Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Alabama Radio Host Compares Bryce Young to Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

    June 30, 2022

    Three-Time NBA Champion Names Milwaukee Bucks as a Preferred Destination in Free Agency

    June 30, 2022

    Rowdy Tellez Hits Two Home Runs to Power Brewers over Rays 5-3

    June 29, 2022
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Trending
    • Alabama Radio Host Compares Bryce Young to Packers QB Aaron Rodgers
    • Three-Time NBA Champion Names Milwaukee Bucks as a Preferred Destination in Free Agency
    • Rowdy Tellez Hits Two Home Runs to Power Brewers over Rays 5-3
    • Bobby Portis Declines Player Option with the Milwaukee; Bucks Can Offer Him Most Money
    • 7 NFL Predictions for the 2022-23 Season
    • Five Realistic 2022 Free Agent Target for the Milwaukee Bucks
    • How Sponsors Shape NFL Culture
    • Sleeper, Underappreciated, and Underrated Packer Players On The Roster
    Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest VKontakte
    WI Sports Heroics
    • About
      • Privacy Policy
    • Sports
      • Packers
        • Green Bay Packers News
        • Green Bay Packers Rumors
      • Bucks
        • Milwaukee Bucks News
        • Milwaukee Bucks Rumors
      • Brewers
        • Milwaukee Brewers News
        • Milwaukee Brewers Rumors
      • Milkmen
        • Milwaukee Milkmen News
        • Milwaukee Milkmen Rumors
      • Badgers
        • Badgers Basketball
        • Badgers Football
      • Marquette
        • Marquette News
        • Marquette Rumors
      • Fantasy Sports
      • Outdoor Sports
    • Podcasts
      • Wickett On Wisconsin
      • Packers Podcast
      • Bucks Podcast
      • Brewers Podcast
      • Badgers Podcast
    • Local Reviews
    • Sponsors
    • Mark Mayfield Booking
    • Shop
    • Contact
    WI Sports Heroics
    Home»Sports»Brewers»Brewers-Cardinals Preview: The Crew Heads to Busch
    Brewers

    Brewers-Cardinals Preview: The Crew Heads to Busch

    Michael ReganBy Michael ReganApril 8, 2021Updated:April 8, 2021No Comments10 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Apr 16, 2019; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich (22) rounds the bases after hitting a home run as St. Louis first baseman Paul Goldschmidt (46) looks on at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Milwaukee Brewers (3-3) @ St Louis Cardinals (4-2)

    After this season’s first road series against a NL Central rival, the Brewers are diving right back in for seconds this weekend when they take on the Cardinals in St Louis. Both teams have some momentum after losing two of three in their opening series. The Brewers took the last two from the Cubs in Wrigley while the Cardinals closed a sweep of the Marlins with a 7-0 shutout. The first game is tonight (Thursday), and we get a day off before the series closes on Saturday and Sunday. This should be a good luck at the two teams most had – and theoretically still have – at the top of the NL Central heading into the season, and the winner will be able to claim a decent amount of momentum as we keep inching forward in this 162-game marathon. 

    The first thing to look at is pitching match-ups. Who’s likely taking the mound in this series, and how have those guys performed against the hitters they’ll face here? All data below is from Swish Analytics, and I have some basic notes on each pitcher and what they might be facing here.

    [pickup_prop id=”6161″]

    PITCHING MATCH-UPS

    One thing you’ll notice is that Orlando Arcia is still included here. I figure we might as well leave him in – partially because the data still has him with the Brewers but also as a sign of what we might have missed in this series by trading him a few days ago.

    The other quick note I’ll make here: Matt Carpenter has obviously been a prominent player for the Cardinals in the past, but his lengthy slump has seen him relegated to a bench role. He’s only gotten six at-bats in six games so far this year. It’ll be interesting to see if that changes in this series given some of the history. 

    Game 1: Thursday, 3:15 Central

    Projected Brewers pitcher: Corbin Burnes

    Cardinals v. Burnes: 

    Summary: Goldschmidt, DeJong, and Carpenter are high on Ks and big hits against Burnes, no one else has done anything noticeable 
    Goldschmidt, DeJong, and Carpenter 
    • All over Burnes with 12 hits in 31 at-bats
    • 5 home runs in 31 at-bats is ridiculous 
    • Interesting: 13 of 19 outs have been strikeouts. 
    • 18 of 31 at-bats HRs or SOs. Really feast or famine here
    Tommy Edman and Yadier Molina
    • Only others with more than a game’s worth of at-bats against Burnes
    • Have been relatively harmless, though Edman has shown a strong ability to walk against Burnes
    Nolan Arenado
    • 2 strikeouts, 1 single. Not much to take away but definitely didn’t kill Burnes. I’m guessing these at-bats came back in the 2018 playoffs, so who knows if they’re relevant now.
    Dylan Carlson 
    • 1 homer in 2 chances
    Everyone else
    • Nothing doing in limited looks

