Milwaukee, WI
MLB Contender: Nobody Talks About The Surging Milwaukee Brewers
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JULY 28: Jackson Chourio #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after hitting a … [+]
The Milwaukee Brewers are one of the most underrated teams in Major League Baseball.
The Brewers are running away with the National League Central Division.
The Brewers have a commanding game lead in their division, even with their best player on the Injured List.
All Star Christian Yelich, 32, is now recovering from successful back surgery.
At the time of his surgery, Yelich was hitting .315/.406/.504.,909, with 12 doubles, three triples, 11 homers, and 42 RBIs in 315 games.
Yelich’s barking back allowed him only 315 plate appearances this season, but he was a catalyst in the Brewers lineup.
But the Brewers might be the Rodney Dangerfield of MLB. It doesn’t seem they get the respect they are due.
Social Media conversations usually include the Dodgers, the Yankees, the Orioles, the Astros, the Phillies, and other high profile teams. It seems to this writer that the Brewers are often an afterthought.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 8: Willy Adames #27 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after hitting a solo … [+]
Plenty Of Firepower:
Even with Yelich on the sidelines, the Brewers offense remains plenty dangerous.
The Brewers hit for average, hit for power, and are third in Major League Baseball, with 161 stolen bases.
The Brewers find a way to get on base, steal second, possibly steal third, and score.
It seems a different Brewer hitter contributes on a daily basis. Someone steps up every night.
Shortstop Willie Adames, who can become a free agent following this season, leads the team in home runs, with 22, and 85 RBIs. A shortstop with that type of power and speed is a true plus to any offense.
All Star catcher William Contreras contributes from a position not normally known for offensive production. However, Contreras has a rare combination of power and a very good hitting tool, which results in an excellent batting average.
Second baseman Brice Turang, 24, has had a superb season. He leads the team in stolen bases, with 37. Turang was a 1st round Brewers draft pick in 2018.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 24: Joey Ortiz #3 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after scoring in the … [+]
Two Budding MLB Stars:
Without Yelich in the lineup, two young Brewers have continued to step up and help lead the charge.
Jackson Chourio, still only 20, is a very legitimate candidate for National League Rookie of the Year.
Chourio makes excellent contact, has very good speed, and can hit the ball out of any park.
Chourio signed an 8-year, $82 million contract with Milwaukee that takes him through 2032.
To date, Chourio is hitting .274. He went 4-for-5 in the team’s 10-6 extra inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals August 21. He stole his 18 base in the game.
The Brewers traded their right-handed pitching ace, Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles in February 2024. In return, the Brewers received left-handed pitcher DL Hall, and infielder, Joey Ortiz.
To this old scout, Ortiz, 26, has stardom written all over himself.
He can become a consequential part of future Brewers clubs.
A right-handed hitter, it’s possible Ortiz will assume the starting shortstop position if Willie Adames leaves via free agency.
Using a sweet, right-handed swing, Ortiz makes this happen. He gets big hits at big moments.
So far this season, Ortiz is hitting .248, but he is gaining experience and becoming a very important component of the winning Brewers team.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 10: Devin Williams #38 of the Milwaukee Brewers has Gatorade dumped … [+]
Outstanding Brewers Pitching:
It wasn’t easy to trade Burnes, who can become a free agent after this season. However, other Brewers pitchers have stepped up.
A rotation that normally includes right-handers Freddy Peralta, Colin Rea, Frankie Montas, Tobias Myers, and Aaron Civale, has been efficient, and relatively effective.
There are no real stars among the group. While Peralta had once been viewed as well above average, he has had some good moments, and bad.
Pitchers Robert Gasser (Tommy John surgery), Wade Miley (Tommy John surgery), and Brandon Woodruff (shoulder surgery), are all on the Brewers injured list.
The Brewers bullpen has been outstanding.
If the starters can give the team five or six innings, the pen is very credible in holding down the opposition.
Returning from injury himself, closer Devin Williams is almost automatic. He took over the 9th inning when the Brewers traded All Star Josh Hader. William has been terrific.
Williams did have a rough outing August 21, blowing a 9th inning save in the tough loss to St. Louis.
Lefties Jered Koenig, and Bryan Hudson, and right-handers Bryan Hudson and Joel Payamps have been very, very efficient in setting-up Williams.
The Brewers high-leverage relievers have been a major contributor to the team’s amazing success.
Right-handers Nick Mears, Elvis Peguero, Bryan Wison, and Joe Ross complete the pen.
Conclusions:
To this writer, the Milwaukee Brewers have such a well-balanced team, they can give the Dodgers and Phillies, and any other National League contender a run for their money in the National League pennant chase.
Milwaukee, WI
Bucks waive Pete Nance
With the Bucks having 17 rostered players, cuts were going to have to happen at some point, and Pete Nance is the first casualty. Nance was always the most obvious player to cut because of his non-guaranteed $2.5m contract, which would have become guaranteed if they kept him past Saturday. Also, Milwaukee acquired a fair few guys who play his position via the Giannis trade (Ware, Jaquez, Ament). I should mention that this technically does not proclude the Bucks from signing the big man to another deal, but it feels unlikely, given the aforementioned lack of spots.
