Covering the bases 9/8/2025: Rangers 5, Brewers 0
Facing a team playing for its playoff lives, the Milwaukee Brewers opened a three-game series by falling to the Texas Ranger 5-0 on Monday at Globe Life Field. The Brewers, who have MLB's best record at 89-56, still hold a 7½-game lead over the second-place Chicago Cubs, who lost 4-1 to Atlanta. The Brewers' magic number for clinching a playoff spot remained at three.
FIRST BASE: Collins at third
With the Rangers comfortably in the lead, manager Pat Murphy gave Isaac Collins a few innings at third base in relief of Caleb Durbin. A former infielder, Collins has been superb as the Brewers' primary left fielder and is a top candidate for NL Rookie of the Year. But with a roster crunch coming, Collins' versatility may be on display more.
SECOND BASE: Two more hits for Perkins
Blake Perkins defense in center field will always keep him in the Brewers' lineup. But if you could start to become more of a factor offensively, he would make the Crew just that more dangerous. Perkins went 2-for-3, the second game in a row with two hits.
THIRD BASE: Lefty stymies Crew
Not many may have known about left-hander Jacob Latz before Monday, but he showed the Brewers that he was up to the task. Latz allowed three hits over 5⅔ shutout innings, walking one and striking out four.
HOME PLATE: One bad inning for Quintana
In his last outing, Brewers left-hander Jose Quintana had a really good performance, flawed by a seventh-inning two-run homer. On Monday, Quintana was locked in a scoreless duel when he ran into trouble in the fifth inning. With one out and a runner on first, Kyle Higoshioka doubled and Jonah Heim walked to load the bases. That brought up rookie center fielder Michael Helman, who tagged Quintana for his first career grand slam. Helman then added an RBI double in the seventh. Quintana did again reach the seventh inning, although he wasn't able to finish that frame. In 6⅔ innings, Quintana gave up five runs on four hits and two walks with four strikeouts.
EXTRA BASES: Patrick gets the call
⚾ Right-hander Chad Patrick (3-8, 3.60 ERA) will be called up from Triple-A Nashville and start today against Rangers right-hander Jack Leiter (9-8, 3.74 ERA). Patrick was a key part of the rotation early in the season and has filled a niche role as the Brewers have gone to a soft six-man rotation down the stretch. Patrick last started for the Crew on Aug. 24 in a 4-3 loss to the San Francisco Giants. In that game, he went 5⅓ innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts. Leiter has been a stalwart in the Rangers' rotation as he nears the end of his first full season in the majors. Leiter started the Rangers' 2-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, giving up two runs on three hits and three walks while striking out eight in six innings.
⚾ As expected, right-handed reliever Grant Anderson was activated from the 15-day injured list following his bout with tendinitis in his right ankle. Rookie right-hander Craig Yoho was sent back to Triple-A Nashville.