    Projected Cardinals pitcher: Adam Wainwright 

    Brewers v. Wainwright:

    Summary: Lots of hitting success but very little power (1 HR per 52 at-bats, 1 2B per 11.5 or so at-bats, only the 1 3B)
    Arcia and Yelich
    • Lots of looks (20+) and lots of results
    • Both have walked at least 12.5% of the time
    • Both have hits in at least 35% of their at-bats
    • Notable: 0 homers despite the success
    • Arcia doubling in 16.7% of his at-bats against Wainwright
    • Yeli largely limited to singles (5 of 6 hits)
    • Hitting but not hitting for power
    Cain
    • Lots of looks and slightly less results
    • .286 average still very solid
    • No homers or walks but double/triple in about 14% of plate appearances (3 total)

    Yelich and Cain Ks against Wainwright very rare

    Garcia, Narvaez 
    • Solid in limited looks (5-13) 
    • All hits – 3 for Garcia and 2 for Omar – are singles
    • Narvaez also has the walk
    • Put ball in-play or walked 13 of 14 times

    Yelich, Arcia, Cain, Garcia, Narvaez – 42% combined OBP, just a 9.9% strikeout rate. These are the four to watch with Arica gone. 

    Hiura
    • Decent
    • Single, Double, Homer in 11 plate appearances
    • 2 Ks of course
    • Potential bounce back game for him?
    Pina
    • Likely won’t play with Narvaez having this match-up but 1 single in 2 chances
    Shaw, Vogelbach, Bradley Jr
    • Don’t expect to see these guys playing much of a role. Would not be a surprise to see Robertson starting for Shaw in this one. 
    • Bradley Jr just 0-3 with a K
    • Shaw and Vogelbach have 8 Ks in only 18 plate appearances (that’s the same number that group of 5 from before has in 81 plate appearances) 
    • Vogelbach’s 1 hit was a homer so pinch-hitting shot very possible

    Game 2: Saturday, 1:15 Central

    Projected Brewers pitcher: Adrian Houser

    Cardinals v. Houser:

    Summary: Limited action but that same trio has been dangerous
    Goldschmidt, DeJong, and Carpenter
    • Goldschmidt the big one with 2 homers and 2 singles in only 11 plate appearances
    • DeJong not too much damage, but still 3 hits in 9 chances
    • Carpenter with 2 singles and a walk in 7 chances
    • 7 Ks in just 27 total plate appearances so that theme of going down hard when they go down follows here
    Molina
    • Just not very good
    • 2 Ks, just 3 hits/walks in 11 chances
    • 1 homer and 1 double however, so that clutch hit is very possible
    Bader
    • Just a single and a walk in 6 chances
    Edman & Carlson
    • Only 3 and 1 plate appearances
    • No Ks but four outs in four tries for Houser

    Projected Cardinals pitcher: Carlos Martinez

    Brewers v. Martinez:

    Summary: Experience limited to four guys, but those four have done well
    Pina 
    • Tons of success
    • Two singles, two doubles, and a homer in just 10 at-bats
    • Three walks 
    • That’s 8/14 reaching base, 13/14 didn’t end in a strikeout 
    Yelich and Cain
    • Lots of hits (nine in twenty-five at-bats) but all singles
    • Yelich has walked three times but struck out four
    • Cain with less of both (one each)
    Shaw 
    • A bit more variety but still good success
    • Three singles, double, homer, two walks in nineteen chances
    • Two Ks
    Arcia
    • Has been terrible against Martinez, so we won’t be missing him here
    Narvaez
    • A single and a walk in three chances so not a full guarantee that Pina starts
    Hiura 
    • 0-1, the only other Brewer to have seen Martinez

    Game 3: Sunday, 1:15 Central

    Projected Brewers pitcher: Brett Anderson

    Cardinals v. Anderson:

    Summary: Not good to see what Goldschmidt and Arenado have done here
    Goldschmidt
    • Murders Anderson
    • 10 hits in 18 at-bats, which includes 2 homers
    • 4 walks
    • That’s a 63.6% OBP
    • Just 1 K
    Arenado
    • 2 homers as well
    • 4 singles outside of that with the 1 walk for a 43.8% OBP
    • Just 1 K here too
    Molina and Carpenter
    • 2 singles and a walk in 20 tries
    • Only 3 Ks but just not effective at getting on-base
    Bader
    • 2-3 with a triple
    Edman
    • 2 singles in only four tries
    The rest
    • Limited at-bats, nothing notable

    Projected Cardinals pitcher: Daniel Ponce de Leon

    Brewers v. Ponce de Leon:

    Summary: Very few looks, very little success outside of Arcia, Vogelbach
    Arcia
    • 2 homers in just four looks
    • Might be missing him in this one
    Vogelbach
    • 2 singles and a walk in just six looks
    • Did strike out 2 times too
    Yelich
    • 3 walks in nine chances
    • Also 3 Ks and 0 hits
    Garcia
    • 1 K, 1 single in six chances 
    Shaw and Hiura
    • 6 Ks in eight chances

    No one else (including Shaw, Hiura, Yelich) has a hit in limited looks. Nottingham (irrelevant here) with 2 walks 

    Now that we have a decent idea of the match-ups that we’ll be seeing here, I have some players to watch for both teams in this series. 

