Brewers swap left-handed first basemen ahead of Sunday's series finale with Dodgers

The Milwaukee Brewers have a chance to win their 10th straight game and complete a season sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers this afternoon. With a matchup of veteran southpaws in José Quintana and Clayton Kershaw on the mound, today's matinee is sure to be an exciting one. However, the Brewers will look to keep their winning ways going with a new face in the dugout.

Tyler Black, the Brewers No. 10 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, is being recalled from Triple-A Nashville and joining the big-league squad this afternoon at Dodger Stadium. The move comes as a result of a surprise IL stint for Milwaukee's backup first baseman Jake Bauers. Bauers officially heads to the 10-day IL with a left shoulder impingement.

Jake Bauers placed on 10-day IL with left shoulder impingement, Tyler Black replaces him on the active roster

Despite a strong start to the season, Bauers' bat has gone cold over the last couple of months. In fact, in his last 30 games, which date back to May, Bauers is slashing .113/.273/.226 with just two home runs. It's an incredibly difficult task being called upon once every few days to make a start at either first base or in a corner outfield position, and maintaining a strong stat line. Baseball is a game of repetition, and it's difficult to find a rhythm without playing most days.

The timing of the IL stint is also difficult for Bauers, whose spot on the roster may be in jeopardy with the upcoming trade deadline. A 10-day stint, which would be the absolute best-case scenario for Bauers, would have him returning to the Brewers' roster just a day before the deadline hits.

Meanwhile, Tyler Black has had an opposite season from Bauers; he started very slow and has heated up in recent weeks. Black's 2025 season was delayed more than two months after he fractured a bone in his right hand. He played in his first game for the Triple-A Nashville Sounds on June 11, and had struggled through the end of the month. However, Black has looked like his former self once again in July. He's slashing .286/.364/.429 with a pair of home runs.

This will be Black's second chance at the big leagues after appearing in 18 games for the Crew last season. His "cup of coffee" didn't go as planned as he slashed just .204/.316/.245 with the major league club in 2024.

One thing to note is that Black, while he only appeared at first base for the Brewers last season, has been playing a lot of corner outfield for the Sounds this season, which many have claimed is the best fit for his defensive profile. He's played 21 games in left field for Nashville, while logging just 10 starts at first base. It's possible, in Sal Frelick's absence, that Pat Murphy gives Black a shot or two on the outfield grass, but expect him to mainly serve as a platoon partner for Andrew Vaughn at first base while both Bauers and Rhys Hoskins are on the IL.