Milwaukee Brewers DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Curt Hogg reports that the Milwaukee Brewers are expected to promote right-handed pitching prospect Carlos Rodriguez from Triple-A Nashville to make a starter later this week/weekend during the four-game series against the division-rival Pittsburgh Pirates that starts on Thursday. The Brewers need rotation help with Aaron Civale (hamstring) and Jose Quintana (shoulder) on the injured list, so the 23-year-old Rodriguez will make his return to the majors after posting a 7.30 ERA and 1.78 WHIP with nine strikeouts and three walks over 12 1/3 innings in his first three MLB starts in 2024. The Nicaraguan native has gone 3-1 with a 1.99 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 49 K's and 15 walks in 45 1/3 innings for Nashville this year, though, and will be worth a look as a deep-league streamer against the Bucs with his six-pitch mix.

Milwaukee Brewers catcher William Contreras was a perfect 4-for-4 in Monday's 5-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles. He singled and doubled twice, while driving in two runs, drawing a walk, and stealing a base -- his fifth of the season. The 27-year-old did not cross the plate himself, but his last hit was critical in Milwaukee's victory. Contreras came up to bat after teammate Brice Turang walked himself to first and delivered a clutch single off Yennier Cano to drive him home and score the go-ahead run. His other RBI also involved Turang, who scored courtesy of a double in the bottom of the fifth. The right-handed backstop hasn't been as effective as he was in 2024, particularly in terms of quality of contact. However, it's worth noting he's been playing with a fractured middle finger on his left hand.

New York Mets right-hander Frankie Montas (lat) was scheduled to throw a live batting practice session in the Bronx on Friday before the team's series opener against the crosstown-rival New York Yankees, according to Newsday's Laura Albanese. It was a big step for Montas, as it was his first time facing live hitters since suffering a high-grade right-lat strain in mid-February at the start of spring training. The next step for the 32-year-old veteran will be to start a minor-league rehab assignment. Because of all the time off, Montas is expected to have a lengthy rehab assignment, but barring setbacks after he starts pitching in games, he could be activated from the 60-day injured list to make his Mets and 2025 debut in early June. The Dominican hurler made just one appearance in 2023 while recovering from shoulder surgery and was very inconsistent with the Brewers and Reds in 2024 with a 4.84 ERA and 1.37 WHIP in 150 2/3 innings. Fantasy managers have to hope the Mets' coaching staff can turn him around.

Milwaukee Brewers first baseman Rhys Hoskins was perfect at the plate in a 9-5 win over the Guardians on Wednesday, going 4-for-4 with a homer, a double, a walk, five RBI, and two runs scored. It was his fifth home run of the year to go along with a .292/.396/.462 slash line. Hoskins is bouncing back nicely after batting just .214 in 2024. Although his .261 xBA suggests he's due for batting average regression, it is still much better than the .202 xBA he posted last season. He's a solid corner infield or utility option for fantasy.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Joey Ortiz is on the bench again for Wednesday's series finale against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Andruw Monasterio is starting at shortstop and batting eighth against Guardians right-hander Gavin Williams. Ortiz has been on the bench in two of the last three games against right-handed pitchers. The 26-year-old could continue to lose playing time with the Brew Crew if he doesn't pick it up offensively soon. Through his first 139 at-bats in 2025, Ortiz has struggled to a .173/.228/.223 slash line with a home run, six RBI, four steals, 15 runs, nine walks and 23 strikeouts in 151 plate appearances. Monasterios is hitless in his three at-bats this year and has never faced Williams in his career. In the eight-hole on Wednesday, DFS managers should be ignoring him.