The Opener: Brewers, Cubs, Pecko

Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. led off Tuesday’s matchup against the Mets with a homer. He then took a grand slam away from Francisco Lindor in the bottom of the inning with one of the best robberies of the season (video link via MLB on X). 1. Brewers put up 22 Bryce Miller and Kyle Harrison were locked into a pitchers’ duel through four innings last night. Things got out of hand for Miller in a five-run fifth inning, and that was only the beginning of Milwaukee’s offensive barrage. The Brewers scored five more times in the sixth inning, twice in the seventh, and nine times in the eighth inning. The 22-run explosion tied a franchise record for scoring and set the club mark for margin of victory (h/t Adam McCalvy of MLB.com). Milwaukee got plenty of help from the bottom of the order. Led by Garrett Mitchell‘s four-hit night, the last four hitters in the lineup combined to go 12-for-21. 2. Cubs walk off White Sox again White Sox manager Will Venable refused to let Pete Crow-Armstrong beat him this time. Instead, it was Alex Bregman coming through with a walk-off single after a Carson Kelly double and a PCA intentional walk. That makes it back-to-back walk-off wins for the Cubs in the Crosstown Series. They lead the league with 13 walk-off wins. That number ties the record for a Cubs squad over the past 50 seasons (h/t Jesse Rogers of ESPN). They’ll send trade deadline acquisition Clay Holmes to the mound on Wednesday in search of a sweep. 3. Pecko to debut for the Astros Prospect Ethan Pecko is expected to get the ball tonight against the Angels for his MLB debut. The right-hander will need to have his contract selected, so there will be a roster move coming, as Houston’s 40-man is currently full. Pecko has a 4.57 ERA over 20 minor league appearances this season. He’s recorded more than a strikeout per inning with an average walk rate. The Astros could use a boost in the rotation with Ronel Blanco sent down and Tatsuya Imai moved to the bullpen. Pecko gets a soft matchup in his first start, facing an Angels offense that ranks dead last in wRC+ against righties this month. Photo courtesy of Michael McLoone, Imagn Images View Comments (0)