Slumping Mets to begin key series with Brewers

A general view of the Milwaukee Brewers hat and glove. The Milwaukee Brewers are not alone atop the National League Central division, but hope to be after this three-game series versus the New York Mets at Miller Park.

ESPN The Magazine poll shows Milwaukee Brewers seventh out of 122 pro teams in fan satisfaction

MILWAUKEE - The popularity of the Milwaukee Brewers franchise continues to rise.

Mets still right there in the East despite woes
Despite going 9-18 in June, the Mets are just a game out of first. Bob Klapisch says this team believes it can still pull off a miracle.

Top pick Arnett adjusts to pro ball
Top pick Arnett adjusts to pro ball Eric Arnett was a prototypical workhorse in college. But the Brewers’ 2009 first-round Draft pick is finding out that playing professionally is a whole different ballgame.

Upton, Crawford becoming MLB’s best tandem
With a double dose of speed and power, B.J. Upton and Carl Crawford are one of baseball’s best duos, Jon Paul Morosi says.

Adam Thompson 2 Cents Worth: Brewers need a leadoff hitter

The Milwaukee Brewer’ pitching staff has been inconsistent, to say the least. But Milwaukee has another issue that probably needs addressing if a fruitful postseason berth is going to happen.

Mets manager Charlie Manuel trying to keep team together

Following his closed-door team meeting after yet another loss Tuesday night, Mets manager Jerry Manuel decided his players should ride the bus to Miller Park late Wednesday morning instead of taking taxis.

Brewers notes: Suppan’s struggles continue

That’s what tainted an otherwise workmanlike outing from Jeff Suppan and kept prompting questions about the Milwaukee Brewers’ struggling - and patchwork - starting rotation.

Time running out to help Braun, Brewers
Time running out to help Braun, Brewers With only a few days of online voting remaining, Brewers left fielder Ryan Braun remained in position to start his second consecutive All-Star Game. A number of his teammates still needed help.

Attanasio: Brewers can afford trades

MILWAUKEE - Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio says Milwaukee may be active in the upcoming trade market and take on more salary if needed.

Sadowski sparkles for Giants in debut (AP)

Ryan Sadowski collected three game balls, not one, to remember his first major league victory. Sadowski kept his first major league pitch, first strikeout and first hit after pitching six scoreless innings in his debut, helping the San Francisco Giants avoid a three-game sweep with a 7-0 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Sox to wait a few days after Lowell hip treatment
Red Sox third baseman Mike Lowell had fluid drained from his ailing right hip Monday in Boston, and received an injection that might relieve inflammation in his surgically repaired joint. The Red Sox will wait at least a couple of days to determine whether the treatment was successful or whether Lowell needs to be placed on the disabled list, manager Terry Francona said before Monday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Wed. Final: Brewers 4, Twins 3

Next game: Thursday, June 25th vs. Minnesota Brewers Gameday with the Jockey Pregame Show at 12:30 p.m. on Newsradio 620 WTMJ, a live blog here and coverage on Live at 5, 6 and 10 on TODAY’S TMJ4 HD, also follow and tweet your thoughts during the game @620wtmj It was not so much a rally as it was a wild comeback.

Brewers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Assistant general manager Gord Ash confirmed the Brewers had interest in Cleveland second baseman Mark DeRosa, who was traded to St. Louis in a move that should help the Cardinals greatly in the NL Central race.

Ash said general manager Doug Melvin contacted the Indians about DeRosa but didn’t have what Cleveland wanted—young, major league-ready pitching. St. Louis sent young reliever Chris Perez and a player to be named to the Indians in the trade.

“They didn’t feel like we had the type of players they were looking for,” said Ash. “The big thing will be who the second player is. I would imagine it’s a pretty good player.

“(The Cardinals’) interest in him is similar to ours—the fact that he can play all over.

Brewers rally with three runs in ninth inning to edge Giants 7-6

Prince Fielder hit a three-run homer in the sixth and then knocked in the winning run as the Milwaukee Brewers rallied with three runs in the ninth for a wild 7-6 win over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night.

ChiSox’s Danks baffles Cubs for series winner

Brewers rally with three runs in ninth inning to edge Giants 7-6

Prince Fielder hit a three-run homer in the sixth and then knocked in the winning run as the Milwaukee Brewers rallied with three runs in the ninth for a wild 7-6 win over the San Francisco Giants on Saturday night.

Sox need some home repairs

Interleague play ends this week with the White Sox at home, where they’ve struggled.

VIDEO: Rosenthal’s Saturday recap
For better or worse, the ChiSox are riding their youngsters. Ken Rosenthal says it certainly didn’t hurt them against the Cubs.

Brewers rally with three in ninth to edge Giants (AP)

Down by two runs in the ninth, Milwaukee refused to give in to the San Francisco Giants. Prince Fielder hit a three-run homer in the sixth and then knocked in the winning run as the Milwaukee Brewers rallied with three runs in the ninth for a wild 7-6 win over the Giants on Saturday night. “The odds of us coming back, I wouldn't say were slim, but real low,” Fielder said.

