Michael McLoone-Imagn Images Brewers look to capitalize in one of their last “easy” series of the season As the Milwaukee Brewers start their stretch run and look to lock up the National League Central (and compete for one of the top two seeds in the NL), they do not have many weak opponents remaining: of their seven remaining series, four are against teams currently in or within a half-game of playoff positions, and one is against a team (the Giants) that has hovered around .500 all season. Only two of those remaining series come against teams that are more than five games under .500: a late-September series against the Pirates, and this weekend’s tilt against the 51-89 Colorado Rockies. The Rockies are definitely in the running for “most depressing franchise.” They haven’t had a winning record since 2018 (when they lost to the Brewers in the NLDS), they’ve made some puzzling personnel decisions, they don’t have a highly-regarded farm system, and aside from 22-year-old shortstop Ezequiel Tovar and 26-year-old center fielder Brenton Doyle, there’s not a whole lot to be excited about on the major league roster, either. There are problems all over: the team has only one pitcher with 21 or more innings who has an ERA+ of 100 or higher (closer Victor Vodnik, who is currently on the IL) and only one hitter (Doyle) with more than 250 plate appearances who has an OPS+ over 103. Of course, complacency is a dangerous trap. The Brewers get to fit this series between two of their only remaining off-days (after this coming Monday’s day off, the Brewers will play their final 19 games in the ensuing 20 days), and that tricky end-of-season schedule combined with general fatigue and a possible desire to rest up before the playoffs (assuming nothing strange happens in the standings) could mean the Brewers take their foot off the gas a bit. But they aren’t there yet and picking up two or three wins against this subpar Rockies team would go a long way toward setting them up for a strong finish. Probable Pitchers Friday, September 6 @ 5:10 p.m: Frankie Montas (4.70 ERA, 4.60 FIP) vs. TBD We’ve had a bit of a Montassaince since Frankie joined the Brewers at the trade deadline. In six August starts with the Brewers, Montas pitched to a 3.82 ERA and 3.61 FIP, far below his full-season numbers. Though he has given up four earned runs in each of his last two starts (both six innings), he’s mostly looked pretty decent aside from big innings. (Note the weird start time - due to the Packers’ season opener in Brazil!) Saturday, September 7 @ 6:10 p.m.: Tobias Myers (3.00 ERA, 4.21 FIP) vs. TBD Myers is beginning to look tired—he hasn’t completed six innings since his 7 1⁄3 inning gem on August 10 against Cincinnati—but he’s still managing to get results. Despite the slight recent downturn in results, Myers’ ERA has only risen from 2.79 to 3.00 and he hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in a start since the Fourth of July. It’d be nice to see him get a couple of solid starts in before the end of the season to solidify his place as a postseason starter, as his actual numbers have outpaced his peripherals all season. Sunday, September 8 @ 1:10 p.m: Freddy Peralta (3.75 ERA, 4.25 FIP) vs. TBD Peralta has been solid over his last four starts—a 1.61 ERA, 16 strikeouts, and nine walks in 22 1⁄3 innings—and is hopefully putting the inconsistencies that have plagued much of his season behind him. He’s had occasional trouble with the home run ball this season and allowed two in his last start (a 9-3 win over the Cardinals on Sept. 2) but he’ll look to put those troubles aside against this less-threatening Rockies offense. Prediction The Brewers are at home, they’re on the verge of clinching the division, and they have a day off both before and after this three-game set. The Rockies are just playing it out at this point. I think Milwaukee sweeps.

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