‘Not today!’ Wiemer robs De La Cruz of a homer to start series

MILWAUKEE — Rookie to rookie, Brewers heart fielder Joey Wiemer informed Reds phenom Elly De La Cruz, “Not today!” 

That was Lorenzo Cain’s mantra when he was robbing homers for the Brewers, and on Monday, it was Wiemer’s flip. He began a vital collection between the National League Central’s prime two groups with a terrific defensive play when Cruz led off the sport with a deep drive that flew a Statcast-projected 405 ft. Wiemer felt his means again to the wall, leaped and pulled it again. 

That play helped Brewers starter Colin Rea work a 1-2-3 opening inning, and the ultimate collection of the season between these division rivals was off and working. 

Wiemer went into Monday night time with a modest .678 OPS however has manned heart discipline on an on a regular basis foundation due to his protection. He leads all Major League heart fielders in Statcast’s Fielding Run Value metric and ranks fourth in fielder runs, a metric that grades outfielders in how nicely they stop runners from taking additional bases.

“This is the energy of the staff, the protection,” manager Craig Counsell said the last time the Brewers faced the Reds. “We’re definitely making selections each day primarily based on placing good defenders on the market and a great defensive staff on the market. … 

“It all adds up. It’s less pitches for the pitcher, fewer jams, less holding runners, just, simple outs, less getting guys up in the bullpen. We think there’s carryover effects to it in addition to, you know, just putting a bunch of good defenders out there.”