    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Cards

    1. Goldschmidt – Great player obviously and great success against every pitcher here. Expect a massive series from him.
    2. De Jong – .333 BA against Burnes and Houser, limited looks at Anderson. He’s a guy who could have some success here. 
    3. Carpenter – Has done very well against Burnes and Houser, might be set up for some extra looks in this one. Carpenter is guaranteed some at-bats regardless, but I would expect him to start against Burnes. He’s been good against him. 
    4. Arenado – Another great player. Has traditionally killed Anderson, and the limited experience against the first two doesn’t mean he won’t show up here. He’s someone to watch right alongside Goldschmidt.
    5. Molina – Very little success against these three but seems to always have the hit when Cards need it against Crew. Although he’s struggled against Burnes and the rest, don’t count him out. 
    6. Wainwright – Can he limit Brewers again by keeping their damage to singles? He’s got a tough draw here with Burnes but will feed on the Busch Stadium crowd. 
    7. Ponce de Leon – Can he maintain past success with more looks against the Brewers? 
    8. Gallegos – The reliever has 7 Ks in four innings of work so far, and he has yet to give up a run. He might factor into some of these games late. 
    9. Reyes and Hicks – This is cheating, but these are the two guys that have some claim to the closer role right now. They’ve both avoided any earned runs in roughly 3 innings each so far. Can the Brewers jump on either in a close game? 

    Brewers

    1. Yelich – Lots of walks, not too many hits after Wainwright. Can he build on what was a great close to the Cubs series?
    2. Shaw – Shaw has done well against Martinez but has a pretty brutal track record against the other two. If he’s going to start the easy majority of games for us this year like the Arcia trade suggests, he’s going to need to be playable in some of these “bad match-up” situations
    3. Cain – The offensive hero of the last game of the Cubs series has a good match-up against Wainwright. Hopefully he can build on this momentum.
    4. Hiura – These pitchers are not the greatest for him if you’re looking for good match-ups to break out against. He’s still arguably the most important guy to watch given how much a return to form would mean for this offense
    5. Narvaez and Garcia – Another combo here. Can these two jump on Wainwright in a historically favorable match-up and gain some early momentum?
    6. Burnes – He’s got some danger spots here. Can he maintain CY Young form?
    7. Anderson – The numbers don’t look good. Despite that, can he provide a quality start? 
    8. Urias – The Brewers are committed. Can he show some signs of offensive life to support that decision? 
    9. Arcia – An honorary shout-out. Unfortunately, he had some very good numbers against these guys. He will be missed (even though I didn’t hate the trade).

    PREDICTION

    I’m taking the Brewers to win this series 2-1. I think Burnes has the edge in his start, and I trust the Brewers’ bullpen a little bit more. Neither team has been great offensively, but the Brewers have been better defensively after the Cardinals really struggled to keep the Reds in check. I can see a low-scoring series happening here, and the Brewers just proved they’re up to the task in that type of challenge. Containing Goldschmidt and Arenado in their home ballpark will be the key.

    Follow For More!

    Follow me on Twitter @MikeRegan09. Check out our merch page as well. Use promo code WISCO at checkout for $1 off! To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!

    Brewers Cardinals Christian Yelich Keston Hiura
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Michael Regan

    Related Posts

    Rowdy Tellez Hits Two Home Runs to Power Brewers over Rays 5-3

    June 29, 2022

    Brandon Woodruff Returns from IL and to Form in Brewers 5-3 Win Over Rays

    June 28, 2022

    Brewers: Two Key Pieces Set for Tuesday Return

    June 27, 2022

    Rowdy Tellez Mashes Against Former Club, Leads Brewers to 10-3 Victory over Blue Jays

    June 26, 2022
    Add A Comment

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Editors Picks

    Brewers: The Ideal Playoff Roster

    September 20, 2021

    MVP Spotlight: Christian Yelich

    April 10, 2020
    Top Reviews
    Advertisement
    Demo
    WI Sports Heroics
    Facebook Twitter
    • Disclaimer
    • Privacy
    • Advertisement
    • Contact us
    © 2022 WISportsHeroics All Rights Reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.