PITTSBURGH -- The Brewers haven’t had many bad days this season.
If they beat the Pirates on Sunday, they will finish with 60 wins before the All-Star break for the first time in franchise history. The Brewers also held a commanding 7 1/2-game lead in the National League Central coming into Saturday’s action as they attempt to win a fourth consecutive division title.
However, Saturday was a day to forget despite the beautiful weather at PNC Park.
In the first game, Aaron Ashby (12-2) gave up a grand slam to rookie Esmerlyn Valdez in the seventh inning, turning a 6-3 lead into a 7-6 deficit. The Brewers stranded 11 runners in the second game.
After the second game, manager Pat Murphy announced that ace Jacob Misiorowski has been scratched from his scheduled start on Sunday against the Pirates and reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes in what would have been a marquee matchup on the final day before the All-Star break.
Misiorowski said he will not require a stint on the injured list and should be ready to pitch after next week’s All-Star break.
“It [stinks] to miss a start and the All-Star Game, but I know it’s the right thing to do in this situation,” Misiorowski said. “My arm is a little tired.”
The 24-year-old Misiorowski leads MLB starting pitchers with a 100.5 mph average four-seam fastball velocity and has thrown a big league high of 670 pitches at 100 mph or higher.
Misiorowski has a 10-4 record and a 1.62 ERA in 18 starts, with 167 strikeouts over 111 innings.
Murphy explained the Brewers’ rationale behind having Misiorowski miss a start.
“He didn’t recover well from his last start, and his throwing program was clunky today, so we’re just going to give him some extra rest,” Murphy said.
Left-hander Robert Gasser will start in Misiorowski’s place on Sunday.
The Brewers had bad pitching news on Saturday morning when left-hander Kyle Harrison was placed on the 15-day injured list due to left forearm tightness. The move is retroactive to July 9, and an upbeat Harrison is confident he will not be sidelined long.
“I’m not too worried about it at the end of the day,” Harrison said. “Just going to take a break to recover, especially with the All-Star break coming up. But it isn’t a long-term thing.”
Harrison is 8-2 with a 3.01 ERA in 17 starts after being acquired from the Red Sox in a trade just before Spring Training in February. The 24-year-old has 101 strikeouts in 83 2/3 innings.
Harrison has struggled in his last two starts, though, allowing six runs in 6 2/3 innings.
“I’m feeling better,” Harrison said. “I got some meds in me. I’m doing some treatments. It’s trending in the right direction, let’s say.”
Gasser was recalled from Triple-A Nashville as the corresponding move. He has made eight starts for the Brewers this season, going 2-3 with a 4.15 ERA.