The Milwaukee Brewers will put the National League player and pitcher of the month on display Thursday when they take on the visiting Philadelphia Phillies in the decisive contest of a three-game series.
After going 21-9 in August, the Brewers (86-54) were honored handsomely with second baseman Brice Turang earning NL player of the month and right-hander Freddy Peralta being named NL pitcher of the month.
Turang hit .343 with an astounding 10 home runs in August — he had a total of 13 in his previous two major league seasons. He hit another on Monday in the Brewers’ series-opening 10-8 defeat, then was once again in the middle of the action in Milwaukee’s 6-3 triumph on Wednesday.
Turang walked leading off the first inning, stole second and scored as part of a five-run rally, then knocked in the team’s final run with a fourth-inning double.
The Brewers prevailed despite scratching star outfielder Christian Yelich due to lower back soreness.
“It’s come on a little bit,” Milwaukee manager Pat Murphy said, adding that they’re going to give Yelich “a couple days” off before hopefully getting him back this weekend.
Murphy added about Yelich, “He wanted to keep playing because he loves the guys and wants to represent every day and post every day so they get in the habit of posting every day.”
Meanwhile, Peralta (16-5, 2.58 ERA) was simply spectacular last month. He allowed only one run and 11 hits over 28 innings, posting a 4-0 record and a 0.32 ERA.
Most recently, the right-hander was on the mound Friday in Toronto, where he held the dynamic Blue Jays to one hit over six scoreless innings. He enters the Thursday contest with a streak of 24 consecutive scoreless innings.
“Really impressive maturity. That’s a pitcher,” Murphy said of Peralta. “Freddy’s not just throwing the ball with great extension and great lift on his fastball — he’s pitching, and (catcher William Contreras) is helping him. It was pretty special to watch.”
Peralta will be looking for his first career win against the Phillies, as he is 0-2 with a 3.64 ERA in seven lifetime appearances (six starts) vs. Philadelphia.
The Phillies’ scheduled Thursday starter, Ranger Suarez (10-6, 3.02 ERA), may not have been a pitcher of the month candidate, but he nonetheless closed August in impressive fashion. Over his past three starts, Suarez allowed only three runs in 18 2/3 innings, recording a pair of double-digit strikeout games during that stretch.
“Even when he doesn’t have his best stuff, he can manufacture outs just by pitching and keeping people off-balance and reading swings,” Philadelphia manager Rob Thomson said. “He’s really intelligent that way.”
Suarez is 0-1 with a 3.04 ERA in five career starts against Milwaukee. He got a no-decision against the Brewers on June 1 after throwing six-plus innings and allowing two runs (one earned).
The Phillies outhit the Brewers 9-6 on Wednesday, but Philadelphia went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and hit into three double plays. Despite a homer from Weston Wilson and two-hit games from J.T. Realmuto, Trea Turner and Nick Castellanos, Philadelphia (80-59) couldn’t pull out a victory.
The Phillies did show some character, battling back after Aaron Nola allowed five first-inning runs.
“I think it shows we’re resilient,” Wilson said. “I think even though we get down early, it’s not over for us. We’re going to play baseball and just try to grind our way back.”