Brewers starters conspire for unfamiliar feat, capitalize on weak Pirates lineup in 3-game series

It’s even more important for the Brewers. Before the day off on Tuesday, they struggled to get consistent quality outings from anyone not named Freddy Peralta. As good as he has been in a Cy Young caliber year, he does not tend to go deep in games – he has one start this season of at least seven innings. Playing Pittsburgh, dead last in runs scored and OPS, offered an opportunity to ease the strain on an injured cast of relievers.

Brewers starters capitalized.

Priester: 7 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, BB, 6 K, 96 P, W

Woodruff:  6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 85 P, W

Misiorowski: 7 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K, 108 P, W

Priester limited the damage; Woodruff and Misiorowski dominated. Despite electric stuff, the latter two especially have struggled to finish strong. They did that in Pittsburgh. By both innings and pitches thrown, Sunday was Misiorowski’s longest start of the year.

The offense didn’t give them tremendous support in games 1 or 2, but they didn’t need it. In the finale, Brewer bats erupted for 10 runs on 14 hits.

The team travels to Texas (74-70) for a three-game set Monday-Wednesday. Overall this season the Rangers have struggled at the plate, but they have looked better during the past two weeks. In the thick of the AL wild card race, off a series win versus the division-leading Astros, Texas should be feeling feisty.

For the Brewers, now 89-55 on the year, Jose Quintana is scheduled to start in the opener, followed by Peralta and Priester. Quintana went a solid six-and-a-third on Wednesday as he picked up the victory over Philadelphia.

It will be up to them to keep the ball rolling as the bullpen awaits reinforcements from the injured list, but they should have more fresh support available after allowing relievers to rest up over the weekend. Indeed, Pat Murphy had to call on only two lower-end arms, Joel Payamps and Craig Yoho, in yesterday’s blowout win.