The Milwaukee Brewers currently have the best record in baseball and activated Sal Frelick from the injured list on Tuesday.
Frelick had played in 90 games before going on the injured list with a shoulder injury. He was a regular in the Brewers’ lineup, but was not as good offensively this year as he was last year. He had a .288 average with a .756 OPS last season. This year, he had a .236 average before going on the injured list.
Frelick had a phenomenal July, hitting .348 with a .879 OPS, so it looked like he was getting back to where he was last season. However, he was diagnosed with a torn labrum and told the coaches that something was wrong when it started affecting his swing. He had been dealing with shoulder pain since June, but it finally got to a point where he needed to be shelved.
The good news is, Frelick was swinging the bat well before the shoulder started bothering him. The bad news is, he may not be an everyday player the rest of the way. Luis Lara, who was one of the top prospects in baseball before graduating from prospect status this year, has played well in the absence of Frelick, and he will continue to get starts in the outfield.
How Will Brewers Manage Outfield Logjam
In 37 games, Lara has a .259 average, a .710 OPS and has been unbelievable on defense. Frelick is a Gold Glover, and Lara has somehow been even better. In his last 16 games, Lara is slashing .300/.327/.420, so he has earned the right to stay in the lineup.
Between Lara, Frelick, Garrett Mitchell, Jake Bauers and Jackson Chourio, the Brewers need to find a way to manage the outfield and get everyone regular at-bats. Chourio is one of the best hitters and defenders on the team, so he will be in the lineup daily. Bauers, a first baseman, has been the Brewers’ best hitter and has gotten starts in right field to get Andrew Vaughn in the lineup at first base. He will likely continue to get starts there because Vaughn is also hitting very well this year.
Mitchell has played very well this year and has hit both lefties and righties well. It’s hard to imagine Lara taking many at-bats from those two, but he will likely be used to give Mitchell and Chourio some off days down the stretch. The Brewers will likely use Frelick and Lara in a platoon in right field.
Frelick is hitting .177 vs lefties this year, and Lara is a switch-hitter with a .263 average against southpaws. The Brewers don’t lose anything on defense with him, so it makes sense, especially with Frelick coming off an injury.
On Tuesday, Lara is starting despite Frelick being activated. Mitchell and Chourio are also starting. The Brewers are facing left-handed starting pitcher Zac Thorton, so it could be an indication of how the Brewers plan to use their four outfielders moving forward.
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