Sunday: Cain is indeed out of today’s lineup, a must-win if the Brewers are to have any hope of capturing their second consecutive NL Central title.
Saturday: The Brewers have already clinched at least a wild card berth, and they’ll head into the last day of the regular just a game behind the Cardinals for the NL Central lead. As the team continues to try and force a one-game playoff for the division crown, however, they continue to deal with some significant injury problems in their outfield.
In the top of the ninth inning on Saturday, Lorenzo Cain took a hard slide into Rockies catcher Drew Butera, as Cain was trying to score from first on a double. Cain was called out, and then replaced in center field prior to the bottom half of the inning. The Brewers announced that Cain suffered a left ankle sprain, and the outfielder told MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy and other reporters that he wasn’t sure if he could play on Sunday.
A similar injury forced Cain out of a game back on Sept. 20, though he didn’t end up missing any time. 2019 has been a tough season in general for Cain, who hasn’t spent any time on the injured list but has been dealing with a wide range of nagging problems to his oblique, wrist, and thumb all year. The result has been the worst full season (.260/.325/.372 over 643 PA) of Cain’s career, though he has hit much better in September to help carry the Brew Crew back into the postseason. Just on Saturday alone, Cain went 2-for-3 with a walk, and made an exceptional catch to prevent a Garrett Hampson home run.
It remains to be seen if Cain’s ankle problem could keep him out of a potential tiebreaker game with the Cardinals on Monday or the Brewers’ current postseason date, Tuesday’s National League wild card game against the Nationals. One player who does plan to be available beyond the regular season is Ryan Braun, as the outfielder told McCalvy and other media members that he is “very optimistic” that his mild left calf strain isn’t a major issue. Braun left Friday’s game with the injury, and it was already known that he would sit out Milwaukee’s final two regular season contests.
Braun has been no stranger to injuries in recent years, though his 144 games played this season represents his highest total since 2012. The 35-year-old has been both pretty durable and productive in his 13th MLB season, as Braun has hit .285/.343/.505 with 22 homers over 508 plate appearances.
With Cain and Braun nursing injuries and Christian Yelich already done for the season, the Brewers are in danger of being without their entire Opening Day outfield as they head into the playoffs. Ben Gamel is Milwaukee’s primary fourth outfielder, with utilityman Cory Spangenberg and rookies Trent Grisham and Tyrone Taylor also capable of filling in, while Eric Thames could potentially step into right field if he isn’t needed at first base.
Do they still have Chris Carter?
Once in high school I got in trouble for talking during a test. I got out of trouble by telling the teacher, “I’m sorry teacher. I didn’t know I couldn’t do that.” Afterwards, he pretended like nothing happened.
He was traded many moons ago…..
Samuel L. Jackson played in a movie called Coach Carter. Is that what you guys are talking about?
Wasn’t he a basketball player?
The Rockies are now my third favourite team. Gave the Cards ‘a lifeline’. Wouldn’t feel confident going up against Washington. Got the feeling Sherzer could be unhitable in that WC game.
I’m having trouble picking winners this year. Every team has huge strengths and weaknesses. It wouldn’t surprise me if a wildcard team took the whole thing. I can’t even confidently pick a wildcard winner. All the teams in are solid.
Oakland over the Rays?
Washington over the Brewers?
Matt Scherzer over depleted Brewers is a sure thing.
Nope, Bull Durham going deep is the only sure thing.
The guy with a 4.74 era the last month is a sure thing?
Last year the Rockies went to Chicago on no sleep and beat the heavily favored Cubs. Nothing is a sure thing
You must mean Crash Davis.
Not when Woodruff, Suter, and Hader throw a combined perfect game with 15 strike outs.
Who is Matt Scherzer? Cousin of Max the baseballer?
He’s been pretty terrible since coming back. He won’t be dominate.
Cardinals continue to luck out.
You make your own luck son
Dont ever talk to me or my son again
At least we know steroids will only keep Braun in the lineup
Amazing that since that “incident” he can’t stay healthy…..
He was already old by then and his slight decline in health has been due to aging.
He’s being managed better now and he started 115 of those games and pinch hit about 30 times.
