Former 2015 American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel continues to prove his worth as part of the Milwaukee Brewers’ rotation. Keuchel, 36, was acquired in a low-risk trade with the Seattle Mariners on June 25.
Former Cy Young Award Winner Proving Worth In Brewers Rotation
It’s been a worthwhile, short-term move that has helped bide some time for the injury-riddled pitching staff.
Former Cy Young Winner Proving Worth For Brewers
Since joining the Brewers, the 6-foot-2, 205-pound left-hander has made an immediate, positive impact. In his limited time, he has fittingly pitched four or more innings in each of his three starts, leading the team to three consecutive victories. Those victories included wins over the Texas Rangers (6-5), Colorado Rockies (4-3), and Los Angeles Dodgers (9-2). Throughout those outings, he has a combined 4.61 ERA with nine strikeouts, eight walks, and 1.68 WHIP through 13 2/3 innings.
Against the high-powered Dodgers on July 7, he pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings, yielding only three hits and five walks.
First-year Brewers manager Pat Murphy was encouraged by the former Cy Young Award winner’s most recent effort. “The reason we picked him up is his experience,” said Murphy in an interview with Adam McCalvy of MLB.com (following the team’s road victory over the Dodgers). “He’s not going to give in.”
Tulsa native Dallas Keuchel gets Ohtani to ground out with two on, two out… 4 scoreless so far for Keuchel. Solid in 3 outings so far for Milwaukee. pic.twitter.com/j4yLPsYznq
— Cayden McFarland (@caydenmc) July 7, 2024
Veteran right-hander Aaron Civale, 29, recently acquired in a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays, has also performed well. He has pitched five or more innings in all three of his starts, combining for 16 strikeouts in 16 innings. In a tough-luck 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field on Thursday afternoon, he yielded one earned run on six hits with six strikeouts and two walks through a season-best 6 1/3 innings.
Aaron Civale gave the Brewers a quality start in his home debut: 6.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 SO, 100 pitches.
— Sophia Minnaert (@SophiaMinnaert) July 11, 2024
Brewers Patiently Exploring Options
The first-place Brewers remain on top of the National League Central Division with a 54-40 overall record (.574 winning percentage). Milwaukee currently maintains a full five-game lead on the second-place St. Louis Cardinals.
Milwaukee very well may not make a further splash for starting pitching before the trade deadline. With a high-powered offense, an already strong but somewhat weary bullpen, and several pitchers expected to eventually come off the injured list following the All-Star break (including starter DL Hall, starter Joe Ross, and reliever Jared Koenig), it may be a waiting game. The organization could simply look within for the answers.
With starters Freddy Peralta, Colin Rea , and Tobias Myers leading the way lately, the urgency may have lessened. According to Stephen Mottram of Sports Illustrated, Toronto’s Kevin Gausman and Chicago’s Garrett Crochet remain options.
With time winding down, the Brewers’ response is anybody’s guess.
Main Photo Credits: Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK
