The Milwaukee Brewers are reportedly going to be utilizing one of their high leverage bullpen arms as an opener for game one against the Philadelphia Phillies. Per Todd Rosiak LHP Jared Koenig will get the start opposite of Zack Wheeler. This will be Koenig’s third start of the season in which he operated as an opener in back-to-back games earlier this year against the Boston Red Sox.
Brewers announce they are going with the opener gambit again tonight, as Jared Koenig takes the bump opposite Zack Wheeler.
— Todd Rosiak (@Todd_Rosiak) June 3, 2024
How did Jared Koenig perform as an opener earlier this season?
Against the Red Sox Koenig started back-to-back games. His first game in the opener role didn’t go as planned as he only recorded two outs and allowed two runners to reach (one via base hit, another hit-by-pitch), but Bryse Wilson then came in and left both inherited runners stranded. From there Wilson tossed 5.1 innings, struck out seven, and allowed two earned runs. Milwaukee won that game 7-2.
A day later Koenig operated as an opener again and this time went 1.1 innings. He struck out three batters and didn’t allow a base runner. Milwaukee also won that game (6-3) in which Colin Rea covered 5.2 innings after relieving Koenig.
What is the Milwaukee Brewers strategy behind using Jared Koenig as an opener?
With a trio of lefties in the bullpen (including Koenig) manager Pat Murphy cited “going leverage” in the first inning as his reasons for using Koenig as an opener against the Red Sox. That lineup featured left-handed hitters Jarren Duran, Rafael Devers, and Wilyer Abreu in the top half of the order. Philadelphia similarly has some good left-handed batters at the top of their order including Kyle Schwarber, Bryson Stott, Bryce Harper, and Brandon Marsh.
Which Milwaukee Brewers player will pitch to the Philadelphia Phillies after Jared Koenig?
Originally slated to start this game was Bryse Wilson. He likely will follow Koenig once his work at the top of the order is done. As mentioned earlier Koenig and Wilson worked in tandem against the Red Sox so this is a role that both are familiar with.
The first pitch of the Brewers and Red Sox game is 5:40 PM CT. Tonight’s game will be Rhys Hoskins return to Citizen Bank Park and he is expecting a warm welcome back. It also is a match up of two premier teams as Milwaukee owns a 36-23 record and Philadelphia 41-19.
Follow me on X @tylerkoerth. Follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great up to date sports content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here!. We cover the Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Bucks, Wisconsin Badgers, and Wisconsin High School Sports. Additionally we provide the latest news coverage on the NFL, MLB, and NBA in which you can follow Gridiron Heroics, Hardwood Heroics, and Homeplate Heroics.
