Jake Bauers managing lingering injury that worsened in recent weeks

At 30 years old, Milwaukee Brewers' first baseman and corner outfielder Jake Bauers is enjoying an incredible breakout season at the plate. In a lineup that includes Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, William Contreras, and Christian Yelich, it's been Bauers who has set the pace in most offensive categories for the first-place Brew Crew.

Bauers, who just last year was a non-roster invitee to Spring Training, leads the team in homers (23), slugging percentage (.501), and OPS (.883), while trailing only Turang in RBI and walks. After narrowly hanging on to his roster spot throughout an inconsistent 2025 season, Bauers has unlocked the production that the Brewers always knew he was capable of.

Bauers' success has earned him an everyday role on the best team in baseball. As a result, despite one month remaining in the regular season, Bauers has already set career highs in games played (119) and plate appearances (476) this year. Additionally, paired with Andrew Vaughn's steady production at first base, Bauers has already started more games in the outfield this year than he did in either of his previous two seasons with the Brewers.

That heavy workload has caused a lingering injury that Bauers has been dealing with throughout the season to worsen in recent weeks. According to MLB.com Brewers' beat reporter Adam McCalvy, Bauers has been kept out of the lineup in each of the last two games due to shin splints, which has "been a problem since May and flared up badly last week."

Jake Bauers' availibility in October is top priority as Brewers' slugger manages shin splints

The Brewers must be careful with their breakout slugger over the next month, knowing that his availability in the postseason is of the utmost importance as he continues to manage the shin splints that he's reportedly been dealing for most of the season. Whether that means giving him more days off, starting him at first base more often than right field, or even utilizing the DH spot, the Brewers need to ensure Bauers is fully ready to go when the postseason begins.

Thankfully, after Milwaukee's current stretch of 16 games in 16 days, which concludes with an off-day on September 10, the Brewers' schedule should give the team several opportunities to give Bauers the rest he needs. The Brewers have three days off over the final three weeks of the season, and it's likely that fans see Bauers out of the lineup on either side of those off-days down the stretch, giving him two days' rest to manage the swelling and pain in his lower legs.

Entering play on August 27, the Brewers have a 6.5-game lead over the Chicago Cubs and a 4.0-game lead over the Atlanta Braves for a first-round bye in the playoffs. Finding a balance between ensuring they win both of those races and giving their players get the rest they need to be sharp for the postseason will be a key part of the Brewers' roster management down the stretch, just as it was last year.

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