SPORTS LINE
The Milwaukee Brewers.
The team went 32-18 in its first 50 games under new manager Pat Murphy in 2024, the best start to a season in franchise history. Year two has been a completely different story. The Brewers hit the 50-game mark this year in fourth place in the National League Central standings with a record of 24-26. The team’s offense has been stuck, and the starting rotation decimated by injuries. The team was doomed right from the start. Expectations were low again this spring, after offensive MVP Willy Adames signed a big free-agent contract with the San Francisco Giants and closer Devin Williams was traded to the New York Yankees. The Brewers received a draft pick as compensation for the departure of Adames and left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb Durbin in exchange for Williams. In total, the Brewers have been shut out six times, and all in May (they were held scoreless three times through 50 games in 2024).
Milwaukee is also just 9-16 on the road compared to 17-12 a year ago. What’s been to blame for the inconsistency and lack of success? Three major reasons. The Brewers knew they’d be without left-hander Robert Gasser for most of 2025 as he recovered from Tommy John surgery. They also knew that right-hander Brandon Woodruff wouldn’t be available for spring training or, probably, the first couple months of the season as he went through the final stages of his recovery from October 2023 shoulder surgery. It’s been the injuries that have haunted the 2025 Brewers. Christian Yelich, meanwhile, has played in nearly every game but doesn’t look to be near the same player he was in the first half of 2024 after undergoing back surgery last August. Catcher William Contreras is insisting on playing with a fractured left middle finger. The Brewers need him in the lineup, but it’s painful for him to swing the bat, and his numbers have suffered as a result.
Milwaukee is the two-time reigning Rawlings Gold Glove Team Award winner as the top defensive team in the major leagues. So far this season, the Brewers are right in the middle of the pack. The Milwaukee Brewers got a significant piece back into the mix for the organization on Thursday as veteran starting pitcher Aaron Civale returned to the mound for just his second start of the season. Civale started against the New York Yankees on March 30th but hadn’t taken the mound since at the big-league level after suffering a hamstring injury. He got the ball on Thursday night and pitched four innings of two earned run ball. Before the game, the Brewers had to decide to open up a roster spot and opted to designate veteran reliever Joel Payamps for assignment, as shared by MLB Trade Rumors’ Darragh McDonald. Payamps was lights-out for Milwaukee over the last two years. He had a 2.55 ERA in 69 appearances in 2022 and then a 3.05 ERA in 68 appearances in 2024. This year, he has logged an 8.35 ERA in 23 outings. Now that he has been designated for assignment, teams will have a week to claim him or else he will either go down to the minors for Milwaukee or head to free agency.
The Milwaukee Bucks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks will meet in the coming week to discuss the future of the team and which direction the front office plans to take following a first-round playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers. The team will explain to its star player whether the ambition is to pursue another NBA championship shortly. Beginning a rebuilding process seems possible, but Damian Lillard is likely to miss most, if not all, of next season after sustaining a torn left Achilles tendon during the Bucks’ playoff defeat. Adding new, and younger, talent to the roster won’t be easy since Milwaukee doesn’t have a first-round pick until 2031. Kuzma also didn’t make much of an impact upon joining the Bucks, highlighted by posting a box score with zero counting stats in Game 1 of Milwaukee’s matchup with Indiana.
The two-time NBA MVP is under contract for three more years, including a player option for 2027-28, which would mean any team trading for Antetokounmpo would get him for a long-term pursuit of a championship. Antetokounmpo would love to stay in the city that put their faith in him, so hopefully, an agreement can be reached.
The Green Bay Packers.
The Packers are getting ready to get ready for the coming season, which could be a big one as the Packers, the youngest team in the NFL, begins to show some seasoning and play experience. Look for great things and with the Canadian backup quarterback there to step in for Love at any time expect exciting and entertaining play.
