The Milwaukee Brewers posted their starting lineup Tuesday ahead of the series opener against the Seattle Mariners, confirming that veteran outfielder Christian Yelich would return to the order after sitting out the previous contest.
Yelich is slotted in the fifth spot as the designated hitter. The 34-year-old sat out Sunday’s series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers. William Contreras handled designated hitter duties that afternoon and shifts back behind the plate for Tuesday’s contest.
Brice Turang is also back in the mix, starting at second base and leading off. The full order listed Turang at second, Jackson Chourio in left field, Jake Bauers at first base, Contreras catching, Yelich as the designated hitter, Luis Lara in right field, Garrett Mitchell in center, Joey Ortiz at shortstop and David Hamilton at third. Kyle Harrison draws the starting assignment on the mound.
The Brewers enter the series after taking three of four from the Dodgers, including a 6-2 win in the Sunday closer. An off day Monday allowed the club to prepare for the three-game set with Seattle that opens a six-game homestand at American Family Field.
Yelich appeared in three of the four games against Los Angeles. He managed just one hit in 12 at-bats and struck out four times during that stretch. The three-time All-Star has settled into a familiar role this year, making 80 starts as the designated hitter. Defensive appearances have been scarce, limited to two games in left field.
His numbers this season sit well below career norms. Through 86 games Yelich is batting .226 with a .307 on-base percentage and .364 slugging percentage, producing a .672 OPS. He has hit eight home runs and driven in 40 runs while posting career lows across several key categories.
The Brewers own the best record in the majors at 77-48. They sit 2.5 games ahead of the Dodgers and three games clear of the Atlanta Braves in the National League standings. Their lead in the NL Central stands at 4.5 games over the Chicago Cubs.
Milwaukee is coming home after a seven-game West Coast swing that produced a combined 3-4 mark against the San Diego Padres and Dodgers. The upcoming homestand pairs the Mariners, who enter at 59-66, with a later series against the Braves, currently 74-51.
Harrison will oppose Seattle in the first game of the set. The Brewers hope the return of both Yelich and Turang strengthens an already potent lineup that has powered the club to the top of the standings.
Yelich’s presence as designated hitter keeps his bat in the middle of the order without the wear of everyday outfield play. Contreras’ move back to catcher restores the regular defensive alignment behind the plate.
Turang’s return to the top of the order gives the Brewers a familiar catalyst. Chourio, Bauers and the rest of the group remain in place as the club looks to extend its strong play into the new series.
The Mariners arrive with a sub-.500 record, presenting an early opportunity for Milwaukee to pad its division and league leads. The Brewers will then turn their attention to Atlanta later in the homestand.
Managerial decisions on rest and positioning continue to shape the daily lineup. Yelich’s limited defensive work this year reflects a clear preference for maximizing his offensive contributions in the designated hitter role.
Fans at American Family Field will see the updated group take the field Tuesday evening.
The combination of returning veterans and consistent producers has Milwaukee positioned near the top of the National League race with more than a month left in the regular season.
