Thursday's Frosty Mug: Moral victories don't count

Some things to read while being investigated.

At least the Brewers didn't give up yesterday. They trailed 7-0 in the second inning but chipped away at the lead and fell just short in an 8-6 loss to the Cardinals. We've got the recap, if you missed it.

With that said, the story of yesterday's game may have been missed opportunities. The Brewers scored six runs but also left a season-high 14 runners on base (h/t @AdamMcCalvy)

Other notes from the field:

• The Brewers are now 13-29 in day games and 6-23 on getaway days this season (h/t @AndrewGruman).
• Khris Davis had three hits yesterday to extend his hitting streak to eight games. He's the eighth different Brewer to reach that mark this season. (h/t @MikeVassallo13)
• Davis and Sean Halton were also hit by pitches yesterday. Plunk Everyone has more on their accomplishments.
• Cardinals closer Edward Mujica, who was recently shut down with arm fatigue, recorded a four-out save yesterday and stayed in the game after trainers came out to check on him in the ninth.
• The Chorizo won the sausage race Wednesday. Hot Dog was your winner on Tuesday.

Let's wrap up the Cardinals series with a look at this week's home runs, with help from Hit Tracker and four tweets from Larry Granillo:

The Brewers are off today before opening a series in Cincinnati tomorrow night. Yovani Gallardo will take on Homer Bailey in the opener, and Andrew Simon has the MLB.com preview.

After the game yesterday the Brewers made a pair of roster moves, returning Donovan Hand and Sean Halton to AAA. Rob Wooten is expected to be activated off the paternity list and Caleb Gindl will be recalled from Nashville in time for Friday's game. Wooten reports he's the new father of a baby girl.

In addition to Wooten and Gindl, we may also see Carlos Gomez tomorrow. He was unavailable again yesterday but the team remains hopeful to get him back on the field for the Reds series. (h/t @AndrewGruman)

With Gomez and Norichika Aoki (sore knee) both out of the lineup yesterday, the Brewers' odds of making a bad out on the bases were significantly reduced. TOOTBLAN Tracker notes that Gomez and Aoki have combined for 22 TOOTBLAN this season.

If Gomez comes back tomorrow night he may be able to climb back into this conversation, but for now we've removed his name from our weekly look at NL MVP candidates. Nearly all of Charlie Adams of Beyond the Box Score's formulas to determine baseball's best all-around player listed Gomez at #1. For what it's worth, Ron Roenicke says he'd vote for Yadier Molina.

Scooter Gennett and Khris Davis, meanwhile, could both make solid cases for being the Brewers' MVP in August. Adam McCalvy talked to Carlos Gomez and Ron Roenicke about the contributions these newcomers are making to the team.

However, it does not look like the Brewers will be adding any more veteran newcomers in September. There was a rumor circulating that the Brewers were interested in recently released pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka, but Doug Melvin has denied it.

In the minors:

• Chris Mehring of Rattler Radio has notes from Wisconsin's 4-3 loss to Clinton.
• Brewerfan.net has the first look at organizational players currently scheduled to become minor league free agents following the season. Chris Narveson and Tim Dillard lead an otherwise largely anonymous list.
• Narveson's season may be over, by the way. He's been placed on the DL in AAA with a "nerve issue near his throwing shoulder."
• Nashville broadcaster Jeff Hem has an interview with Dan O'Brien of the Brewers' baseball operations department.

I've been keeping away from most of the Ryan Braun news in an effort to keep it from taking over the site. Ron Roenicke Stole My Baseball, though, has a great look at the defamation suit filed against Braun and why it's unlikely to be a long-term story.

Around baseball:

Astros: Designated pitcher Wade LeBlanc for assignment and placed catcher Carlos Corporan on the 7-day DLwith a concussion.
Blue Jays: Placed outfielder Jose Bautista (bruised hip) and infielder Maicer Izturis (sprained ankle) on the DL.
Braves: Are expected to place outfielder Jason Heyward on the DL with a broken jaw and claimed second baseman Elliot Johnson off waivers from the Royals.
Giants: Designated outfielder Jeff Francoeur for assignment.
Mariners: Announced that the team has extended general manager Jack Zduriencik's contract through 2014.
Phillies: Signed outfielder Roger Bernadina.
Rangers: Placed pitcher Alexi Ogando on the DL with shoulder inflammation and signed infielder Brendan Harris to a minor league deal.
Red Sox: Pitcher Ryan Dempster has been suspended for five games for throwing at Alex Rodriguez multiple times.
Reds: Are expected to place reliever Jonathan Broxton on the DL with a forearm injury.
Twins: Placed Joe Mauer on the 7-day DL with concussion symptoms and announced that pitcher Cody Eppley has opted out of his minor league deal and is now a free agent.
Yankees: Are expected to place infielder Jayson Nix on the DL with a fractured left hand.

Let's go around the NL Central:

• The Pirates' rough August continued with a 2-1 loss to the Padres yesterday. Andrew McCutchen had two of Pittsburgh's four hits.
• The Reds gained a game in the standings with a 10-7 win over the Diamondbacks. Shin-Soo Choo had four hits, scored three times and drove in three runs. This game also featured Aroldis Chapman's first MLB at bat.
• The Nationals had three different three-run innings en route to an 11-6 win over the Cubs. Donnie Murphy had two more hits for the Cubs and is hitting  .340/.397/.811 over 15 games.
• The Cardinals, of course, beat the Brewers.

You can read more about those games and all of Wednesday's action in Beyond the Box Score's Smallest Sample Size.

Here are today's updated standings and probables:

Today in former Brewers:

• Craig Brown of Royals Review notes that Ned Yost's contract is up at the end of the year in Kansas City, and wonders if he'll be back.
• Jonah Keri of Grantland lists Lorenzo Cain (2010) and Bob Hazle (Milwaukee Braves, 1957) among the greatest September callups of all time.
• Rob Neyer has a look at the analytical work of Gabe Kapler, who he suggests might be out of place on Fox Sports 1.

Today's most interesting statistical note comes from Baseball In-Depth, who notes that 12 teams are striking out 7.75 or more batters per nine innings this season. As recently as 2007 there wasn't a single team to reach that mark.

Today In Brewer History is off this morning, but we've got plenty of bits of history:

• Today is Paul Molitor's 57th birthday, and Plunk Everyone notes that his 47 career HBP are the second most ever for a player born on August 22.
• Today is also Randy Wolf's 37th birthday, and his 102 career plunkings are the second most ever for a pitcher born on this day.
• Chris Jaffe of The Hardball Times notes that it's been 5000 days since the Brewers traded Jeff Cirillo to the Rockies.

That's all I've got for you today, unless you wanted to read about Mrs. Met beating Serena Williams at ping pong.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm learning French.

Drink up.