SPORTS LINE
The Milwaukee Brewers.
The Dodgers struggled to get anything going offensively on Sunday, as they only mustered one run while falling to the Milwaukee Brewers 6-2. Henderson shines over 7 innings as the Brewers take 3 of 4 from the Dodgers. Logan Henderson allowed one run in seven innings, Jake Bauers had four hits and two RBIs, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-2 on Sunday to take three of four in the matchup of division leaders. Henderson (7-2) struck out six while giving up three hits and one walk in the longest outing of his two-year MLB career, helping the Brewers secure the tiebreaker over the Dodgers.
Milwaukee is three games ahead of Los Angeles in the race for the National League’s best record. Bauers put the Brewers ahead 2-1 in the fifth inning with an RBI single and made it 3-1 in the seventh with a run-scoring double, driving in Jackson Chourio both times. Bauers then avoided Ben Rortvedt’s tag at home plate for a 4-1 lead on Andrew Vaughn’s single.
It was Bauer’s first career 4-for-4 game and his fourth time with four hits. By winning the season series, the Brewers hold a tiebreaker advantage on the Dodgers for playoff seeding. Though many were hoping for a Misiorowski-Skubal duel in Los Angeles this weekend, the Brewers’ front office, wanting the baseball world to see why they treated Henderson as untouchable at the trade deadline, was happy to see Skubal and Henderson line up for the series finale. Skubal vs. the pitcher that the Brewers were unwilling to part ways with to acquire him was the perfect opportunity for Henderson to prove his front office right, and the young righty certainly delivered. Henderson’s outperformance of Skubal is not just limited to Sunday’s series finale in Los Angeles. Each starter has turned in three starts since the Brewers elected not to trade one for the other at the deadline, and Henderson’s numbers in those three outings certainly outweigh the performance that Skubal has turned in.
The Milwukee Bucks.
NBA training camp is approaching, and the Milwaukee Bucks still have plenty of roster uncertainties. Above all else, the starting lineup is far from set in stone. Taylor Jenkins could very well form his first five based on what he sees in camp. Given his sizeable contract, it feels like a given that Tyler Herro will start for the Bucks. Who will start next to him in the backcourt is the real question.
The two obvious candidates are Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins, two guards who spent plenty of time starting last season. How they perform in camp will almost certainly dictate the outcome here. Small forward is perhaps the biggest uncertainty on Milwaukee’s current roster. As is, the two likeliest candidates to roll out with the first five are Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Ousmane Dieng. Of the two, Jaquez is the more experienced, while Dieng flexed potential with the Bucks after coming over via trade last season. Both have their pros and cons.
It’s no secret that the Milwaukee Bucks have an abundance of guards, which could make it difficult for Brayden Burries to earn significant playing time. Players such as guards AJ Green, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Gary Trent Jr. could all be ahead of him in the pecking order. Burries needs to go at all of them head-on to make an early statement.
The Green Bay Packers.
Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft has said the plan for his return from his ACL injury has always been Week 1. However, now that he has returned to 11-on-11 practice sessions, he has a bit more of a specific plan for how he will be used. Kraft told reporters that the Packers plan to take things easy on him for about half of the season. Then, in the words of Kraft, they will send him to the wolves. Kraft suffered his ACL injury in the Packers’ Week 8 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The injury was just early enough in the season that he should be able to return without any limitations. However, the team does not want to overuse him early on. Kraft is highly valuable because he is one of the best blocking tight ends on the team. This allows him to earn respect in the run game and force teams to put heavier bodies on the field. However, he is a threat in the passing game as well, and opposing defenses must be wary of loading up to defend the run because he can beat them. Few players have the combination of skills, which is what makes his return and usage so important. During his first season, he produced just 355 yards on 31 receptions. The next year, he broke out with 707 yards and seven touchdowns on 50 receptions.
