Brandon

Sproat

Sproat gave up three hits, walked three and struck out five. He was staked to an 8-0 lead, but couldn’t complete the fifth inning and thus failed to record the win despite the lopsided score. All three runs Sproat allowed came in the fifth inning on a two-run home run by Dansby Swanson and an RBI double by Michael Busch. It was an unfortunate ending to a promising start. Sproat will take a 5.75 ERA into his next start against the Dodgers at home this weekend.

It wasn’t Sproat’s best performance to date, but he’s finally on the board after going 0-2 in four starts for the Mets last season and 0-2 in five starts and two relief appearances to begin this year. He’s currently sporting a 5.75 ERA and a 36/20 K/BB in 36 innings. It’s likely that he’ll make his next start Sunday against the Twins.

Patrick pitched out of the pen last time out, too, but that was a three-inning stint. That he was just used for an inning tonight suggests he might be in the pen at least semi-permanently. That’d be good news for Brandon Sproat and Logan Henderson, as both would be in line to keep their rotation spots when Brandon Woodruff returns. Quinn Priester, though, might overtake one in a few weeks.

Sproat, who struck out five and walked three, left with a 5-0 lead in a game the Brewers won 6-2, but he didn’t get the victory, of course. Instead, that went to Andy Ashby, who was credited with his sixth win after pitching two innings in relief. Sproat is 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA over five starts and two relief appearances. The Brewers are off on Thursday and Monday, so it’s possible Sproat could make a relief appearance before his next chance to start.

There was zero chance of this one ever getting going based on the forecast at Busch Stadium on Tuesday night. It’ll be made up as a doubleheader on July 7. Tuesday’s original starters — Brandon Sproat and Andre Pallante — will presumably be pushed back to take the ball on Wednesday instead.

Recently, it’s felt like Sproat was getting over the hump. He’d pitched into the sixth inning in consecutive starts and allowed just four runs in the process. Then, he struck out the first four batters he faced in this game and the excitement grew. Just as it began to seem real, the wheels fell off in the fourth inning. Adrian Del Castillo golfed a sinker for a solo home run with one out and three batters later Nolan Arenado hit a three-run shot on nearly the same pitch, but from the perspective of a right-handed batter. He only threw seven sinkers all game, and two left the yard. Well, he’s lined up for a two-start week coming up against the Cardinals and Yankees.

Sproat allowed a two-run gopher ball to Riley Greene on a low curveball, but bounced back afterwards. He did have a fortuitous double play when a Kevin McGonigle pop up to center field led to a double play on a drifting Javier Baez. Sproat was pulled with a runner on in the sixth and Aaron Ashby allowed the inherited runner to come around, putting the count for the evening at three. Sproat generated a respectable 27 percent Whiff rate and has cut his ERA from 10.45 after his first three appearances to 6.45 in his last three starts. He’s an interesting streamer if not exactly a must-start against the Diamondbacks next week.

It’s his best start as a Brewer to date, which is faint praise considering he’s currently sporting a 6.88 ERA, but perhaps this will spark a turnaround for one of the main pieces in the Freddy Peralta trade. Sproat managed 12 whiffs in 41 swings, with three different pitches missing at least three bats. That’ll play. Sproat will face the Tigers next week assuming things stay as scheduled for the Brewers.

There had been speculation that he could be replaced after he had his start skipped on Saturday, but it was just a case of the Brewers utilizing an off day to adjust their rotation. It sounds like he’ll slot back in at some point next week and is available out of the Brewers’ bullpen on Friday.

Sproat had been scheduled to pitch on Saturday, but instead they’ll move up Kyle Harrison to pitch in his place on Saturday while Brandon Woodruff will get the ball on Sunday. It’s unclear if Sproat will then work back in for their series against the Blue Jays next week, or if they’ll utilize Monday’s off day to skip him this turn through the rotation.