KANSAS CITY – The Milwaukee Brewers have switched up their pitching plan a bit as they try for a split doubleheader sweep of the Kansas City Royals on Saturday night, April 4 at Kauffman Stadium.
Right-hander Logan Henderson, on hand for Game 2 as the Brewers’ 27th man, now starts with right-hander Brandon Sproat scheduled to follow. Sproat struggled mightily in his Milwaukee debut last weekend.
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“We’ve got to be careful of his pitch count,” manager Pat Murphy said of Henderson, who will be making his 2026 debut after having battled arm issues since late season. It’s his first MLB action since last Aug. 3. “When you get that 27th man, you’ve got to use him. Logan’s been used to starting.
“This might give Brandon a little reprieve; he can watch and know (he’ll pitch) in a clean inning.”
The Brewers beat the Royals, 5-2, in Game 1 thanks to a five-RBI game by Garrett Mitchell.
There were also a couple small bits of news during the day: Left-hander Sammy Peralta, who had been designated for assignment last week when outfielder Luis Matos was acquired via trade, was claimed off waivers by the Colorado Rockies; and left-hander Rob Zastryzny was returned from his rehab assignment at Class AAA Nashville and remains on the injured list after suffering a setback.
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He’ll return to Milwaukee for more testing in the meantime.
See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win
Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yelich (22) reacts after hitting a pinch hit three-run home run in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field. The homer capped a five-run eighth inning that sent the Brewers to a 9-7 come-from-behind victory to complete a season-opening sweep.
Scroll through this gallery to see highlights of the home run.
See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win
Milwaukee Brewers’ Christian Yelich (22) reacts after hitting a pinch hit three-run home run in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field. The homer capped a five-run eighth inning that sent the Brewers to a 9-7 come-from-behind victory to complete a season-opening sweep.
Scroll through this gallery to see highlights of the home run.
See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win
Mar 29, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) hits a three-run home run against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 29: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a three-run homer to take the lead in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 29, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win
Mar 29, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) reacts after hitting a three-run home run in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win
Mar 29, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) reacts after hitting a three-run home run in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 29: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a three-run homer to take the lead in the eighth inning against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 29, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win
Mar 29, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) is greeted by teammates after hitting a three-run home run against the Chicago White Sox in the eighth inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win
Mar 29, 2026; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter Christian Yelich (22) gets dunked by center fielder Garrett Mitchell (5) after beating the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 29: Garrett Mitchell #5 dumps water on Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers after the 9-7 win over the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 29, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
See Christian Yelich’s home run from all angles in Brewers comeback win
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – MARCH 29: Christian Yelich #22 of the Milwaukee Brewers walks off the field after hitting the game-winning three-run homer on the first pinch hit home run of his career, in a game against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 29, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Brewers defeated the Chicago White Sox 9-7. (Photo by John Fisher/Getty Images)
A fateful sixth inning
Sproat, who entered in the third, walked a batter in each of his first three innings but got away with it each time, thanks in part to a nifty pickoff move that caught Jac Caglianone at first in the fourth and a diving catch by Brandon Lockridge on a sinking liner by Maikel Garcia in the fifth.
The first hit Sproat ended up surrendering hurt big-time, as Salvador Perez parked a first-pitch hanging curveball out to left-center with one out in the sixth to put the Royals back in front, 3-2.
Sproat fanned Caglianone to get to within an out of limiting the damage only to surrender three consecutive singles – the third of which came from ex-Brewer Isaac Collins and drove in another run – and be replaced by Jared Koenig.
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The move backfired badly as Kansas City went on to score four times with Koenig on the mound.
Kyle Isbel greeted Koenig with a fourth straight single, then Maikel Garcia doubled. After intentionally walking Bobby Witt Jr. to load the bases, Jake Bauers committed an error and Koenig fired a wild pitch to allow two more runs to score and make it an 8-2 game.
In 3 ⅔ innings and 70 pitches, Sproat allowed three hits, four runs and three walks with four strikeouts.
Sal Frelick exits with an injury
With two outs in the fourth, Sal Frelick singled to center but was removed from the game not long thereafter following a visit at first base from head athletic trainer Brad Epstein and Murphy.
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Replays showed Frelick grimacing following his swing and then running gingerly to first base. He was replaced by Lockridge, who then shifted to left field with Blake Perkins moving to right.
David Hamilton and Perkins followed with walks off right-hander Seth Lugo to load the bases, but Joey Ortiz struck out to end the threat.
Milwaukee later announced Frelick exited the game with left side tightness.
The offense answers back
Hamilton’s single to center to open the third was the Brewers’ first hit off Lugo, who followed up by striking out Perkins and Ortiz.
That turned over the lineup, however, and Brice Turang answered his first 0-for in Game 1 by slapping a sinking liner to left field that Collins made an ill-fated diving attempt on.
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The ball skidded past Collins and rolled to the wall, allowing Hamilton to scamper home from first.
One batter later, Mitchell kept up his hot hitting by doubling to the gap in right-center to drive in Turang and tie the score at 2-2.
Henderson, meanwhile, was replaced by Sproat after two innings and 35 pitches. He allowed three hits, two runs and a walk with three strikeouts.
Royals grab the early lead
After facing the minimum in the first inning and striking out Witt and Vinnie Pasquantino, Henderson issued a leadoff walk to Perez in the second.
Two batters later Jonathan India singled and the next batter, Carter Jensen, roped a double down the right-field line that scored both. It was Jensen who earlier this week caused a kerfluffle when he overslept and reported late to the ballpark, scuttling a scheduled starter behind the plate for him and forcing Perez into duty.
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What time are the Brewers games today?
Time: 1:10 p.m. and 6:10 p.m.
What channel are the Brewers games on today?
TV channel: Brewers.TV.
Brewers 2026 record
6-1 entering Saturday night.
Brewers second game lineup
Royals lineup
Brewers schedule
Brewers at Royals, April 5, 1:10 p.m.: Milwaukee LHP Kyle Harrison (0-0, 1.80) vs. Kansas City LHP Kris Bubic (1-0, 1.50). TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
Brewers at Red Sox, April 6, 5:45 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Brandon Woodruff (1-0, 3.60) vs. Boston RHP Bryan Bello (0-1, 9.64). TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
Brewers at Red Sox, April 7, 5:45 p.m.: Milwaukee RHP Jacob Misiorowski (1-0, 2.45) vs. Boston LHP Garrett Crochet (1-1, 3.27). TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
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Brewers at Red Sox, April 8, 12:35 p.m.: Milwaukee TBA vs. Boston RHP Sonny Gray (1-0, 4.50). TV – Brewers.TV. Radio – AM-620 WTMJ.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Royals 8, Brewers 2: KC blows it open, Sal Frelick leaves injured
