Milwaukee Brewers Microbrew

The Brewers staged two walk-off wins in a sweep of the Marlins after the all-star break; are we crazy to still have serious questions about this offense? Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe discuss the great start to the unofficial second half, even with discouraging injury news about Brandon Woodruff (and Sal Frelick, for that matter). They discuss the Lance McCullers acquisition and why it doesn't change much for Milwaukee, Christian Yelich at leadoff and Garrett Mitchell's bona fide breakout season. 

In Three Up Three Down (41:45), they hit on a first-round draft pick signing, an infamous 2022 trade that got a strange spotlight in 2026 and some actual good news on the injury front. In Remembrew When (57:15), JR riffs on a week of smoky skies to discuss a 1977 fog game. In Curt Blanche (1:00:45), Curt finds issues with a popular sports brand and JR has some thoughts on the all-star game discourse.

Then, JR is joined by new Brewers infielder Braden Shewmake (1:09:30), who found himself a Brewer with one game to play before the all-star break. They discuss his brief time as a Savannah Banana, his father's ties to Texas Division III baseball, his future Brewers teammate who was a Team USA roommate and how he gives back through hunting.

The Brewers had a strange week, first taking four of five against the Cardinals and then laying an egg in Pittsburgh, but they arrive at the all-star break in great shape. Can they keep this up with a pitching staff on the mend? Brewers reporter Curt Hogg, driving from Pittsburgh to all-star festivities in Philadelphia, joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss the team's pitching misfortunes, with serious injury news for Brandon Woodruff and lesser but bothersome concerns around Kyle Harrison and Jacob Misiorowski. What happens next for Christian Yelich, who may have fallen off a cliff statistically? What about Jackson Chourio and William Contreras, and a struggling Aaron Ashby? Luis Lara debuts, David Hamilton gets hurt, the team added Bryse Wilson and Braden Shewmake and Joey Ortiz is hitting the ball well.

In Three Up Three Down (39:30), top prospects get their chance to compete in the futures game, a relief pitcher who has found a rhythm and a rainout with no rain. In Remembrew When (53:00), discussion of a famous Brewers tie (no, not the all-star one) and in Curt Blanche (56:30), we say hello to the city of Brotherly Love.

Then, JR sits down with reliever Garrett Stallings (1:02:05), who got sent back to Class AAA but not after some excellent small-sample work with the big-league club after a long minor-league journey.

On this week's midweek Microbrew, host JR Radcliffe chats with Dr. Karie Zach, a sports medicine physician at the Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin Health Network, to try and get a better sense of the types of ailments pitchers Brandon Woodruff and Quinn Priester are facing. What exactly are cysts, and how do they cause problems in a surgically repaired shoulder? What are the treatments and why is the shoulder such a complex component of the body? What is thoracic outlet syndrome, how exactly does it work and why is the surgery to fix it such a grisly sounding procedure? Dr. Zach isn't affiliated with the Brewers but does have insight on how those ailments might impact a regular person or an athlete.

Yes, we know there was an ominous update on the Woodruff front July 7; this conversation was recorded earlier in the day.

JR also discusses a hot start to the week in St. Louis (recorded before Wednesday's loss), with three wins in two days starring Robert Gasser, Jacob Misiorowski, Joey Ortiz and newcomer Luis Lara.

The Milwaukee Brewers continue to struggle with runners in scoring position and lost starting pitcher Brandon Woodruff yet again with more complications from his balky right shoulder, but the wins kept coming in during a 5-2 week. Brewers reporter Todd Rosiak and host JR Radcliffe dive into the loss of Woodruff, Garrett Mitchell's remarkable week, more great work from the pitching staff, including a bullpen in flux, Joey Ortiz finding some success, a Cooper Pratt progress report and a look at the Brewers representatives at the upcoming all-star game (and the snubs). Also, does anyone know what the "can't block the plate" rule actually looks like?

