Covering the bases 9/9/2025: Rangers 5, Brewers 4
After enjoying an August in which it seemed like almost everything fell into place for the Milwaukee Brewers, September is proving that the law of averages does exist. Despite a plethora of hard-hit balls, the Brewers dropped a 5-4 decision to the Texas Rangers on Tuesday at Globe Life Field. The MLB-leading Brewers (89-57) dropped a game in the NL Central standings to the second-place Chicago Cubs, who beat Atlanta 6-1.
FIRST BASE: Ready to clinch?
While there was a wild scenario in which the Brewers could have clinched a playoff spot Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday line up as a more likely first chance to spray champagne for what they hope is several times this season. The Brewers entered Tuesday with a magic number to clinch a playoff spot standing at three. The magic number for clinching the division is 11.
SECOND BASE: Return of Rhys
The Brewers finally activated first baseman Rhys Hoskins off the 10-day injured list following a Grade 2 sprained left thumb, with infielder-catcher Anthony Seigler being sent back to Triple-A Nashville. Surprisingly, Hoskins wasn't in the starting lineup, with Andrew Vaughn getting the nod, but Hoskins did come in to pinch-hit for shortstop Joey Ortiz in the top of the sixth inning. Hoskins battled to a 3-2 count before being sawed off and popping out to the catcher. It will be curious how manager Pat Murphy utilizes the three first basemen: Hoskins, Vaughn and Jake Bauers, who pinch-hit in the ninth and hit a solo homer to pull the Crew within 5-4.
THIRD BASE: A brief breakthrough
Brewers fans were certainly going through it as hitters ran into some tough luck, especially in the top of the fifth inning that included a terrific homer-robbing catch by Rangers center fielder Michael Helman, who played the villain in the opener with five RBIs as well as a nice catch, on a drive to left-center by Brice Turang. But then the Brewers broke through for three runs. With one out, Ortiz got an infield single before Turang was robbed by Helman for the second out. Jackson Chourio followed with another hard-hit ball that went for a ground-rule double, moving Ortiz to third. Christian Yelich then had an RBI single to score Ortiz, with Chourio taking third. Yelich stole second, with William Contreras making it all pay off with a two-run single and a 3-1 lead. That chased Rangers starter Jack Leiter.
HOME PLATE: Giving it right back
Brewers rookie right-hander Chad Patrick was solid in his spot start, allowing three hits over 4⅓ innings, but he did walk three and struck out six. Helman was again in the middle of things, cranking a two-run homer to tie it 3-3. Left-hander Aaron Ashby came in to preserve the tie, but was unable to. Josh Smith singled and Wyatt Langford tripled to put the Rangers up 4-3, with Kyle Higoshioka adding an RBI single.
EXTRA BASES: Peralta goes for No. 17
⚾ Following the a day of extra rest that pushed the entire rotation back, right-hander Freddy Peralta (16-5, 2.50 ERA) starts for the Brewers in the series finale vs. Rangers right-hander Merrill Kelly (11-7, 3.16 ERA). Peralta had one of his better starts this season, which is saying something, in his last outing. He extended his streak of shutout innings to 29 with five more , allowing two hits and three walks with eight strikeouts in a 2-0 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies. Peralta, who is tied for the MLB lead in wins with New York Yankees teammates Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, has at most four starts remaining, meaning he still has an outside chance of winning 20 games. Kelly has been exactly what the Rangers needed when they picked him up at the trade deadline, going 2-1 with a 2.98 ERA in eight starts. Kelly allowed one run over seven innings in his last start, a 4-3 Rangers win in 12 innings over the Houston Astros.
⚾ In an update reported by Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, closer Trevor Megill (right flexor strain) threw a sim game, potentially his last step before returning to the active roster. Also, right-handed reliever Nick Mears (lower back tightness) is targeting a mid-September return after playing catch at up to 105 feet. Right-handed starter Logan Henderson (strained right flexor tenon) has a bullpen scheduled Sept. 16.
⚾ With Patrick being added to the roster, that meant a return trip to Nashville for right-hander Carlos Rodriguez, who has made three relief appearances in separate call-ups to the majors this season. He finished Monday's game with 1⅓ scoreless innings.
