Brewer Daily News for September 18th: 2014 thoughts, Crew wins again

Good morning everyone and welcome to the Wednesday edition of Brewer Daily News. As the 2013 season comes to a close within the next few weeks, the Milwaukee Brewers are starting to put 2014 into perspective. In the second bit of news, last night the Brewers (67-83) beat the Chicago (63-88) in a dramatic fashion.

Where will the Milwaukee Brewers end up in 2014? Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

With September halfway over, the baseball season draws to a close soon and the Brewers are preparing for next year. Yesterday, the organization sat down, including general manager Doug Melvin and manager Ron Roenicke, to discuss the upcoming plans while looking at the current season.

"“We visit all year, but this is an opportunity to review all of the statistical stuff, get everyone up to date about some of our Minor League guys, and to go over all of our players,” Melvin said. – via Brewers.com"

Not only did the Brewers face a plethora of injuries in the 2013 season, but the suspension of slugger Ryan Braun did not help. As it remains, first base and the starting rotation are the biggest questions that the team will face heading into the off-season.

Last night the Brewers had a 4-3 walk off win over the Cubs. Marco Estrada made the start for Milwaukee and did well, but did not receive a decision. Estrada went seven innings and allowed three runs on four hits, one walk and struck out seven. Closer Jim Henderson picked up his fifth win by pitching a scoreless top of the ninth.

For the Cubs, Jeff Samardzija took the hill and was effective, but ended up with a no-decision. Samardzija pitched seven innings and surrendered three runs on five hits, two walks and struck out eight. Reliever Justin Grimm gave up one unearned run, but was charged with his second loss.

Ryan Sweeney drove in the first run for the Cubs when he hit a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning that scored Junior Lake. Later in the inning, Welington Castillo hit a two-run homer, his eighth, that gave the Cubs a 3-1 lead.

The Brewers struck in the second inning, for a lead that they would hold until the seventh, when Carlos Gomez hit a sacrifice fly scoring Aramis Ramirez. In the bottom of the seventh, the Brew Crew would reclaim the lead when Gomez hit a two-run homer, his 20th. Logan Schafer was the hero in the ninth as he hit a sacrifice to the pitcher that scored Jeff Bianchi.

Tonight the teams will play in game three of the four game set at 8:10 p.m. ET / 7:10 p.m. CT. The projected starters are Chris Rusin (2-4, 2.85 ERA) for Chicago and Tyler Thornburg (2-1, 2.18 ERA) for Milwaukee.