Brewers plus $1.45 at Mariners
The Brewers are in full rebuilt mode. This is something veteran Matt Garza is well aware of. Best case scenario for the Brewers and Garza is a deal is made before the opening of the 2017 season where a team trades for Garza and gives Milwaukee a decent prospect or two. The Brewers want to get under Garza’s $12.5 million contract and he doesn’t fit into their long range plans.
Garza must pitch well for that to take place. That is starting to happen. Garza hasn’t allowed more than three runs during any of his past five starts posting a respectable 3.49 ERA during this span. He should pitch a solid six innings here against a normally tough Seattle lineup that is likely to be resting several regulars with an upcoming home series against the Yankees starting Monday.
The Brewers are facing rookie lefty Ariel Miranda, who is making just his third big league start and has a 5.79 ERA. It’s my opinion Miranda isn’t ready yet to be in a big league rotation. He’s only in Seattle’s rotation because James Paxton is out with an elbow injury.
The Brewers have won six of the last eight times they’ve gone against a southpaw starter.
Milwaukee has some underrated and intriguing offensive talent besides Ryan Braun and Chris Carter, who has hit the third-most homers in the National League. Jonathan Villar is batting .300 and has the second-most steals in the majors. Hernan Perez is batting .283 with double-digit homers and 23 steals. Centerfielder Keon Broxton has finally started showing something and rightfielder Domingo Santana just recently came off the DL bringing his 20-plus home run potential into the lineup.
Seattle is playing well and Milwaukee has dropped nine of its last 11 road games. So you really have to be careful picking spots with the Brewers especially away from Miller Park. But given the pitching matchup and price, I think a small Brewers investment is warranted.
