With Rookies Contributing, Brewers Sweep Three Game Series From Mets

Garrett Mitchell hit a walk off home run to lead off the ninth inning, powering the Milwaukee Brewers to a 7-6 win over the visiting New York Mets on April 5th. The victory completed a three game sweep of the Mets in which the Brewers scored 26 runs. The Mets were shut out 10-0 and 9-0 in the first two games. Milwaukee improved to 5-1 on the season while New York slipped to 3-4.

The Mets have spent big money to become contenders in the National League East, a division that produced the National League champion Philadelphia Phillies last year and the World Series champion Atlanta Braves the year before that. The Mets, with such names as Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander (currently on the injured list), Francisco Lindor, Edwin Diaz (out for the year with an injury), Carlos Carrasco, home run machine Pete Alonzo, and last year’s batting champion Jeff McNeil, have an estimated 2023 payroll around $358 million. The small market Brewers, on the other hand, are spending around $122 million on player salaries, according to Fangraphs.com

Milwaukee picked up a few under the radar veterans in the off season, some of whom have made significant contributions in the first week of the season. Infielder Brian Anderson, signed as a free agent after six seasons with the Miami Marlins, is nine for 18 at the plate in six games, with three homers and 10 RBIs. He had nine of those RBIs and all three homers in the 1st two games of the Mets’ series. Outfielder/designated hitter Jesse Winker, picked up in a trade with the Seattle Mariners, is six for 18 with seven RBIs.

But the Brewers have had some remarkable success with a bunch of rookies. Outfielder Joey Wiemer is six for 17 and had his first major league home run and first three RBIs of his career in the April 5th game. Garrett Mitchell is six for 20 at the plate; the walk off homer was his third round tripper of the year, and he’s got five RBIs. Mitchell still qualifies as a rookie, although he did see some late season action last year, batting .311 with two homers and nine RBIs in 28 games. Second baseman Brice Turang is five for 16 with a homer and five RBIs. That home run, the first of his career, was a grand slam in Game 1 of the Mets’ series.

The Brewers’ young hot bats will no doubt cool down some as the season goes along, but with its strong pitching, there is certainly reason to believe Milwaukee will be competitive in the N.L. Central this season, and possibly a contender for a post season berth.

Finally, it’s been a good week all around for sports in Milwaukee; besides the Brewers’ impressive showing, the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Chicago Bulls on April 5th to secure the top overall seed in the upcoming NBA playoffs, guaranteeing home court advantage throughout the post season.