Newly-acquired CC Sabathia will pitch the opener of a three-game set in San Francisco while Ben Sheets and Manny Parra will follow. The fourth spot in the rotation will go to Jeff Suppan when he returns from the disabled list.
The manager isn't quite sure yet what to do with the fifth slot. Dave Bush has been pitching his best all season in the last few weeks, while Seth McClung has turned in some solid efforts as well.
Yost is considering using both as starters and taking advantage of their particular strengths. Bush, a right-hander, could get the nod for games at Miller Park. He's 4-2 with a 2.50 ERA at home, but 1-6 on the road with a 6.95 ERA.
Conversely, the left-handed McClung has a 3.28 ERA on the road, where opponents are hitting just .237 against him. On days when one pitches, the other would be available as the long-reliever out of the bullpen.
"The thing is that they are both throwing very well right now, and you don't want to bury one of them in the 'pen," Yost said. "This way, they are both throwing and they are both in a position to do well, and not only for themselves but for our team."
Yost would also consider starting either Bush or McClung depending on the matchup. If an opposing team has a significant number of lefties in the lineup, Yost would be inclined to throw McClung.
"You look at the numbers, and you want to put each of them in a position where they can be successful," Yost said.
Mota not going anywhere: Much like Michael Corelone kissing his brother, Fredo, on the cheek, when Ned Yost says "I don't make decisions like that after a game," you know a move will soon be made.
It happened with Derrick Turnbow. It happened with Dave Bush. It happened with Eric Gagne.
Surprisingly, it didn't happen to Guillermo Mota.
Yost uttered those words following another meltdown by Mota on Wednesday night, when he gave up four runs to blow open what was a one-run game against Colorado. The Brewers went on to lose, 8-3.
Mota is 2-5 with a 5.82 ERA in 33 appearances this season and has been downright awful during a stretch in which the Brewers are playing their best baseball. He went 1-2 with a 6.48 ERA in nine June outings, allowing 10 hits and three walks with six strikeouts.
He appeared in four games this month, allowing eight runs on eight hits and two home runs in three innings of work for an ERA of 24.00.
Yost says Mota's problems stem from a mechanical flaw in his delivery, one that the coaching staff corrected earlier in the season. Mota is collapsing his backside in a way that leaves his pitches flat - and right over the plate.
After Wednesday's game, Mota, Eric Gagne and pitching coach Mike Maddux spent several hours in the Miller Park video room going over tape.
"We're going to keep working with him, make him better," Yost said. "We know what he's doing wrong. He needs to stay taller on the back side, get more downhill action.
"We're not just going to bail on him."
Rest & relaxation: While Sheets, Braun and Hart are in New York for the All-Star festivities, other players have some vastly different plans for the three-day break. Some will catch up on odds and ends, some will travel; others will just curl up on the couch and watch their teammates and peers from the comfort of their own homes.
Parra plans to use his time to catch up with family and friends. He lives in Sacramento, and will hang out at home doing "the things we don't usually get to do during the season."
Of course, everybody plans to park in front of a television set tonight to watch Ryan Braun in the Home Run Derby and Tuesday to watch Braun, Corey Hart and Ben Sheets in the All-Star Game.
The team has an extra day off before resuming play Friday in San Francisco. Those players sticking around Milwaukee will board a charter for the West Coast on Thursday, while others - many players live in Arizona - will make their own way to a Thursday workout in San Francisco.
Shopping spree: The Brewers' All-Star trio will have some obligations other than those required of game participants. It is custom in baseball that players selected to the All-Star team are required to bring back souvenirs for their teammates.
Hart decided to leave the shopping to Braun.
"I'll just see what he gets and put my name on it," Hart joked.
The game is being played at Yankee Stadium, which will close at the end of the season. All three of the Brewers' All-Stars plan to bring home something from the stadium.
Sexson released: Former Brewers first baseman Richie Sexson was released Thursday by the Seattle Mariners. He was hitting just .218 with 30 RBIs in 74 games this season, and had been recently benched.
Sexson, 33, has hardly looked anything like the player that anchored the heart of the Milwaukee lineup from 2000-2003. He hit 133 home runs during those four-plus years and was named to the All-Star team in 2002 and 2003.
The Brewers traded him to Arizona prior to the 2004 season. With the Diamondbacks, he was limited to just 23 games because of injury. He hit .233 with nine home runs and 23 RBIs.
He signed a $50 million contract with the Mariners after the season, and never hit higher than .264, but he did hit 73 home runs in his first two seasons in Seattle. Never the most patient person in the batter's box, Sexson struck out 497 times in 2,102 plate appearances during the first three-and-a-half-years of his contract.
"I think we gave Richie a lot of rope ... and there just wasn't enough improvement," Mariners interim general manager Lee Pelekoudas told the Associated Press.
Sales pitch: The team has created a new ticket package for those looking to get their hands on playoff tickets, should the Brewers qualify. Fans buying the new 20-game package and putting down a deposit on a 20-game plan for next season will be offered the option to buy a full 2008 playoff package.
Injury report: Not much has changed in the last week: RHP Yovani Gallardo and LHP Chris Capuano continue to rehab after their respective surgeries. ... RHP Jeff Suppan is on the 15-day disabled list with a sore right elbow. The move was precautionary and he is expected to return on time, missing only one start. ... LHP Randy Choate was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list and outrighted to Class AAA Nashville.
Quick hits: Seth McClung's fifth-inning single Saturday snapped a 0-for-38 hitless streak for Brewers pitchers. ... The Brewers have homered in 13 straight games. ... Bill Hall and Russell Branyan have combined for 22 home runs this season while playing third base this season, the most from that position in the Major Leagues. ... RHP Salomon Torres has pitched two or more innings nine times this season. ... The crowd of 42,108 was the fourth consecutive sellout and 20th of the season at Miller Park. The three-game Cincinnati series drew 126,893; the highest three-game attendance total this season. ... Sabathia's home run was the first by a Milwaukee pitcher since Yovani Gallardo went deep against Pittsburgh on August 31 last season.
On the farm: Class AA Huntsville third baseman Mat Gamel went hitless but drew two walks Sunday in the All-Star Futures Game. Gamel's former teammate, Matt LaPorta, went 1-for-3 with a single, walk and a strikeout in the game. ... Class AAA Nashville closer Luis Pena was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team. He is 1-0 with 14 saves and a 3.53 ERA in 37 appearances. He will join teammates Lindsay Gulin and Vinny Rottino in the game on Wednesday.
This week: It's some well-deserved time off for some members of the Brewers, while others get a well-deserved trip to New York for the All-Star Game. It's back to work, though, on Thursday
He said it: "This team has become a national team," - Owner Mark Attanasio.
Attendance (Through 48 home games): Total - 1,735,436. Average - 36,155; On pace for - 2,928,555. Sellouts - 20.
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Under the roof: Games played with roof / panels open - 13 (10-3); roof closed / panels open - 2 (2-0); roof open / panels closed - 0; roof / panels closed - 23 (13-10). Total home games - 41.
NL Central Standings: 1, Chicago, 57-38; 2, St. Louis, 53-43 (-4.5); 3, Milwaukee, 52-43(-5); 4, Cincinnati, 46-50(-11.5); 5, Pittsburgh, 44-50(-12.5); 6, Houston, 44-51(-13).
NL Wild Card standings: 1, St. Louis (53-43); 2, Milwaukee, 52-43 (-0.5); 3, New York, 51-44 (-1.5); 4, Florida, 50-45 (-2.5); 5, Los Angeles, 46-49 (-6.5).
