Following Baseball’s All-Star Break, Brewers Aim For Better Results Against Reds

The first-place Milwaukee Brewers are back in action Friday, following this week’s MLB All-Star Game.

The Brewers are leading the NL Central, but they’ve struggled recently against their next opponent, the Cincinnati Reds. Just before the All-Star break, the Brewers dropped three of four games to the Reds at American Family Field.

Twice during the series, All-Star closer Josh Hader entered tied games and gave up go-ahead runs.

Still, the Brewers head into the second half of the season with a four-game lead over the Reds and an eight-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs.

“It’s been a really good first half, and there’s exciting baseball ahead of us,” said manager Craig Counsell. “There’s a lot for us to prove. There’s a lot of big games ahead of us. There’s a lot of fun ahead of us, a lot of challenges ahead of us, and we’re looking forward to it.”

The Brewers came on strong in June, finishing the month 19-8. They closed it out by sweeping the Cubs to take a commanding lead in the division. After facing the Reds this weekend, the Brewers will return home for interleague series against the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox.

Five Brewers traveled to Denver for the Midsummer Classic, hosted at Coors Field. The American League won 5-2 on Tuesday — its eighth consecutive victory over the National League.

Milwaukee’s Corbin Burnes pitched two innings, allowing four hits including a 468-foot home run for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The Toronto Blue Jays first baseman would go on to win MVP of the game.

Burnes also faced Shohei Ohtani, who’s taken Major League Baseball by storm this season. His prowess on both sides of the ball has drawn comparisons to Babe Ruth. The Los Angeles Angels superstar served as the AL’s starting pitcher and leadoff hitter for Tuesday’s game.

But it took Burnes just one pitch — his go-to cutter — to send Ohtani back to the dugout in the third inning.

Brewers catcher Omar Narvaez had one hit on two at-bats, and pitcher Freddy Peralta struck out all three batters he faced.

Starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff and Hader were also on the All-Star squad but didn’t enter the game.

The Brewers are aiming to reach their fourth consecutive postseason this year. It would be a franchise record.