He’s also second to Yelich on the team in average home run distance–only a foot behind–which shows that he never needed the juice to get the ball out or have superior hand eye coordination.
AND it’s hypocritical of MLB since cortizone injections and other use of steroids to help players ‘heal’–not that you can heal from partially torn ligaments in a sprained ankle while continuing to play–was commonplace in the 80s (ruined Rob Deer’s career with the Crew).
They weren’t to enhance performance. They were to stay on the field, which any medically well informed patient should have a right to pursue in any way he chooses.
Don’t be naive. Of course they were to enhance performance. Braun is the scummiest of all the scumbags. Played the anti-Semite card, remember?
Did you even read his comment? His numbers have stayed consistent throughout his career and you can even argue that his 2012 numbers were better than his 2011 numbers. They were to help him recover. Do a little research on what PED’s are before showing your ignorance
I read the part in which he wrote that Performance Enhancing Drugs were not for Enhancing Performance.
What team do you follow? Because I can probably guarantee several former PED users that played or still play on that team
Gotta love Milwaukee fans trashing Maddon about his lineups before the Cards series. Cubs gift you two chances to tie the division and the Brew Crew stink it up back to back.
Enjoy spending 200 million to sit at home and watch us and the cards still play after tomorrow!
If it were about money the Red Sox wouldn’t have gone a full season without a championship. How dare they?
We will, enjoyed the eagles beating the Packers and can’t wait for the cowboys to trash them next week
Is this football trade rumors niw?
Is this football trade rumors now?
If the only thing you have on a baseball thread is to talk trash about the Packers then you “is” a moron
Enjoy it while it lasts. The Brewers have a run differential of +4 after 161 games. If you actually think they’ll continue this success into 2020, keep dreaming. Who else will they have besides Yelich and Hiura next year? They’re the 2014-2015 Royals, without the Championship.
And you still have 4 boat anchor terrible contracts you’re stuck with and now no manager.
Keep referencing the run differential all you want. Your Cubs are still watching the postseason on TV. Like I said the only number that matters is the number in the W column. Hey how did Northwestern do yesterday against Wisconsin?
Moron. That stat is meaningless. Wins are all that count. I watched over 140 games and the Crew were blown out by more than 10 and lost by 8 more than any other team in the league.
If you throw out 10 of their 1 run wins and their 10 games with the worst differential, they are plus about 50 more.
It’s a high scoring offense. They had pitching issues at times (but are the best in the league for the last 5 weeks).
And the staff looks scary good going forward. They merely need to sign Moose and Grandal and improve the depth a little (which will happen when Spangie replaces Perez).
They can platoon Braun with Thames next year and get 40 starts for him at 1B. That will allow Grisham to start and Gamel stay with the team and Braun can still serve as a 5th OF and maybe even spell Grisham against lefties. Grisham may be a star.
Cain will bounce back and they are going to score even more runs next year (you do know they were 3rd in MLB in homers?).
Then the only thing that maters is 0 for 51 in franchise history. Put up another wild card “winner” banner…nothing more.
Where are you getting this 0-51 fool? The Brewers have only been in existence since 1970. That puts them at 49 years old. They were the Seattle Pilots in 1969. So if you’re going to talk smack about the history of the franchise at least get your facts right.
Which makes this is their 50th season. Packers’ 100th.
And the Crew haven’t lost the World Series yet. They could end up 1-49 if they win it all!.
Now on Sunday COL sends out it’s aaa lineup…brewers got nothing to complain about
Jesus Christ, you Red Sox fans’ trade scenarios are ridiculous! If you guys really think the White Sox would even consider trading Kopech and Madigral of Moncada to the Red Sox for Betts is just plain stupid! You guys are just as bad as the Cubs’ fans. I am sorry that the White Sox basically gave you Sale and his soon to be diminish throwing arm for Kopech and Moncada but it is what it is. It’s your former general manager’s fault for giving Sale that extension since some of us White Sox knew it was a matter of time before he broke down.
Chris Sale is a stud. I won’t be surprised if he’s the Cy Young winner in 2020. All players have down years.
To Brewer fans. Nice job finishing ahead of the cubs again this year. Good luck in the playoffs.