Brewers will start the second half without one of their main pieces

As the Milwaukee Brewers gear up for the second half of the season, they’ll be doing so without one of their most dynamic contributors; Sal Frelick will start the second half on the 10-day injured list, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on the social media platform X.

Frelick had been diagnosed with a Grade 1 strain of his left hamstring — an injury sustained on a hustle play, no less, when he made an impressive catch in foul territory against the Washington Nationals in the final game before the All-Star Break.

Milwaukee’s momentum takes a hit as Sal Frelick opens the second half on the 10-day IL

Manager Pat Murphy didn’t hold back when asked about the injury by MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy.

“It hurt my heart,” Murphy said. “He’s such a key cog in this whole thing. That just ruined my day. The win, obviously, brightens it some. How bad will that be? He’s getting an MRI right now and we’ll find out.”

That MRI confirmed the mild strain, but the timing is anything but mild. With the Brewers riding a seven-game winning streak coming out of the All-Star Break, the absence of Frelick is a significant blow.

Frelick has quietly been one of the Brewers’ most important pieces in 2025, delivering a breakout campaign the team has long envisioned. Through the first half, he’s slashed a robust .294/.354/.404 with a career-high seven home runs and 39 RBIs. He’s also just one stolen base shy of tying his career best (18), with plenty of baseball left to play. His blend of contact, speed, and defensive versatility has been critical to keeping the Brewers afloat amid adversity.

The Brewers have defied expectations all season, piecing together wins. But there’s no question they’ll need Frelick back at full speed if they want to maintain pace in the crowded NL playoff race.

Blake Perkins to replace Sal Frelick on the Brewers active roster

Thankfully, a silver lining exists in what is otherwise a pretty unfortunate cloud hanging over the Brewers squad as they emerge from All-Star Break. That bright spot comes in the form of Blake Perkins, who will join the Brewers major league roster for the first time this season after missing the first three months with a fractured right shin, as also reported by Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Perkins sustained the injury after fouling a pitch off his shin during spring training, and it's taken him a while to get back up to speed. He was nearing a return at the beginning of the month before landing back on the IL with a groin injury. Now, his services are required with the Brewers losing Frelick for what is hopefully a short amount of time.

Perkins is an excellent defender in center field, and while his bat doesn't necessarily fall in the "impact" category, it's more than serviceable, especially given the value that Perkins adds both in the field and on the basepaths. A switch-hitter, Perkins slashed .240/.316/.332 with six home runs and 23 stolen bases a season ago.

While Perkins' return does ease some of the pain that Brewers fans will feel not seeing Frelick at the top of their lineup, the Crew's offensive production could take a hit for the foreseeable future. Alongside Perkins, Isaac Collins is likely to see an increase in playing time while Frelick is on the IL, and together the two will need to fill the void left by the Brewers' electric leadoff man.