SPORTS LINE

Brewers.
The Brewers debuted an outfield alignment on Saturday that should be used more frequently. In game two of the Brewers’ three-game set in Houston against the struggling Astros, Pat Murphy turned to an outfield of Jackson Chourio in left, Garrett Mitchell in center, and Jake Bauers in right. It was the first time that Milwaukee had turned to that exact trio this season. Over the course of the past several weeks, there have been multiple Brewers players that struggle at the plate. This is particularly true on the left side of the infield and in the outfield. That’s why it’s important to acknowledge Saturday’s trio.

Before Saturday evening’s game against the Houston Astros, the Milwaukee Brewers had played 54 games in 2026, and in 51 of those games, Sal Frelick started in right field. The 26-year-old Gold Glove-winning outfielder certainly earned an everyday role on the Brewers’ 2026 squad after an impressive breakout 2025 campaign.  However, 2026 has been a different story for the Brewers’ 2021 first-round pick.

This season, Frelick is slashing just .218 /.288/.300 with -0.4 fWAR through the first two months of the season. Despite his plate discipline being at an all-time best, Frelick’s inability to drive the baseball, paired with an uncharacteristically low batting average on balls in play (BABIP), has combined to put the young outfielder in a frustrating slump through the one-third mark of the 2026 campaign. While the Brewers and their fanbase alike are certainly hoping that Frelick can right the course in a hurry, the team has a solution to their right field woes in the meantime. On Saturday night, fans got a taste of what Milwaukee’s outfield group should look like as Frelick works through his early-season struggles.

Chourio will start nearly every game, most of which will come in left field, though the budding superstar will see the occasional start in center and even right. Through the first two months of the season, Bauers is boasting a .281/.353/.480 slash line, good for an .833 OPS that is second only to Brice Turang concerning qualified hitters on the Brewers’ roster. Bauers leads the Brewers with eight homers, and his .480 slugging percentage is also the best among Milwaukee’s qualified position players. There’s no question that Bauers’ offensive value currently outweighs Frelick’s. The biggest question when it comes to giving more playing time in right field to Bauers over Frelick is how it impacts the Brewers’ defensive unit, which is something they certainly take pride in. The Brewers are by no means “giving up” on Frelick, who seems to fit Milwaukee’s style of play better than most any other player in the league.

Bucks.
As trade speculation continues to surround Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time NBA MVP appears focused on enjoying his offseason. Antetokounmpo was limited to a career-low 36 games during the 2025 season because of multiple calf injuries. That hasn’t stopped the Milwaukee Bucks forward from enjoying himself as an athlete this offseason in a different way — he’s playing some soccer. Antetokounmpo has Nigerian heritage and grew up in Greece, so there was surely plenty of ‘football’ being played between him and his brothers. The NBA world has been closely watching Antetokounmpo this summer as reports continue to suggest the Bucks are exploring their options regarding the franchise cornerstone.

While discussions about his future remain a major topic around the league, Antetokounmpo has given fans a glimpse into how he is spending his time off. Over the past few days, the Bucks star has been posting about the UEFA Champions League Final between PSG and Arsenal. Antetokounmpo has long been a soccer fan, and his recent posts showed his excitement surrounding one of the biggest matches in the sport. The 31-year-old also put his own soccer skills on display during a recent appearance on popular streamer Marlon’s live stream.

Clips from the session quickly made the rounds on social media, with fans reacting to Antetokounmpo trading the basketball court for the soccer pitch during the offseason. Antetokounmpo has simply taken an opportunity to get out there and have some fun before he finds his fate with the Bucks. Giannis has made it clear that he was drafted as a Buck and wants to retire as a Buck.