Brewers Acquire 26-Year-Old Jonathan Ornelas for Cash as Infield Search Deepens

Q: Can a struggling Dodgers pitcher defying advanced metrics outduel an emerging Brewers superstar throwing historic heat?

Yes, but the evidence still leans toward Jacob Misiorowski. Wrobleski has shown he can keep the Dodgers competitive. His 11-4 record, 3.44 ERA, strong walk suppression and ability to work deep into games give Los Angeles a credible chance if he commands the zone and avoids the big inning. The Dodgers also have the stronger lineup and a clear plan: extend at-bats, raise Misiorowski’s pitch count and force him out earlier than Milwaukee prefers. But on form and stuff, Misiorowski is the more likely pitcher to control the game. He entered with a 1.76 ERA, 204 strikeouts in 133 innings, a 0.74 WHIP and a .147 opponents’ average, and his recent run has been historic. He is coming off a 15-strikeout complete-game shutout in which he touched 104.5 mph, and over an eight-start stretch he carried a 0.17 ERA. Even Dodgers manager Dave Roberts called him arguably the best pitcher in baseball. The advanced-metrics question is what makes Wrobleski interesting. His ERA has outperformed indicators such as FIP, xFIP and SIERA, and his recent stretch has been rough, with a near-10.00 ERA over his last three starts. That does not mean he cannot win this matchup; it means his margin for error is smaller, especially against a Brewers club trying to shake up its offense with lineup changes and Jonathan Ornelas’ arrival. So Wrobleski can outduel Misiorowski for one night, especially if Los Angeles grinds out pitches and Milwaukee’s bats stay quiet. It is plausible, but not the probable outcome.

3 articles · Updated · Brew Crew Ball · Aug 15

Milwaukee added infielder Jonathan Ornelas after designating Jihwan Bae’s brief stint over, plugging him straight into Saturday’s lineup at second base against the Dodgers.
Ornelas, 26, has only 71 major-league plate appearances across four seasons, but he hit .299/.362/.480 in 75 Triple-A games this year while spending most of the season in the Yankees’ system.
The move reflects Milwaukee’s ongoing search for bench and infield help as its offense sputters in Los Angeles, with the first two games of the series producing a combined 13 runs.
Brice Turang remained out of the lineup, though the Brewers were optimistic he could avoid the injured list, leaving Ornelas an immediate chance to earn at-bats.