Milwaukee @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 18, 2023 ) Milwaukee 3, Philadelphia 4
Deep into a stellar career, Craig Kimbrel wasn't expected to become the primary closer for the Philadelphia Phillies this season.
With injuries at various times to Seranthony Dominguez and Jose Alvarado, Kimbrel has taken full advantage. He will hope to get another chance to finish a win on Wednesday when the Phillies play the second game of a three-game series against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.
Despite his teammates committing two errors in the ninth inning on Tuesday, Kimbrel notched his 16th save in 16 chances in a 4-3 victory over the Brewers. Kimbrel, who recently picked up the save for the National League in his ninth All-Star Game appearance, now has 410 career saves, eighth on the all-time list.
"We knew this was going to be a good matchup," Kimbrel said in a postgame interview on NBC Sports Philadelphia. "This (Brewers) team is playing good ball."
So are the Phillies, who will look for their fifth consecutive victory on Wednesday.
Kyle Schwarber hit a solo home run for Philadelphia on Tuesday, and Bryson Stott added two hits and an RBI. Trea Turner and Alec Bohm each notched two hits and Nick Castellanos contributed an RBI single for the Phillies, who compiled 12 hits overall.
Schwarber has 26 homers this season, including one in each of his past four games.
"He goes on these streaks," Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. "It's pretty incredible."
Thanks to the offense and Kimbrel at the back end of the bullpen, the Phillies have 27 wins in the past 37 games to put themselves back into playoff contention.
Philadelphia is a season-best 10 games over .500.
"We've been playing really good ball," Kimbrel said. "We've been playing and winning close games. We just keep winning."
The Phillies will hand the ball to Cristopher Sanchez (0-3, 3.26 ERA) on Wednesday. In the left-hander has opposed the Brewers just once in his career, when he yielded one run in 2 1/3 innings during a relief outing on April 23, 2022.
The Brewers had their four-game winning streak end on Tuesday, due in large part to a lack of production from the top five hitters in their lineup. Christian Yelich, William Contreras, Willy Adames, Jesse Winker and Owen Miller combined to go 0-for-20.
Andruw Monasterio led the offense with two hits, two runs and an RBI.
"We didn't create a lot of pressure tonight," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "Frankly, we got some runs off defensive mistakes. We've certainly got to do a better job offensively."
Still, the Brewers limited the Phillies to four runs and had a chance to win.
"It's a good lineup with a lot of good left-handed hitters," Counsell said of the Phillies. "Going through their lineup four times, it's a huge challenge."
Colin Rea (5-4, 4.71 ERA) is scheduled to start for Milwaukee on Wednesday. In his latest start, against the Cincinnati Reds on July 8, he allowed seven hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Rea is 0-2 with a 3.75 ERA in two career starts against the Phillies, although he hasn't faced them since 2016.
The Brewers placed starter Wade Miley on the 15-day injured list due to left elbow soreness before the series began.
"Hoping it can be short," Counsell said of Miley's absence. "Hoping it can be 11 more days, essentially, and then he can get back in the rotation. We'll know as we progress through this week what's the status there."
Right-hander Trevor Megill was recalled from Triple-A Nashville to fill Miley's roster spot, and he threw a scoreless relief inning on Tuesday.
--Field Level Media