David

Hamilton

This was a big night for the Brewers-Red Sox January trade with Hamilton having a big game at the plate and Kyle Harrison striking out 11 in a win. Apologies, Red Sox fans. Hamilton got some help on his big night too when he dropped a single in front of Pete Crow-Armstrong in the second inning that squirted under his glove and rolled all the way to the wall. Hamilton was credited with one RBI on a play that turned into a little league three-run homer. He also tripled in the seventh and soon after on a wild pitch. Hamilton remains a decent deep league option when seeking for speed as a part-timer in the Brewers’ lineup.

Hamilton is now 10-for-13 stealing bases. Unfortunately, though he has been walking and running, he just hasn’t done much hitting while seeing time at shortstop and third base for the Brewers. He’s at .229/.331/.248 through 127 plate appearances. It seems like only a matter of time before the Brewers shake up their Hamilton-Joey Ortiz-Luis Rengifo-for-two-spots mix by giving Cooper Pratt or Jett Williams or even Eddys Leonard a try. Williams, for what it’s worth, is playing third base nearly exclusively as of late.

Four hits and no stolen bases. Hamilton would have some fantasy value if he were running as much as usual, but he’s swiped just five bags this year, four of which came in his first four games. Tonight, though, he really had only one chance to run. Twice he had a runner ahead of him on base after his singles, and his final hit came with the Brewers up 12-1 in the ninth.

It appears to be just a routine night off for the 27-year-old infielder. David Hamilton will start in his place and will bat ninth for the Brewers against Marlins’ right-hander Janson Junk.

Turang claims that it’s a short term absence, and he plans to be back in the lineup on Friday. In the meantime, David Hamilton will make his second straight start at second base, with Luis Rengifo in the lineup at third base.

The Brewers are going righty-heavy Tuesday, which makes sense because they’re facing one of the toughest lefties in baseball in Garrett Crochet. That means that not only Yelich will sit, but Brice Turang will also get his first day of rest of the season as well. Luis Matos will be the designated hitter, and David Hamilton gets the start at second base.

Hamilton is on the strong side of a platoon at third base, so he will continue to sit whenever a lefty is on the mound. However, he could be used as a pinch runner in those games, which gives him a bit more value in leagues with weekly lineup locks. Luis Rengifo will shift to the bench on Wednesday.

Rengifo gets the nod over speedster David Hamilton to face Rays lefty Shane McClanahan in his long-awaited return to the majors. The 29-year-old utility specialist figures to continue playing regularly against left-handed starters and getting a chance near the top of Milwaukee’s formidable lineup gives him some fantasy appeal in leagues that offer daily lineup changes.

Hamilton collected three stolen bases in a pair of games during Milwaukee’s season-opening series against the White Sox. He gets the nod at shortstop with Joey Ortiz getting the night off in this one. The 28-year-old utility infielder stole 55 bases in 189 games for the Red Sox over the past two seasons and could be a sneaky steals source in deeper mixed leagues, especially if the Brewers are going to hand him a semi-regular role.

Hamilton getting the third base nod over Luis Rengifo in Milwaukee, at least against righties, could quickly prove significant in fantasy leagues. He’s typically good for a steal every other start or so, and he might be a streaming option next week with the Brewers due to face in righties five out of their six games.