Gonzalez will start series opener
The Milwaukee Brewers announced their first three starting pitchers for the NLCS against Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, and while the names were not surprises, their order was a bit unexpected.
Left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who did not pitch in the Brewers’ three-game sweep of Colorado in the NLDS, will start Game 1 on Friday night at Miller Park. Gonzalez was acquired on Aug. 31 from Washington for the stretch run and went 3-0 with a 2.13 ERA. The Brewers won all five of his starts.
“We like the matchup against their lineup,” said manager Craig Counsell.
“It’s no secret that we’re going to use our pitching a little differently than the traditionalists would like. And so for us, the first matchup that we liked was Gio on the mound.
“We’re asking Gio to go out there and get a bunch of outs. How many, we’ll just see how it goes.”
Gonzalez, who did not face the Dodgers this season either with the Washington Nationals or the Brewers, warmed up a couple of times in the bullpen during the NLDS but did not get into a game.
“You’ve got to give them the best you’ve got and the way I told Counsell, any way you need me, any style of pitching, I’m in,” Gonzalez said. “This is an opportunity I get to share with a bunch of great guys, and hopefully we can continue our success and keep riding the high that we’re living right now.”
Lefty Wade Miley, who started Game 3 of the sweep of the Rockies and pitched 42⁄3 scoreless innings, will pitch Game 2 against the Dodgers. He made two starts against Los Angeles this season and pitched brilliantly, allowing six hits and no earned runs in 13 innings. In a 1-0 victory in Los Angeles on July 31, Miley pitched seven shutout frames.
Right-hander Jhoulys Chacín, who emerged as the Brewers’ staff ace, will start Game 3 of the NLCS in Los Angeles on Monday evening. It was interesting that Chacin was tabbed to pitch in Dodger Stadium because the last time he started there, on Aug. 2, he allowed nine runs (eight earned) and three home runs in a 21-5 loss.
“That was my toughest game of the season,” Chacín said. “Last year my opening-day game there (with San Diego) was tough. But after that I did really well against them (2-1, 4.56 ERA, 1.44 WHIP in five starts overall).
“It’s going to be a big challenge because of this stage. But it’s also going to be fun and good to have (a chance for) redemption there.”
Counsell said Chacín could see action in Game 1 in relief if the situation called for it, which would necessitate tabbing a new Game 3 starter.
“I will tell you Jhoulys is available in Game 1,” he said. “That’s how we’ll treat him in Game 1. We like the two lefties going first. And then at this point the Game 3 starter is likely to be Jhoulys.
“But he’s available to pitch tomorrow, for sure.”
Chacin started Game 2 of the NLDS and pitched five shutout innings on short rest.
The Dodgers are starting ace lefty
Clayton Kershaw in Game 1 and are expected to follow with lefty Hyun-Jim
Ryu, rookie right-hander Walker Buehler and lefty Rich Hill.
Rosters for the NLCS do not have to be submitted until 10 a.m. Friday. So we meet again: The stories of infielders Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado have been intertwined ever since they were traded by the woeful Baltimore Orioles before the July 31 deadline. The Brewers made a determined effort to acquire Machado but were out-bid by the Dodgers, so they turned their attention to Schoop and traded for him.
Machado’s first series after being acquired by the Dodgers was against the Brewers at Miller Park. And Schoop’s first series after being acquired by the Brewers was against the Dodgers in LA. As best friends, it was something they have laughed about.
The two will meet again on the field Friday night in Game 1 of the NLCS. But, before that competition began, they were scheduled to go out to dinner Thursday night at a downtown restaurant.
“He’s my best friend,” Schoop said. “We were teammates a long time together. Outside baseball, we are friend. But inside, tomorrow, we’re going to be enemies.”
For the two buddies, the results were dramatically different with their new clubs. Machado didn’t go crazy but did bat .273 with 13 home runs, 42 RBI and .825 OPS over 66 games. Schoop never got going at the plate for the Brewers, hitting .202 with four homers, 21 RBI and .577 OPS in 46 games.
No matter the circumstances, Schoop and Machado are always happy to cross paths and catch up. They came up through Baltimore’s system together and formed the Orioles’ middle infield for several years.
“We give each other a hard time; we’re like brothers,” Schoop said. “Baseball makes you more than teammates. Sometimes, it makes you best friends. Today, we’re friends. But between the lines, we’re going to go to war. We’re going to compete and give our all.”
Machado expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “We go way back. I’ve known him for eight years. He’s one of my best friends. Relationships go farther than sports. So, enjoy him today and try to beat him tomorrow.”
GM rumor mill: Brewers GM David Stearns and former GM Doug Melvin both were in the news Thursday, being linked with other clubs. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reported that the San Francisco Giants were denied permission by Milwaukee principal owner
Mark Attanasio to speak to Stearns about becoming their president of baseball operations.
Attanasio declined to address that report, saying, “We don’t talk about private matters.”
Melvin was reported to be in New York interviewing for the Mets’ GM opening.
When Stearns was hired as GM at the end of the 2015 season, the Brewers did not announce the length of his deal.
It was believed to be for at least four years, which would leave another year to go.
It would not be surprising, considering the success of the club, if the Brewers announced an extension for Stearns over the offseason with a possible increase in title.
After Melvin stepped aside, he was given a four-year deal as advisor to Stearns, which has one year remaining. It was thought that Melvin’s GM days were done at that point but the Mets’ opening obviously piqued his interest enough to go for an interview.