The Giants should beat them, don’t you think?
I’m not sure what to say about this series. The San Francisco Giants are playing the Milwaukee Brewers. I often forget the Brewers exist, despite having a lot of interesting players and despite not being a bad baseball team.
Check that, despite being a really good baseball team. The Brewers are really good. This is a really hard series, and could be a postseason preview.
Thankfully the Giants are arriving in the town of cheese and beer with a four-game lead in the NL West. Let’s hope they emerge with it in tact.
Series details
Who: San Francisco Giants vs. Milwaukee Brewers
Where: American Family Field, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
When: Friday (5:10 p.m.), Saturday (4:10 p.m.), and Sunday (11:10 a.m.)
National broadcasts: None
Where they stand
San Francisco Giants
Record: 69-40, 1st in the NL West
Run differential: +127, 2nd in the NL
Postseason standing: 1st seed
Momentum: 2-game winning streak, 7-3 in their last 10 games
Milwaukee Brewers
Record: 65-44, 1st in the NL Central
Run differential: +91, 4th in the NL
Postseason standing: 2nd seed
Momentum: 1-game winning streak, 7-3 in their last 10 games
Three Giants to watch
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22766988/1332170824.jpg)
Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images
Kris Bryant: Bryant is going to be a regular on this spot for a while, as all super exciting players who are new to the team are. He also wasted no time endearing himself to his new fanbase — after homering in his first game as a Giant, he had a 3-hit day during Thursday’s comeback win, including a double that started the epic ninth-inning rally, and a double that scored the winning run in the tenth. He’s 6-18 with 3 extra-base hits, and has already played three positions for the Giants.
Brandon Belt: Brandon Belt return from the Injured List on Thursday, and while the offense excelled in his absence, it sure was nice to have him back. He’s been on the short list of best offensive players in the league since the start of the 2020 demon season, and his presence — with steady, patient at-bats, and decent power — instantly makes the Giants offense better.
Logan Webb: Logan Webb has quietly become one of the best starters on the Giants, and a quality middle of the rotation option. That said, he’s coming off a so-so outing against the Houston Astros where he limited the damage but only struck out 3 batters in 6 innings. He starts the series opener.
Three Brewers to watch
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22766999/1332362258.jpg)
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Corbin Burnes: If you haven’t been paying close attention to teams that aren’t the Giants, let me fill you in on Corbin Burnes: he’s good. He’s really good. He’s exceptionally good. He’s tied with Jacob DeGrom for second in the Majors in fWAR with 4.9, and the only person he trails (Zack Wheeler with 5.1) has pitched 41 more innings that he has. He has a 1.49 FIP, and is striking out 12.9 batters per 9 innings while walking just 1.7.
Brandon Woodruff: Also if you haven’t been paying close attention: Brandon Woodruff is also exceptional. Not quite as exceptional, but he’s still been the Majors’ fifth most valuable pitcher this year, per Fangraphs. A 2.26 ERA and 2.68 FIP with 12.2 strikeouts per 9 innings will do that.
Jackie Bradley Jr.: The Giants were linked to Jackie Bradley Jr. in the offseason, and a bit last year as well. I don’t remember if they were linked in the sense that there were rumors and confirmed interest, or just that some fans saw a potential match there. Anyway, Bradley ended up in Milwaukee, where he’s been an everyday player who is hitting … wait for it … .175/.251/.287. He’s been a worse hitter than Mike Tauchman, despite playing every day and having the All-Star sheen. So he’s either going to hit awfully, confirming that the Giants made the right non-move, or he’s going to come out of nowhere to single-handedly beat the Giants and make you question everything you know.