Brandon Woodruff takes the mound for the Milwaukee Brewers in Arizona as they look to win their second straight series and their first of July. The start comes with bullpen workload still fresh after a long night, plus new lineup pressure after Joel Kuhnel was
The bullpen had already spent the late hours doing what it could, with more than eight innings thrown in the aftermath of yesterday’s game. By tonight in Arizona, the Brewers are hoping Brandon Woodruff can take a different kind of load—one that comes with rest, not just recovery.
Milwaukee will go to Woodruff for this evening’s start as they try to win their second series in a row and their first series of July. It will be his third start since returning from the injured list and his ninth start overall this season. Since he came back, Woodruff has thrown 11 2/3 innings, allowing just two hits, with no runs and 16 strikeouts. His season line since returning brings his overall ERA to 2.59 with 41 strikeouts.
This is also a familiar matchup for Woodruff: it will be his ninth career start against the Diamondbacks. Most recently, he landed back on the injured list after completing 1 1/3 innings at the end of April. Against Arizona over his career. he’s posted a 4.65 ERA with 51 strikeouts—numbers that make tonight feel less like a routine appearance and more like a chance to turn familiarity into control.
The pressure on Milwaukee’s starting pitching didn’t ease before first pitch. Right-handed pitcher Joel Kuhnel was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder injury, retroactive to July 3. Craig Yoho was recalled from Nashville to fill the roster spot. In five games this season with the Brewers, Yoho has posted a 6.00 ERA across six innings pitched with eight strikeouts.
For Arizona, Merrill Kelly gets the ball for his 15th start of the season. The Diamondbacks right-hander enters tonight in the midst of his worst stretch up to this point in his career. carrying a 5.84 ERA. He’s allowed 18 home runs, issued 33 walks, and recorded 33 strikeouts. June didn’t offer relief. ending with a 7.31 ERA. and in his last start he surrendered five runs to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Still, Kelly isn’t without history against Milwaukee. Lifetime against the Brewers, he’s posted a 3.41 ERA in 11 games. In their most recent meeting in April, however, the Brewers saw the opening they needed—Kelly gave up five runs on six hits and five walks.
The Brewers are counting on that memory. Sal Frelick and Brice Turang have had the most success against Kelly, and they’ll be looking to replicate what they did in Milwaukee back in April as this season series gets set to take shape.
On the broadcast side, tonight’s game can be heard on the Brewers Radio Network on WTMJ 620, and it will be available to watch on Brewers.TV. First pitch is slated for 8:40 p.m.
Milwaukee Brewers Arizona Diamondbacks Brandon Woodruff Merrill Kelly Joel Kuhnel Craig Yoho Sal Frelick Brice Turang 8:40 p.m. first pitch WTMJ 620 Brewers.TV