Jake Bauers goes 4-for-4 as Brewers down Dodgers

Bauers remains stapled to the bench for the third straight game as Milwaukee goes for their first home sweep of the Cubs since 2021. The 30-year-old first baseman and corner outfielder has been playing through shin splits in addition to several other physical issues recently. It’ll be Andrew Vaughn getting another turn at first base with Sal Frelick in right field.

The Brewers are prioritizing some extra rest for Bauers as he continues to play through shin splits, in addition to other assorted bumps and bruises. The decision makes sense with lefty David Peterson toeing the rubber for Chicago in this one. It’ll be Andrew Vaughn covering the cold corner and getting a chance to do some damage in his place.

Brewers manager Pat Murphy told reporters they pretty much forced Bauers to take a day off since he’s been playing through shin splints in addition to several other physical issues. He figures to be back in the lineup at some point this week. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now.

Bauers led off the second inning with a walk, then was picked off of first base. He atoned for that mistake in the fourth inning, crushing a 408-foot (109.8-mph EV) two-run shot off of Brady Singer that pulled the Brewers to within two runs at 4-2. He also walked in the fifth inning and scored on Brice Turang’s two-run double. He also walked and scored in the ninth. Bauers finished the day 1-for-2 plus three walks and is now slashing .270/.395/.493 with 24 long balls and 78 RBI on the season.

Bauers walked three times and reached base safely in all five of his plate appearances after missing three games due to shin splints earlier this week. The unheralded 30-year-old masher has been an unexpectedly solid fantasy contributor, delivering borderline top-10 value among outfielders this season. He’s hit a robust .275/.389/.504 with 78 runs scored, a career-high 23 homers, 75 RBI and 10 steals in 481 plate appearances. Score one for the “old and boring veterans in the late rounds of a draft” strategic approach.

Bauers has been dealing with a relatively minor foot issue for the last couple weeks. He’s presumably available off the bench with rookie Luis Lara taking over in right field to open the contest.

Bauers’ homer off Martín Pérez was his fifth of the year off a left-handed pitcher. He had total eight of those in his six previous big-league seasons. Bauers is batting .273/.384/.506 through 469 plate appearances.

After collecting five hits through eight, the Brewers came back to win the game with five singles in the ninth. The first four of those came against Edwin Díaz, while Bauers’ was off lefty Alex Vesia. It was Bauers’ only hit to go along with a walk on the night. He went on to steal second afterwards, making him 9-for-12 on the basepaths this year.

Bauers also walked twice. The homer was a solo shot off Connor Prielipp in the fifth. In the 10th, he lined a ball to left to score automatic runner Brice Turang from second just ahead of the throw from Kody Clemens. Bauers is hitting .271/.376/.506 with 21 homers in a career year at age 30. He’s going to be a fascinating free agent case this winter.

Bauers missed each of the previous three contests due to abdominal discomfort. He’s back in there at first base and batting third against Twins’ right-hander Zebby Matthews on Friday evening in Milwaukee.