In Three Up Three Down (30:10), Aaron Ashby gets yet another win, Ortiz has a moment in the sun, home-run robberies galore and a scoring decision that looms large for Jacob Misiorowski. In Remembrew When (47:30), JR looks back at an all-time pitcher's duel back in 1963. In Todd's Take of the Week (53:15), they look ahead to this week's draft.

Then, we hear a chat between Curt Hogg and Brewers prospect Frank Cairone (1:00:20), who was seriously injured in a car accident in early January but has bounced back to make his first professional appearance in early July for the Arizona rookie-league team. 

The Milwaukee Brewers offense and bullpen have been going through it, even though the team has continued so steadily rack up wins. An ugly loss to Chicago on Sunday highlighted the team's sudden woes with runners in scoring position, which has typically been Milwaukee's calling card. The bullpen, meanwhile, is short on arms. Even the wins were ugly, but on the bright side, the team's starting pitching might be at the peak of its powers right now, particularly with the triumphant return of Brandon Woodruff. Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe discuss the 4-2 week and which aspects of the team's issues are concerning: Christian Yelich? Chad Patrick? Aaron Ashby? Brice Turang?

In Three Up Three Down (36:45), they discuss an emotional win involving Venezuelan players whose hearts were with their home country, Joey Ortiz's big Monday, and an escape in Cincinnati, plus an anticipated return from a rehabbing pitcher. In Remembrew When (55:45), JR looks at another manager who overcame health problems to return to the bench, somewhat similar to Pat Murphy's return one day after back surgery. In Curt Blanche (59:50), Curt's thinking about another Milwaukee star athlete.

Then, JR is joined briefly by new shortstop Cooper Pratt (1:10:45) to discuss the start of his big-league career.

Brewers reporter Curt Hogg and host JR Radcliffe discuss a solid (but somewhat frustrating) 3-3 week, including the arrival of shortstop Cooper Pratt, taking Luis Rengifo's place on the roster. How'd he do in his first week of MLB baseball? They check in on a few top players (Christian Yelich, Brice Turang, William Contreras, Aaron Ashby) and discuss whether there is any reason to worry about their recent results. Quinn Priester is officially out for the year; how big of a loss is that for the Brewers? Robert Gasser was good again, Brandon Woodruff should be back this week and is Brandon Sproat a reliever? Plus, are we sure the Brewers are actually an excellent defensive team?

In Three Up Three Down (40:45), we may have a new future third base candidate and a manager on the mend. In Remembrew When (57:00), JR looks back at another glove-first shortstop making a high-profile debut two decades ago. In Curt Blanche (1:02:45), perhaps an early trade-deadline prescription?

Then, JR chats with first-base coach Spencer Allen (1:11:30) and game-preparation specialist Evan Martin (1:18:45), two coaches who play a big role in the Brewers success in 2026, even if you're not all that familiar with their roles. Allen was a pioneering head coach in the Big Ten before he joined the Brewers, and Martin walked away from a Division I baseball scholarship to become a full-time team employee.

It's another midweek Microbrew, with host JR Radcliffe and special guest Jack Stern of Brewer Fanatic, who uses his pitching expertise to help explain what's turned Jacob Misiorowski into one of baseball's superstars seemingly overnight. They dive deep into what the Brewers have done to contribute to his success, why he's so hard to hit (yes, he throws extremely hard, but it's more than that), how he's improved physically and mentally and more on the mechanics of a one-man revolution. They also touch briefly on the arrival of Cooper Pratt, the decision to part ways with Luis Rengifo and what fans can expect from their new young shortstop.

Then, we dig into the archive for a 2023 conversation with Jim Callis (27:00), draft expert from MLB.com, going over the machinations of the 2023 draft and how the Brewers put Pratt at the center of their plans. Perhaps you'll find a Misiorowski reference or two in that conversation, as well.

Our semi-regular midweek episodes will tackle a bigger topic in depth, with another regular episode landing Monday morning on the week in review.