two innings, struggled. In only four innings of work, Peralta gave up four earned runs, walked two batters and only struck out two. For a pitcher who thrives on strikeouts, Monday did not look like he was returning to pre-injury form.
Second baseman Scooter Gennett is showing promise as an everyday player as he has continued his trend of being able to hit lefties. Gennett hit his first career home run off of a lefty on Opening Day, and it was against ace Madison Bumgarner. Gennett has also been more patient at the plate, drawing three walks. In comparison, he only had 12 walks last season in 391 plate appearances.
The other area of interest through three games is centerfield. Keon Broxton got the call on Opening Day and had two at bats, but did not reach base. Ramon Flores, the other option, has had nine at bats and only has one hit thus far. The next option would be to have Kirk Nieuwenhuis man the position, who had an important pinch-hit on Wednesday. Will one of these three guys step up? Or will centerfield be a platoon mess all season?
The Brewers could call up Micheal Reed from Triple-A and hope he develops. Brett Phillips is a season away, but we all know he’s the future centerfielder in Milwaukee.
Other than that though, enjoy this time of the season, as the 1-2 Brewers are currently ahead of the 0-3 St. Louis Cardinals. And if there is one thing Brewers fans like more than a Brewers’ win, it’s a Cardinals loss.