Brewers vs Phillies Pick: Scorching Hot Philly Sends Walker to Face Brew Crew (May 30)

• Our Brewers vs Phillies pick dissects blazing 1st place Philly hosting the Brew Crew
• Philadelphia has won 11 of 13 to overtake the Mets in the NL East
• Milwaukee has won 4 straight, including a sweep of the spiraling Red Sox
• Philly sends Taijuan Walker to face the Brewers’ Quinn Priester

Brewers Try to Build on 4-Game Win Streak

The Brewers have been bouncing around .500 all season long. Every time they seem to be getting a foothold, they stumble. Now, however, perhaps they are regaining the magic from 2024 when they won a surprising NL Central title.

They have won four straight. The first was over the lowly Pirates, but the next three wins comprised a sweep of the Red Sox. The BoSox are a horrific disappointment this season, but they still have a lot of talent.

Against the Phillies, Quinn Priester takes the hill. The 24-year-old has bounced from the Pirates to the Red Sox to the Brewers. Still, he is a former 1st round pick, so the ability is there. He has shown flashes with the Brewers.

He has pitched at least 5 innings in every start this season but two. His ERA is 4.23, but it was blown up by consecutive shaky starts a month ago. In his last start against the Pirates, he threw 6 innings, gave up 6 hits, 1 run, walked 1, and struck out 7.

The Brewers are hitting .232 as a team, and only one regular, Rhys Hoskins, has an OPS above .800. If they don’t start hitting, they’re likely doomed to end at .500 or worse. Christian Yelich has 10 homers, but is batting .211. Joey Ortiz is not adapting well to replacing Willy Adames at shortstop. (Adames isn’t doing all that well for the Giants, for the record.)

No Phillie has homered against Priester. Brandon Marsh is 1 for 1 with a double. Bryson Stott is 2 for 3 with a double. Bryce Harper is 1 for 3 with a single.

A 19-6 May Vaulted the Phillies to 1st Place

The Phillies are the hottest team in MLB. In May, they are 19-7 and have won 11 of 13. To keep their run going, they turn to veteran Taijuan Walker.

Walker is the most unheralded of the Phillies’ starters, but is generally reliable. In 9 starts, he has a 2.97 ERA. He’s thrown 39.1 innings and given up 35 hits, walking 16 and striking out 33.

Yelich is 4 for 8 against him with a double and a home run. Hoskins is 1 for 13. Andruw Monasterio is 2 for 3 with a double.

Kyle Schwarber is having an All-Star season and will get MVP votes if he keeps up this pace with an OPS above .960 and nearly leading the NL in home runs.

Max Kepler and J.T. Realmuto are still struggling, both batting around .230. Trea Turner has hit his stride after a sluggish start.

Brewers vs Phillies Pick: Philly is Too Hot to Let Mediocre Milwaukee Slow Them

Although Priester has been relatively good this season, the Phillies have too many bats hitting too well to let the Brewers stop them. Walker will give Philly a serviceable performance, and they will win the game to maintain 1st place in the NL East.