This is something of a kick in the guts for many fans, including myself, who really thought Milwaukee had found a diamond in the rough with Nance. The number of times we would remark on Deer Diaries about how he was “always in the right spots” and “did all the little things” was… pretty large! After coming to the Bucks late in the 2024-25 season, Nance had a breakout 2025-26 campaign (although his numbers certainly don’t jump off the page), averaging 5.4 PPG and 2.7 RPG on 51.5% from the field and 42.0% from three. Assuming it isn’t with the Bucks, let’s hope he lands somewhere that gives him a real shot.
Milwaukee, WI
Leaders of ‘United for Venezuela Emergency Relief Campaign’ grateful for support
MILWAUKEE — As Venezuela continues to recover from devastating earthquakes, support from Milwaukee’s “United for Venezuela Emergency Relief Campaign” is soon heading to the disaster-stricken country.
The basement of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church is filled to the brim with donations ticketed for Venezuela, the culmunation of a week of community generosity.
From food to clothing and toys, the outpouring has been remarkable said Father Norberto Sandoval, who is from Venezuela and serves as associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament.
“This [has been] overwhelming,” said Sandoval. “I mean, if you can see [the basement], you were able to get in on Monday. Now we [are not] able to walk.”
(Spectrum News 1/Blake Dietz)
Aura Escobar, who is also from Venezuela, has been doing whatever she can to help her home country, including packing donations. She described the support from friends, coworkers, and strangers as something special to witness.
“In my Venmo, I had three thousand dollars in less than 24 hours,” Escobar said. “And I was able to buy stuff to donate. It’s been amazing. It’s very heartwarming to have so many people that care about Venezuela.”
Due to limited storage capacity and the logistical planning required to transport the supplies to those who need them most, organizers have decided to stop accepting donations after Friday afternoon.
“We have more than a thousand boxes right now. We are expecting two semi-trucks either to move [Friday] in the afternoon or tomorrow,” Sandoval said.
(Spectrum News 1/Blake Dietz)
He acknowledged that corruption in times of trauma is a long-standing concern in Venezuela. For that reason, the trucks will take the local donations to Miami, where a Venezuelan organization he fully trusts will handle the final distribution.
“We have already the person and it’s going to be [done] free. It’s going to be directly to a group of religious groups in Venezuela. So, in that way people will get the donations,” he said.
Sandoval and other organizers are putting out one final plea for volunteers to help load the semi-trucks on Friday and Saturday.
Milwaukee, WI
Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face-covering and park ordinances?
Video circulating this week shows masked federal agents in Milwaukee arresting people. City leaders say the face coverings violate a city ordinance — but whether federal agents are required to follow local ordinances is a legal question that may ultimately be decided by a federal judge.
RELATED | Father with no criminal record detained by ICE on Milwaukee’s south side, family says
Local attorney Russell Jones said the answer depends on the specific ordinance and what federal authorities are doing.
“The issue becomes whether or not the local ordinances interfere with the operations of the federal officers acting under federal law. If it does, federal law will supersede it. Right, it’s the supremacy clause of the Constitution. If it doesn’t interfere with their operations, then typically they will follow those ordinances. So that’s really the question: do the ordinances interfere with the legitimate operations of the federal agency?” Jones explained.
For the past week, masked federal agents have been seen in Wisconsin arresting people they say are in the country illegally.
Watch: Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face covering and park ordinances?
Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face covering and park ordinances?
Galo Suarez described one encounter.
“They broke our side window, and they told us that if we didn’t comply, we would face several heavy consequences,” Suarez said.
Images have also surfaced of what appear to be federal agents in Milwaukee County parks.
Federal agents wearing masks and being in county parks, according to city and county leaders, are against local ordinances.
Milwaukee’s city ordinance prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings. A Milwaukee County ordinance prohibits any law enforcement agency from using a park as a staging area without a permit.
When asked whether a resolution to the legal question was possible now, Jones said it likely falls to the courts.
“That’s a question that eventually probably some federal judge will answer,” Jones said.
Before the city’s face covering ordinance was passed, City Attorney Evan Goyke wrote in a memo that “it is legal and enforceable.”
Enforcement of the ordinance would fall to Milwaukee Police, who earlier this week said they have “requested a formal written legal opinion from the city attorney’s office regarding the ordinance’s applicability and enforceability.” TMJ4 News reached out to Goyke on this and is waiting to hear back.
ICE has already stated it “will not abide by unconstitutional bans,” noting that “ICE officers wear face coverings for one reason: to protect themselves and their families from real-world threats including agitators.”
Jones said the practical challenge of enforcing a local ordinance against federal officers adds another layer of complexity.
“Enforcing a local ordinance right is typically done with an arrest or issuing a ticket, and certainly arresting ICE officers would interfere with their operations,” Jones added. “Ultimately, a federal judge will decide if these ordinances interfere with federal operations, and if they do, they will be superseded by federal law, and if they don’t, then ICE would likely have to follow them.”
This story was reported on-air by Jenna Rae and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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