Willy Adames added something new to his game this season.
Adames has a career-high 20 stolen bases for the Milwaukee Brewers heading into Wednesday’s road game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
He is the first shortstop in franchise history with at least 30 home runs and 20 stolen bases in a season.
“I didn’t think I was going to steal 20 at first,” Adames said after his 20th steal in the Brewers’ 7-2 win over the Pirates in Tuesday’s series opener. “Maybe we can go to 25.”
Adames said he was encouraged by the coaching staff and teammates to shoot 20 steals this season. His previous career high was eight in 2022.
He is the fifth Milwaukee player with at least 20 steals this season, and joins rookie Jackson Chourio as the first Brewers teammates with at least 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in the same season.
“I feel like it was a good idea to go in on the guys,” Adames said of his increase in stolen bases. “They were aggressive from Day 1, and I just wanted to get involved with them.”
Brewers manager Pat Murphy doesn’t need history to see that Adames is enjoying the best season of his career. The captain is focused on getting his team into the postseason on the right foot, and that starts with a series win over the Pirates.
“We have to continue to play decent baseball, we were decent (Tuesday),” Murphy said. “I’ve said it all year, (Pittsburgh) is not a bad ballclub. They have hitters and pitching that we all know.”
Freddy Peralta is slated to start on the mound for the Brewers (90-67) on Wednesday.
Peralta (11-8, 3.69 ERA) is 4-1 with a 2.19 ERA in his past seven starts.
He did not get a decision in his most recent outing, on September 18 against the Philadelphia Phillies, despite allowing one run and two hits in five innings. Peralta left with the score tied 1-1 and the Brewers ended up winning 2-1 after winning the National League Central earlier in the day.
Peralta has made 21 appearances against the Pirates, including 12 starts, and is 2-1 with a 3.56 ERA. He last faced Pittsburgh on April 25 and got a no-decision after allowing five runs on five hits and five walks in 4 2/3 innings.
Luis L. Ortiz is scheduled to start for the Pirates (73-84) on Wednesday.
Ortiz (6-6, 3.43) is 0-2 with a 5.17 ERA in three starts this month, but has performed well in his latest outing. He held the St. Louis Cardinals on two runs and five hits in six innings while striking out seven and walking two on Thursday.
The right winger did not get a decision when the Pirates won 3-2 but he is satisfied with the way he played.
“My focus today was getting the weak contact, and the strikes came,” Ortiz said through an interpreter. “That wasn’t in my mind to get people out, but to make quality pitches, that’s what happened and we’re very happy.”
Pirates manager Derek Shelton was also impressed with Ortiz’s command.
“I thought he looked sharp,” Shelton said. “He looked really good. He was able to cut the cutter and the four-seamer. I thought he did a good job.”
Ortiz is 1-0 with a 2.93 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against the Brewers. He has no decisions and a 3.86 ERA in two relief outings against Milwaukee this year.
–Field Level Media