MLB LOOK AHEAD

Brewers’ Woodruff trying to slow red-hot Braves

Field Level Media

July 16, 2019 at 6:51 am.

Milwaukee will send All-Star pitcher Brandon Woodruff to the mound on Tuesday as the Brewers try to square their three-game series against the visiting Atlanta Braves.

Woodruff (10-3, 3.67 ERA) will be opposed by Atlanta rookie Bryse Wilson (1-0, 6.14). The Braves have won three of four meetings between the clubs this season.

On Monday, the Braves got a three-run homer from Freddie Freeman for the second straight game and won 4-2. Freeman has only two hits since the All-Star Game, but both have been home runs.

Atlanta has won five straight and eight of its past nine. Milwaukee has dropped two straight and eight of 10.

“We’ve got to make more plays,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. “Whether it’s better at-bats, better plays defensively, making a pitch when it counts. We’ve got to find a way to make plays, and that’s how we’ll break through this.”

Woodruff lost his most recent start at Cincinnati on July 4, despite giving up only one run in six innings. He yielded seven hits and no walks while striking out six. He has allowed only two runs total over his past two starts (13 2/3 innings).

“I think Woody has been one of the best pitchers in the game this year,” Milwaukee catcher Yasmani Grandal said. “He struggled a little big at the start, but the way he finished the (first) half, it definitely says something about him.”

Woodruff pitched two-thirds of an inning for the NL All-Star team and allowed a run on one hit and one walk.

Woodruff will be making his second career start against the Braves. He received no decision at Atlanta on May 19 when he pitched eight innings and allowed only two runs.

Wilson, an aggressive, hard-throwing right-hander, has pitched well enough in two starts since his latest promotion to warrant another shot. He beat the Philadelphia Phillies on July 3, allowing two runs in six innings, and struck out five.

The Braves then sent Wilson to Triple-A Gwinnett — not as punishment but to keep him on schedule — and he was roughed up for nine runs in 2 2/3 innings against Charlotte on Thursday.

Wilson will be making his fifth career major league start. He has never faced the Brewers.

“This year’s been a lot of fun,” Wilson said. “I’ve been blessed with opportunities that I’ve had.”

Both teams made roster moves on Monday because of injuries.

The Braves’ bullpen took another hit when right-hander Jacob Webb was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a right elbow impingement. Webb has been one of the team’s most pleasant surprises this year, going 4-0 with two saves and a 1.39 ERA in 36 relief appearances.

Atlanta recalled right-hander Huascar Ynoa from Triple-A Gwinnett. This is his second trip to the big club this season. He threw two scoreless innings of relief on June 16 against the Phillies in his debut. He is 3-5 with one save and a 4.87 ERA in 18 games, 10 starts, across three levels of the minor leagues this season.

The Brewers placed Corbin Burnes on the injured list because of right shoulder irritation. Burnes began the season in the rotation, but was sent to the bullpen after allowing 11 homers in 17 2/3 innings. He was replaced on the roster by right-hander Burch Smith, who had been demoted eight days earlier.

Smith pitched a scoreless inning Monday, lowering his ERA to 6.23.

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