Milwaukee Brewers did not start the season as they planned. Milwaukee is 1-2 on the year. That is common around baseball. No team is 3-0 or 0-3, yet the Brewers would rather be on the 2-1 group. Milwaukee scored a combined 0.5 runs in their two losses this weekend. That is not good. While overreactions are going to happen today, Brewers cannot sit back and hope everything comes together. This is a short where every game matters a little bit more. They say that every game is worth 2.75 games, and if that’s the case, Milwaukee 2.75-5.5 at this point. The good news is the Brewers did find a pitching bright spot.

Player of the Game: Eric Lauer – What an outing from the Milwaukee Brewers’ left-hander. Lauer came in relief of Corey Knebel who could only get one out in the fourth inning. Lauer was strong with 2.2 innings, six strikeouts, one hit allowed in the 10 batters he faced. People believe Counsell will do a platoon with him and Freddy Peralta based on matchups. Right now, it should be Lauer’s job until he shows any sign of struggling. He was very good yesterday.

Honorable Mention: Willson Contreas – Cubs catcher is feeling himself to start the season, and that’s bad news for the NL Central. Contreas had two hits including a run-scoring double and a home run. Contreas got the big fourth inning started that led to the demise of Peralta. He also jacked a two-out home run off Bobby Wahl in the seventh. Brewers had men all over the basepaths the inning prior, but Orlando Arcia grounded into a double play. That homer was the nail in the coffin.

One Thing I Didn’t Like: Shaky bullpen cannot keep it together – This is one game, but the bullpen did not pitch well here. Knebel turned the fourth inning from troublesome to a nightmare. Bobby Wahl hung a curve and ruined his outing. Justin Grimm gave up two homers himself. Grimm doesn’t seem long for the Brewers as he struggled in the exhibition and now in the regular season. Hopefully, Knebel can find it again as this is a gap year with Tommy John.

Next up: Milwaukee heads to Pittsburgh for the home opener with the Pirates. PNC Park has been a weird place for the Brewers in the past, but last year, Milwaukee finished 15-4 against Pittsburgh. Adrian Houser gets the ball for Milwaukee. He struggled at PNC Park last season in his only start there. Hope it is better this time around. Pirates send Steven Brault who faced Milwaukee five times last year. Brault had mixed results against the Crew.

Charlie.