Covering the bases 9/21/2025: Cardinals 5, Brewers 1 (Central champs)
With a chance to clinch the NL Central for the third straight season, the Milwaukee Brewers put forth a rather flat performance after receiving bad news about a key pitcher in falling 5-1 Sunday to the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The Brewers, who lead MLB with a 95-61 record, still were able to pop champagne as the second-place Chicago Cub dropped a 1-0 decision to the Cincinnati Reds a little bit after the conclusion of the Brewers' victory. That wrapped up the Brewers' fourth Central championship in five seasons. Entering Sunday, the Brewers also had a three-game lead over the NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies in the chase for the No. 1 seed in the NL postseason. The Phillies played the Arizona Diamondbacks later. The Brewers have six games left in the regular season, three on the road vs. the San Diego Padres before wrapping up at home against the Reds.
FIRST BASE: Woodruff on IL
In a surprising and potentially devastating move, the Brewers placed right-handed starter Brandon Woodruff on the 15-day injured list with a strained right lat. Woodruff, who had right shoulder surgery late in 2023 that kept him out until midseason this year, felt the injury during Saturday's scheduled bullpen session. Woodruff was scheduled to have more testing done to determine the extent of the injury. With the timing, Woodruff would be eligible to return in time for the NL Division Series, which begins Oct. 4. But reading between the lines of what some were saying, it could be longer and potentially end Woodruff's season. Before his last start, Woodruff had 10 days off. His comeback has been remarkable, going 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA in 12 starts, walking 14 and striking out 83 in 62⅔ innings. The rotation is currently down left-hander Jose Quintana, but he expected to be activated for the postseason and could fill Woodruff's spot. Other starting options are Chad Patrick and Robert Gasser.
SECOND BASE: Rare start for Hoskins
Rhys Hoskins, the Brewers' Opening Day first baseman and starter until a thumb injury sidelined him for two months, made his first start since returning from the IL on Sept. 9. Hoskins had played in just four games, including three pinch-hit appearances and one substitution in a blowout before Sunday, when he got the nod as the designated hitter as Andrew Vaughn started at first. Hoskins went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. His spot on the postseason roster is in jeopardy as Jake Bauers has seemingly taken over the starting first base job with a hot September.
THIRD BASE: More Mona
Getting a start at second base as the Brewers with with an entire right-handed-hitting lineup against Cardinals left-hander Matthew Liberatore, Andruw Monasterio continued to show his value to the Brewers. Monasterio not only had three singles in four plate appearances, but he made a nifty defensive play.
HOME PLATE: It's a Gasser
In his first start since early in the 2024 season following Tommy John surgery, Gasser flashed the form that has the Brewers excited about what he can bring to the rotation. The left-hander was limited to 45 pitches and went three innings, allowing just one hit and two runs while walking two and striking out two. The lone hit was a two-run homer by Cardinals DH Ivan Herrera in the third inning.
GRAND SLAM: Central champs again
The Brewers were popping bottles after they officially became NL Central champions for the fifth time in eight years.
EXTRA BASES: Freddy ready out West
⚾ In what is likely his next-to-last start before the playoffs, right-hander Freddy Peralta (17-6, 2.65 ERA) will start for the Brewers in the opener of a three-game road series vs. the Padres. The Padres have not named a starter for any of the three games, while the Brewers have an opening Tuesday to be followed by Quinn Priester in the finale. Peralta ranks second in MLB with 17 wins, one behind Max Fried of the New York Yankees. In his start Tuesday vs. the Los Angeles Angels, Peralta allowed one run on two hits and two walks while striking out 10 in six innings.