Piniella, Bradley bury hatchet
Milton Bradley was in the Chicago Cubs‘ lineup Saturday, a day after he was sent home by manager Lou Piniella following an angry outburst in the dugout. “I apologized for the last comment I made, told him he knows in the context I meant it,” Piniella said. “But I also told him that just can’t continue, to have shenanigans that we’ve put up with. I told him he’s going to hurt somebody, he’s going to hurt himself.

VIDEO: Rosenthal’s NL Hot Corner
Don’t go making those World Series plans yet, Dodgers fans. Ken Rosenthal says your pitching staff isn’t championship-caliber.

Wakefield joins Clemens in BoSox record book

Johnson shoots for fifth consecutive victory in …

Starting pitcher Josh Johnson #55 of the Florida Marlins delivers the ball against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 14, 2009 at Miller Park in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Smoltz wasn’t all that bad in first BoSox start
John Smoltz’s final line in a loss vs. the Nats says something bad. So why isn’t Ken Rosenthal worried about the veteran righty?

Gallardo outduels Cain, Brewers beat Giants 5-1 (AP)

Trying to rebound from a recent losing streak with a patchwork starting rotation, the Milwaukee Brewers turned to Yovani Gallardo. And starting opposite another one of the National League's best young pitchers, Gallardo didn't disappoint. Milwaukee's 23-year-old burgeoning ace outdueled San Francisco's Matt Cain, lifting the Brewers to a 5-1 victory over the Giants on Friday night.

Report: Yanks’ Nady will miss rest of season
Xavier Nady’s season is over and next year is in question, too, the New York Post has learned.

McClung moves into Brewers rotation
McClung moves into Brewers rotation Because of injuries and a lack of performance, Seth McClung is needed in the Brewers‘ starting rotation. The thing is, because of his own steady performance as the team’s long reliever, he — or someone like him — is needed in the bullpen, as well.

Rested A-Rod pounding the ball again
A rested A-Rod is pounding the ball again. Joe Girardi better hope he keeps it up, Bob Klapisch says; his job may depend on it.

Gallardo cruises in victory over Giants
Gallardo cruises in victory over Giants Yovani Gallado allowed one run in 7 2/3 innings and the Milwaukee offense took care of the rest, as the Brewers beat San Francisco, 5-1, Friday night at Miller Park.

Brewers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

What’s wrong with J.J. Hardy?

Brewers fans have been asking that all year. Hardy has been mired in a hitting slump for most of the season, batting a mere .215 with six homers and 25 RBIs.

Hardy actually had been swinging the bat a bit better of late, with a .320 average over seven games, before going 0-for-4 Thursday against Minnesota.

Manager Ken Macha reiterated Thursday that Hardy is his shortstop and is going to stay in the lineup. Macha said he looked at past seasons for Hardy and noted that he often has followed poor first halves with strong second halves.

Actually, other than Hardy’s rookie year in 2005, that hasn’t been the case. He had such a strong first half in 2007 that he made the NL All-Star team.

Last year, Hardy batted .283 with 13…

Brewers prospect faces long suspension
Brewers prospect faces long suspension Former Brewers first-round Draft pick Jeremy Jeffress has tested positive for a banned substance for the second time and faces a 100-game suspension under Minor League Baseball’s Joint Drug Treatment and Prevention Program.

You’re outta here! Mad Bradley sent home
Milton Bradley’s temper tantrum was one too many for Chicago Cubs manager Lou Piniella. Piniella told the mercurial slugger to go home Friday afternoon after Bradley threw his helmet and went after a water cooler following a fly out in the top of the sixth inning of the Cubs game against the crosstown rival White Sox. Piniella told him to take his uniform off, and the two exchanged words in the tunnel leading up to the Cubs clubhouse.

Looper not expected to miss next start
Looper not expected to miss next start Brewers pitcher Braden Looper had an appointment with the team doctor on Thursday, but reported nothing but soreness the day after he was struck on the back of his right arm by a line drive.

Second chance works out

This season has been different. Kelly is hitting .417 with two doubles, a triple, two walks and three RBIs in nine games with the Tigers after being recalled from Triple-A Toledo on June 11.

Brewers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

Mike Burns always wondered what would happen if given the opportunity to start in the major leagues. He’ll find out Thursday at Miller Park.

Burns, who has bounced around to five organizations over the last five years, will start for the Brewers in the interleague series finale against the Minnesota Twins. He was summoned from Class AAA Nashville when right-hander Dave Bush went on the disabled list with a micro-tear in the triceps of his pitching arm.

Burns was successful as a starter for Nashville, going 7-2 with a 2.55 ERA in 12 appearances. But his experience in the majors has come solely as a reliever, with 46 appearances for Houston, Cincinnati, Boston and Milwaukee (four shutout innings on June 2 in Florida).

“I like starting,” Burns said.

Crew takes advantage of errors for win
Crew takes advantage of errors for win Jason Kendall hit a game-tying RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday, then advanced two more bases on a pair of Minnesota errors for a 4-3 Brewers win at Miller Park.

Brewers Melvin says Gamel, Escobar off-limits

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin said he believes it’s highly unlikely that he would trade third baseman Mat Gamel or highly touted shortstop Alcides Escobar before the July 31 deadline.

Burns hyped for first big league start
Burns hyped for first big league start After a back-and-forth battle between being a starter or reliever in the Minors Leagues and 46 Major League relief appearances, Mike Burns will finally get his first Major League start Thursday.